Big Drum Nation joins others worldwide in recognizing ‘Sparrow Day,’ Slinger Francisco’s 87th birthday. In Grenada, Sparrow is to be honored by the state today, July 9th, 2022, for the first time, with “The Mighty Sparrow Day.” Grenada’s Sparrow Day adds to his many recognitions worldwide, including Nigerian Chieftaincy, a “Rey del Calypso” received from the Venezuelan government during the Chavez era, and an Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC). In 2014 Sparrow also received Trinidad and Tobago’s highest award, The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
To acknowledge the Mighty Sparrow’s 87th birthday and his extraordinary contribution to Caribbean culture and society, Big Drum Nation presents two articles: “SPARROW’S TWO SONGS OF SOLOMON” by Ken Jaikaransingh and Caldwell Taylor’s “THE SPARROW REVOLUTION: FIFTY YEARS OLD AND STILL GOING STRONG”.