Celebration of Women
and the Steelpan Art Form
Lessons In Steel
Ah jes’ finish reading a book call "Renegades." Even doh I was born ‘round de corner from La Cour Harpe and even doh mih fadda was a double tenor player wid Renegades, is plenty I read in dat book dat I din know before.
Ah learn dat Renegades form in 1948. Ah learn it had women in de bacchanal since in de earlies. Ah read about men like Stephen "Goldteeth" Nicholson and Cecil "Dead" Hinkson. Ah read about Doctor Rat and dem fellas. Ah read how when Renegades and Invaders used to bounce up it was endless war! Ah learn about de tamboo bamboo. Ah learn more about de stick fight.
It good to learn about tings in yuh own hist’ry. It make mih realize I know more about Queen Elizabeth and she half crack chirren radda dan about my own people. Long ago in school ah study bout de US civil war and how King Louis de forteent lick off all he wife and dem head. Dey din teach we how we islands struggle for independence or how we come to be such rainbow people. Dey din say where did de Caribs disappear to or how come de British overlords was so chupid to make we wear dem tick powdered wigs and robes and dem woolen pants in the heat. Ah whole generation of we grow up not knowing we own self.
Replies
Queen Macoomeh, This is the first time I'm hearing about Cecil "Dead" Hinkson.