Newsday - Kinnesha George
Dancers begin a folk performance at the Black Rock Sea Festival event at Courland Heritage Park.
...During her research, she noted the cultural roots of the steelpan can be traced back to the West African slaves who came to work on the plantations. African drumming and music provided a link to their homeland.
When the British took control of TT the colonial masters became afraid of secret messages being sent through drumming and a ban was placed on drumming, dancing, and the shaking of chac chac in 1868.
In 1951, the Black Rock fishermen as well as the youth from the village enjoyed themselves in a steelband jump-up on Carnival Tuesday and decided to have their own Black Rock steelband.
George Josie Richardson, of Plymouth Esso Wonder Harps, loaned them their first set of steelpans. Cassie, Jeremy and Logan collected the steelpans and on their way back to Black Rock, through Courland Bay, they were chased by the Plymouth fisherfolk, who thought that they had stolen the steelpans.
The steelband story comprised the African influence, the fisherfolk songs and dance, drama, performances from the Katzenjammers Steel Orchestra, calypsoes about historic steelband experiences and spiritual medley.
Beverley Ramsey-Moore, the first female president of Pan Trinbago, was also celebrated....
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