Minister wants pan in Africa classrooms

By Michelle Loubon Trinidad Express

BOOSTING OUR NATIONAL INSTRUMENT: Minister of Trade and Industry Paula Gopee-Scoon, second right, speaks with Khafra Kambon, from left, chairman Emancipation Support Committee Trinidad and Tobago (ESTT), Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, UN Secretary-General Representative; Jesus Gonsales and Brian Lara at the 17th Annual Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann’s. —Photo: ISHMAEL SALANDY

TRADE Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon says she wants steelpans in classrooms in Africa.

She said yesterday pan should be on the curriculum in the African continent and the idea is already gaining momentum in Nigeria and Ghana.

Gopee-Scoon was speaking at the official launch of the 17th Annual Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Symposium at the Hilton Trinidad, St Ann's.

Its theme was “Reinventing The Triangle XV11: Overcoming Challenges Through International Engagement”.

Among those present were Emancipation Support Committee chairman Khafra Kambon and his wife Asha Kambon, as well as former batting superstar Brian Lara, outgoing Petrotrin chairman Andrew Jupiter and feature speaker Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, United Nations Secretary General Special Representative.

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  • How quickly we forget.....5 years have elapsed...the former President of the Republic, The TT Government through the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pan Trinbago honchos.....were all a party to this initiative....called ATTSDC......Stay awake
  • Pan complex to be built in Nigeria


    Pan Trinbago partners with African pan factory
    Peter Ray Blood
    Published:
    Friday, July 13, 2012

    Ministry of Foreign Affairs PS Margaret Parrilon listens to pannist Len “Boogsie” Sharpe perform, flanked by, from left, Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz, Nigeria deputy high commissioner LT Bade-Afuye and Nigerian entrepreneur Chief Bowei S Bowei, at the launch of the Africa T&T Steelband Development Company Ltd, on Tuesday, at Hyatt Regency. Photo: Dion Roach
    Pan history was created last Tuesday when Pan Trinbago launched the Africa Trinidad & Tobago Steelband Development Company Ltd (ATTSDC). A joint venture between Pan Trinbago and a Nigerian pan factory (Pan Land), the launch was held at the Hyatt Regency in Port-of-Spain. Intrigued by the playing of the national anthems of T&T and Nigeria by Republic Bank Exodus Steel Orchestra, Nigerian deputy high commissioner LT Bade-Afuye said he is an advocate for replacing western instruments with the steelband to perform his country’s anthem. Bade-Afuye said that T&T Carnival has taken root in not just Nigeria, but in other African states, all fuelled and driven by the music of pan.



    Also addressing the gathering, CEO Chief Bowei S Bowei who revealed that with Nigeria having an estimated population in excess of 130 million people, ATTSDC will initially aim at a target market of five million. He added that the facility, which is in Nigeria, will include recording studios, as well as facilities for tuning pan instruments and tutoring musicians and technicians. He also said the company will produce a television programme, titled Pan Around the World, to be shown across Nigeria. Bowei disclosed that a feasibility study is currently underway to establish a pan in the classroom programme, extending from primary to tertiary level, across the west African republic. In his address, Diaz revealed that 25 years ago, Exodus volunteered its panyard, on the Eastern Main Road in St Augustine, to visiting Nigerian musicians to learn to play pan. Nigeria had its first actual, live taste of T&T pan back in 1977 when Trinidad All Stars performed at Festac 1977.



    Diaz was high in praise of T&T Ambassador to Nigeria, Nyahuma Obika, who he said comprehensively represented the national instrument when a local contingent visited Nigeria last year. He also piled kudos on President George Maxwell Richards for initiating dialogue between Pan Trinbago and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to facilitate the formation of ATTSDC. Listed to deliver the feature address, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Dookeran was unavoidably absent and the speech was read on his behalf by permanent secretary Margaret Parrilon. Aside from Exodus, also performing at the launch was celebrated pannist Len “Boogsie” Sharpe HBM. He was afforded a standing ovation by the Nigerians, even before he struck a note, and two more during the playing of three items, including a popular Nigerian piece.



    The board of directors of ATTSDC includes Nigerians Chief Bowei S Bowei (CEO), Chanty Babatunde, Modupe Okebukola, Ladi Franklin and Emmanuel Udenyi; and T&T nationals Jawara Mobota, Keith Diaz, Richard Forteau and Allan “Pablo” Augustus. Among those at Tuesday’s launch were Trade, Industry & Investment Minister Vasant Bharath; Minister of Arts & Multiculturalism Dr Lincoln Douglas; Ministry of Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Margaret Parrilon; Nigerian entrepreneur Chief Bowei S Bowei; Pan Trinbago president Keith Diaz, and executive members of Pan Trinbago.
  • Seems like this post getting more replies so let me post my question here:

    I am all for this ...don't get me wrong... and not to change the focus of the article.. But I'm curious, I'm not too familiar with recent operations of the pan in schools program in T&T so maybe somebody can enlighten me...
    Is there a pan in every classroom in Trinidad AND Tobago?
    How has the Pan in Schools project benefited students.. separate and similar to what they get in the Pan Yard?
    What local opportunities have arisen out of pushing Pan In Schools in other countries? Is there a link? Do they do foreign exchange and encourage collaborations within the schools? Are our students exposed to how other cultures use and in-print on the pan?
    Are there specialized programs(by specialized, I mean is this just the music teacher teaching pan as a segment of music class or is this more of a curriculum thing)?
    I guess my next question would be . with all this talk about money recently... would I be crazy to ask if these teachers are being compensated?
    Just curious.....
  • I think it's a great idea if  can bring into the country, TT that is, badly needed foreign exchange. Not sure how successful is pan in TT schools. Last I read 18,000 + sat the 2017 SEA exams and less than 10% got into schools to advance their career. Also, how many advanced to a higher level and was part of playing the pan and learning music in the classroom?  How many of the 10% that were successful in the SEA exam played the pan. These questions need to be answered, data need to be collected and analyzed. Is pan a mandatory subject in the primary schools? Music?

    Trinidad and Tobago have not seen a top class panorama arranger for the past 10 years coming out of the pan in schools program. I may miss something, but 'Boogsie and 'Smooth' were competitive and winners way back in the 1970's.

  • I certainly have no problem with teaching our African brothers and sisters to play our beloved instrument.

    However, There seem to be a desire in T&T to export pan making technology.

    Why ?

    Not that we should be naïve about the fact that such technology is already world wide , but the emphasis should be to make T&T the real Mecca of pan , where you go to hear the best music , see and hear the biggest and best bands , and to purchase the best made instruments.

    To me , this seems to be the best way that the creators of the instrument can benefit from their creation , by encouraging visitors to come to the Twin Islands ( and the Caribbean , to some extent ) to enjoy the best that the world has to offer in pan , and by sharing in the revenue they bring.

  • Charity begins at home and......well you where it ends. I can't imagine what goes through the minds of these bureaucrats in TNT. I'll remain standing in my shoes and wonder.
    • Doh dig nutten!!! Is just EMANCIPATION DAY BAZODEENESS!!! By this morning the OLE TALK done!!!

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