By Derek Davey
Geoffrey and Andrew having a jam. Photo: Jonathon Rees
In 1969 he started the Andrew Tracey Steel Pan Band, which performed around Grahamstown and South Africa and at festivals such as the National Arts Festival until 2007. During the 28 years Andrew headed ILAM, he lectured on African music at universities, schools and societies, and on TV and radio around the world.
Andrew is renowned for his tireless enthusiasm for teaching and performing African music. He is a trustee of the Arts & Culture Trust and received an honorary doctorate in 1995 from the University of Natal, and the Premier's Arts and Culture Lifetime Achievement Award from the Eastern Cape government in 2002....
GEOFFREY TRACEY: It was amazing. Music filled the home and musicians came around frequently. The Andrew Tracey Steel Pan Band was a big part of that; it was a platform to arrange and secure gigs with, all around the country. For many years it was a very popular thing for the public and for the people who passed through the band. It was like a mini school of international folk music. A number of the old members are music researchers now.
Every Sunday there was a rehearsal and this brought together up to a dozen musicians, including family, for most of the afternoon, with a great, featured tea spread indoors or on the lawn. I was blessed from a young age to be introduced as if I were family to numerous elite African musicians. Most significantly, I recall Venancio Mbande, a 'lion' of Mozambique, from what I think is one of the most interesting, spectacular and rich musical cultures in southern Africa – that of the Chopi around Inhambane. Venancio was like a second father when he was around.
My grandfather and my father have both had long relationships with the Chopi people over many years, whom they visited on numerous field trips. As my grandfather and father were loved, so I was taken in and loved, as family. That's when I really learnt how to shake hands the African way!
Replies
Africans were having drums since ancient times. Europeans like music since ancient times. Africans were brought to the new continent here they discoverd the oilbarrel. This barrel was out of steel and capable to be a drum, a metal drum. The African love for drumming and the European love for music created this new instrument. Of course here nobody should be surprised this instrument was invented by mulattos. Mulattos are the people who make the best out of different worlds. The steel pans are so popular that even real Africans believe they invented this instrument, without knowing any thing about steel barrels. Even though this music started in Trinidad now it is worldwide and many people do not know the origin of this instrument.
Hans: Do you know that 99% of the world's population does not know that ALL HUMAN BEINGS EVOLVED from the FIRST HUMAN BEINGS in AFRICA who migrated OUT OF AFRICA and endured characteristic changes (physiognomy and cerebral) because of CLIMATIC CONDITIONS and the environmental CHALLENGES of SURVIVAL?
With all the RACISM we see in the WORLD against BLACK PEOPLE -- 99% of the world's population does not know about their HISTORICAL ORIGINS.
That is the REAL HISTORY that should be taught in EVERY SCHOOL in EVERY COUNTRY -- all over the world!!!
Dem scientists know about THAT HISTORY -- but the PAN HISTORY which started in the NINETEEN FORTIES in Trinidad ... is BLURRED!!!
So how yuh go TEACH THAT - that CONTROVERSIAL PAN HISTORY TING?