Nicki Minaj Mourns Mighty Sparrow After Calypso Legend Dies At 91

Nicki Minaj mourned the Mighty Sparrow, calling the calypso legend an icon after his death at 91. “What a legacy. Icon. Rest in peace,” the Trinidad-born rapper wrote while sharing a tribute from Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

Minaj placed a Trinidad and Tobago flag and a heart beside her brief farewell in the social media post.

Sparrow, born Slinger Francisco, died Sunday, September 27, in New York after a brief illness, according to his family. Relatives said he was surrounded by loved ones but did not disclose a more specific cause of death.

Persad-Bissessar described him as a cultural ambassador whose songs carried Trinidad and Tobago’s stories around the world. “Today, our nation mourns the loss of an icon whose legacy will forever live in the hearts of all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago,” she wrote in the post Minaj shared.

Born in Grenada in 1935, Sparrow moved to Trinidad as a small child and grew up in Port-of-Spain.

He developed his craft in the city’s calypso tents, where singers brought humor and melody to stories about politics and daily life. His 1956 breakthrough, “Jean and Dinah,” addressed the departure of American servicemen and won both Calypso King and Carnival Road March.

The song launched a career built on sharp storytelling, memorable melodies and a willingness to challenge his audience.

“Obeah Wedding,” “Congo Man,” “Federation,” and “Dan Is the Man” showed how easily he moved between comedy and political commentary.

Trinidad and Tobago’s culture ministry credits Sparrow with more than 500 songs and 70 albums across seven decades. The ministry says he won eight Calypso Monarch crowns and eight Road March titles. Trinidad and Tobago awarded him its highest honor, the Order of the Republic, in 2014.

Minaj has regularly celebrated her Trinidadian roots throughout her Hip-Hop career, including through music made with performers from the country.

AllHipHop covered her return for Carnival and her collaboration with Trinidadian stars Machel Montano and Destra on “Shake the Place.” Sparrow’s influence also reached beyond calypso audiences as his performances carried Caribbean music to international stages.

His family says plans are being made for a public celebration of his life, though it has not announced a date.