Trinidad and Tobago Guardian
National instrument unites Jews and Muslims
Trinidad & Tobago, W.I. - ....Earlier this year, Selwyn “Fruits” John, a key member of First Citizens Supernovas Steel Orchestra, was involved in a significant event which placed pan from Israel, of all places, centre stage at a prestigious American university. John’s participation actually began more than two decades ago through his affiliation with a university lecturer who works in Israel.
John related: “Knowing that I was from Trinidad and involved in pan, Professor Harvey Price befriended me about 25 years ago at the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia. When we met, he, and another American guy named George Whitmyre, were experimenting on steel drums made from stainless steel material. Two of those drums are in Trinidad right now—Bertram ‘Butch’ Kelman has had one for about 20 years and I brought the other one this year which I intend placing at the grave of the late Jit Samaroo.
“Through my relationship with the professor, I was instrumental in acquiring pan instruments to be sent to Israel, where the professor was forming a steelband comprising some of his students. Three years ago the professor succeeded in forming a multi-denominational steelband of Muslims from Palestine, and Jews and Christians in the Galilee region of Israel. The idea behind this initiative was to get different peoples to communicate with each other.
....“This year, the Israeli steelband— The Peace Drums—went to the United States and played at various locations including New York, Philadelphia and Delaware. The main performance was at the University of Delaware and I was invited to give a lecture on steelband development and history. I got a tremendous reception from the Americans. Also speaking with me was Aneysha de Coteau, who spoke on the musical aspects of pan. It was moving seeing all these young, bright students giving a rousing ovation to this Trini panman.”
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