Lady Guymine: Celebrating a Calypso Icon

By Romona Baxter- As Guyana commemorates Black History Month, we pause to honour cultural trailblazers whose talent and determination shaped the nation’s artistic identity. Among those celebrated is Monica Chopperfield, widely known as Lady Guymine — a dynamic calypsonian whose voice and stage presence helped carry Guyanese music onto the regional and international stage.

Black History Month (Guyana)
A voice of rhythm.
A daughter of the stage.
A cultural force whose music travelled far beyond Guyana’s shores.

A Berbician by birth, she would grow to become one of Guyana’s most recognizable calypso ambassadors.
Her artistic journey began early. She appeared in productions staged by Zelda Martindale at the roofless Olympic Cinema on Lombard Street — a modest beginning that would blossom into a popular performing career.

Guided in part by her mother, Mary Skeete, herself a classical singer, she developed a versatility that allowed her to move fluidly across musical genres. She performed with the Sam Chase and Jack Mellow Company, later joining the Syncopators Band as one of two lead jazz and swing vocalists.

In 1966, she stepped decisively into the calypso arena during Mashramani celebrations in Mackenzie. From that moment, there was no turning back.

Her growing reputation earned her a place in the camp of the legendary Mighty Sparrow, with whom she toured for two years, performing in Trinidad and Tobago’s vibrant calypso tents. Her hit “Granny Fit” became one of her most beloved recordings, securing her popularity among Guyanese at home and in the diaspora.

In 1985, she placed fourth in the World Calypso Competition, further cementing her regional standing. She later received the Guyana Cultural Association/Guyana Folk Festival Wordsworth McAndrew Award (2003) in recognition of her cultural contributions.

Lady Guymine was more than a performer — she was part of the living cultural fabric of Georgetown. From Bourda to Regent Street, from dance halls to rice mills, her presence animated the social and musical life of her era.

Celebrated by the Guyana Folk Festival Committee as “an important Caribbean 20th century calypsonian,” Monica Chopperfield left an indelible imprint on Guyana’s musical heritage.

On this day of Black History Month (Guyana),I present Monica Chopperfield — Lady Guymine —calypsonian, cultural ambassador, and enduring voice of Guyanese rhythm. Granny fit! Granny fit! Granny fit fit fit!

Lady Guymine’s journey from the stages of Lombard Street to international calypso arenas reflects not only personal achievement but also the richness of Guyana’s cultural heritage. Her legacy endures in the rhythms she popularised, the audiences she inspired, and the pride she brought to Guyana. During this Black History Month observance, her story stands as a testament to the enduring power of music and cultural expression.

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Sources

Lady Guymine dies at 76 – Kaieteur News
G.B.T.V. CultureShare ARCHIVES 1994: LADY GUYMINE “Granny Fit” (HD)
Farewell for Lady Guymine at NCC – Guyana Chronicle