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Last week was an encouraging week in the evolution of the panyard model and pan music, unfortunately clouded by news of the death of Earl Rodney.
My pan historian friends emphasise that Earl Rodney was “not from tong”. He was from “Point”, meaning Point Fortin, and not from Port-of-Spain (“tong”).
Photo: Best of Trinidad
I am happy to record this because of my concern that the histories of pan and carnival are sometimes re-written for partisan purposes. The history of the invention and early developments of pan cannot be legitimately confined to Port-of-Spain or east Port-of-Spain alone.
When Solo Harmonites, inspired by Rodney’s genius, became another Panorama monarch of the Savannah track and stage, those with the longest run of attendance at Panorama still speak with awe of Harmonites rendition in 1968 of Kitchener’s The Wrecker.
At the time of The Wrecker I was a student abroad, but I had gone to London with Kitchener’s Mama, Dis is Mas inside me. That provides one context within which I will refer to events of last week, one of which was the opening of Highlanders Pan Theatre, on the Eastern Main Road.
As is well known, North Stars was once a very famous band from St James, West Port-of-Spain. They won Panorama with that Kitchener piece.
I had a favourite vinyl 45 rpm record of the Desperadoes version of it. Relating this in the course of a radio interview with the late Eddie Yearwood and requesting that it be played, I was forcefully informed by a call-in listener that Highlanders also had a version of Mama Dis is Mas.
Photo: Bertrand De Peaza
According to Robert Hernandez, Highlanders’ Manager, it is intended that the theatre will provide opportunities to focus on pan music and to learn a variety of trades in “a safe space for pockets of people within the Laventille community to come together”.
This important initiative, together with two other separate events that are described next, speak to the fight back against violent crime, the need for investment in pan, and securing our country’s recognition as the place of invention of pan.
There was the launch of a book by credible authors entitled Our National Instrument – the Evolution of Trinidad and Tobago Steelpan through 17 Works of Art. Through a free e-book version, the book will be readily available in our schools.
(via Pan Trinbago)
The other event was the posting of save the date information for Pantopia, a steelband musical inspired by the music of Ray Holman, scheduled to be performed on 5, 7 12, 13 and 14 April 2024.
The sponsors of the book project are the Fakoory’s Group of Companies. They are also the owners of the art murals done by artist Joseph Charles, currently on display at the Carnival Museum, Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain.
The enlightened vision of Dennis Fakoory, the chief executive officer of the sponsor Group of Companies, is:
Photo: Invaders
“These books will provide our educators to the gateway into the creative spirit of our children whereby they can be inspired by the resolve, ingenuity and unbreakable spirit of our forefathers is what they gifted to the world, and the undeniable recognition they gave to every proud Trinbagonian in the evolution from a rusty old oil drum into a glittering and melodious musical instrument, Trinidad and Tobago’s steelpan. Let the reading begin and let the music play on.”
Dennis Fakoory’s remarks precede, but apply with equal force, to Pantopia. The musical is the creation of Rawle Gibbons, playwright, director and former Director of Creative and Festival Arts at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine campus.
Next week there will be commentary on the significance of this pan musical. It also requires investment with vision.
As a prologue to that commentary, readers might be pleased to learn that the promoters of Pantopia are setting out innovatively to fund the production.
There are circles of creative persons, who rely on each other. On this occasion, the artist, Makemba Kunle, has contributed two paintings to be offered for sale to assist with the financing of the play. We will explore the value of supporting them and panyards that are “safe spaces”.
Meanwhile, the promoters can be contacted through the Lloyd Best Institute of the Caribbean to receive further information about supporting Pantopia.
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Martin G Daly SC is a prominent attorney-at-law. He is a former Independent Senator and past president of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
He is chairman of the Pat Bishop Foundation and a steelpan music enthusiast.
