One of the traditional musical features in this Carnival week is the Extempo Calypso Monarch competition, where Calypsonians battle for the Extempo title in a lyrical war, all in rhyme. What is this Extempo really about?

Listen to a duel between The Mighty Sparrow and Lord Melody

Extempo is defined as a lyrically improvised form of Calypso and is most notably practised in Trinidad and Tobago. It consists of a performer improvising in song or in rhythmic speech on a given theme before an audience who themselves take turns to perform. It is inherently competitive and success is judged by the wit and ingenuity of the performance.

It is similar in form to what has been defined as traditional African song: "a recitative or chants with a short chorus. The soloist gives the melody while a chorus sings a refrain. As the melody is given out, they turn to one another, each improvising in turn. Extempo tends to comprise topics from current events treated with mockery, ridicule and sarcasm, or with flattery or praise.”

There are many different melodies which can be used for Extempo, as in the video with Sparrow and Melody above, but the most popular one over the years has been the "Santimanite" which is really a mispronunciation of the French words "Sans Humanité" which literally means "without humanity" as many of the "picong" call and response in song were very brutal linguistically and at one point were even stopped. Thankfully they continue to this day as an integral part of our Calypso and Carnival culture and it is a musical delight to the audience.

Check out Gypsy (reigning 2017 Extempo King) and Lingo as they battle it out in 2016