StarAfrica.com
Nigeria - The set of musical instruments was presented by the High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago to Nigeria, Mr. Nyahuma Obika, to President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House in Abuja on Friday.
In a message from President George Maxwell of Trinidad and Tobago read by Obika, he recalled his promise to donate the steel band in replacement of the one used by the Nigerian Guard Brigade to entertain guests at the last presidential inauguration in May 2012.
Maxwell, in the message, noted that cultural connections and in particular, musical tradition was the most fulfilling among many ties that bound his country and Nigeria.
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I would really love to hear the other side of this SAGA. But you can't get the Authorities in Trinidad or Pan Trinbago to say anything at all. NO TRANSPARENCY. Why is this? Is it not important?
It's a shame to see people who really should know how to influence development by virtue of their education, position & exposure and then etch their names in gold bungle the opportunity cos they lack character, honesty and integrity.
The High Commissioner who is fully aware that the activities of growing Pan movement in Nigeria is not being spear-headed by the government and that the steelpan fraternity in Nigeria has a formidable framework which he has been involved with himself, still chose to act in isolation and as such made no reasonable contribution to Nigeria but rather revealed his true agenda of been a businessman and not a diplomat.
Your pans will be locked up somewhere where the real panmen and women who are really committed to the propagation, adoption and inclusion of the Steelpan art throughout the country will never have access to them. The HC's efforts so far in Nigeria can only be seen as being driven by greed and selfishness with no intent whatsoever to help the growth of steelpan in nigeria
Indeed this nothing but a political statement. Shame on you Mr. Obika. You cant be a hero this way!
Is this the same one that was used by Despers and donated to Nigeria in 2011 or another one probably used by Sound specialists and donated again because of the cost of transporting them back to Trinidad?
These donated instruments are donated to the wrong people in Nigeria, always and are kept in stores forever! All the pans donated in 2011 are still boxed and kept, except for the tenors. The instruments are of no use to the beneficiaries as they are not used to those patterns of pans and they are not interested in learning how to play them.
President Jonathan does not play pan and does not have an idea of the best recipient for the donation so Nigeria only becomes a dumping ground for such pans, while those who really need pans in Nigeria buy theirs from Nigeria.
My candid advice... stop politics with pan in Nigeria and seek professional advice from the right source. It will lead nowhere.