Disrespectful and shameful, the only way to describe the manner in which the steelpan was treated in Fyzabadat the OWTU pre labour day pan festival on Friday 15. A tassa band performed after every steelband, and was allowed to command the stage for long hours. When the final steelband (Gonzales Sheikers) was playing, they were hurried off the stage because of time and was not allowed to perform their required five selections. What was more disturbing, is another tassa group carded to play after Gonzales Sheikers was asked to come into the OWTU compound to perform while the steelband was sent home short of playing time.
I would lie to point out the following
- The handful of supporters are there to hear pan.
- Tassa should perform before or after the pan or on another day.
- The pan is being used to give Tassa an audience and as such due respect should be given to the instrument.
I was instrumental in starting this program back in the late 1990's with then President General Errol Mcleod and supportetrs filled the streets. since the introduction of Tassa into the equation, a mere handful of persons attend the show. Tassa is a rhythmic instrument and cannot stand alongside a melodic instrument like the steelpan. Come on OWTU stop boring us with all that Tassa; Stop disrespecting the steelpan for the sake of Tassa; stop running the crowds for tassa. Remember that the steelpan is not only the national instrument but also our indigenous instrument.
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HI FOLKS I JUST HEARD MR ORVILLE WRIGHT IS NOW DECEASED
ALDWYN
I aggree with you, Mr. Byer and you are speaking the truth. I was there as well. The steelbands was been hurried off on Friday night. However there was pan again in Fyzabad last night as well which was promoter by Mr. Sanderson again little crowd but and the band were mobile.
Errors relevant to my comments could not have been corrected for there was no access for such,as edit,,maybe well .i haven,t seen the possibility.
An open statement ,whenever pan'tumhad spoken and still speke along with myself and manyothers ,,we are looked upon as traitors,,,racist in short we dont like indians,,,but the facts are here to be seen ,,read ,, gradually revealed ,,reviewed and sensored on WST,,i,ve had the opportunity to get toknow Pan'tum by reading on this website AND the attitude ,,what he do stand for,,, THE TRUTH I DO RESPECT for this for it,s my STYLE,,,STRAIGHT UP,,TO THE POINT,,,as such i dId accept him as a Black Brother,,a friend even my eyes have never behold him,,for the TRUTH SHALL SET US ALL FREEE,,,Reality,,,,,THE TRUTH ,yuh kan run from ,,,, but yuh kant hide.respect for all.
So for clarification or a part of indepth explanation for the meaning or USES OF THE TASSA DRUM,,,,,,,this Instrument has a deep connection with the spiritual side of the Hindu Religion, just as for the the Congo Drum<<Shack Shack is for the Niggers,,,African ,,used for as said ,,Vodoo,,Obeah,,by the Blackman,this is the connection with the TASSA DRUM,,,,Now I do dare anyone to Challenge me relevant to this Specific remark or comment,a further explanation for the uses of the TASSA DRUM,,its used whenever the Hindu,s have what you call the KALI MAI PUJA the offering of a sheep/killing /cutting it,s neck and anyone having or wearing a Cow Skin Belt/Men would be Wipped with a wild cane by the MAI /a woman that reacts Spiritually,,so for those who know not,,,i grew up in the vicinity such a Culture in Guyana ,,, i do have a GODNA,,,,from the year 1968 on my forearm,,,,,GODNA,,,,MEANING TATOO IN HINDI,,,,and ah on seh it again,,I DARE ANYONE of HINDU background TO CHALLENGE ME AS A BLACKMAN RELEVANT TO THIS EXPLANATION, so all of the lyrics that,s playing out,,,if those of whom are fromT&T and know not of the backgroungd of the TASSA DRUM and what it, sspecifically used for ,,here are the facts,,,,,from SIDD to Partick Ramdoo,,,to the J Bernard or whoever ,,,respect,,,THE TRUTH,,,,
Well Mr Keith Byer,,,let the TASSA DRUM PLAY THE FULL CHROMATICAL SCALE OF OR IN MUSIC,, TONE,,,,or simplier doh,,,,,reh,,mi fa,,,soh,,lat,, ti ,,,doh,,,, C---D---E---F-G--A--B--C,,,,,,SIMPLE,,, SOUR NOTE OR WHATEVER ONCE IT SOUNDS CLOSE TO THAT,,,,,Respect for all ,,reality,,Logics,,THE TRUTH,,,God Bless.
Mr Keith Byer,, i hhad earlier used a word to describe the mentality and attitude of certain persons of Indian background,,CONNIVING,,,,now that you have witnessed what the attitude of the Hindus towards the Steelpan,,,here is it,,,,,,N Steelpan Program ever showed in full on CNT from last year,,,,,presently on CNT,,,every Sunday there is a Hindu Program,,,Film that last for hours,,,the ads relevant to the youth,,,young children of T&T J J and Friends is in the forefront,,,,,Mohabla or whatever Hindu song festival is rampant on CNT,,now can anyone state clearly when was the last time there was a a Steelpan program on CNT of T&T being advertised,,,, fromthe YEAR 2011,,,,,,CONNIVING,,,,THE TRUTH RESPECT.FOR ALL.
Michael, instead of the anthem, how about adapting the title of Kitch's song, and have them play "Tassa In A Minor"? Now there a feat. lol. But seriously, I think at the right event, that's a great idea. I know skin drums can be tuned, and I think it would be great to have East Indian tassa drummers and African drummers perform our National Anthem together, as a show of solidarity. Let me be clear; I expose our "race" issues, because racism offends me terribly, and I have many really great friends who are of Indian descent, whom I all love dearly. I just found out today, one of them, Jameel, returned back to Florida from Trinidad, so I know I'll be visiting my favorite roti shop again - The Coal Pot. What I love about Jameel, he shows he is proud of his Indian culture, but he truly loves people, and has been very kind to both my wife and I. My other "Indian" friend, Pokemon, runs the place now, and he too, is a very dear friend to me. One of my Indo-Jamaican friends passed away almost 3 months ago, and I recorded Commodores' "Night Shift", adapting the lyrics to honor my dear friend. (Just thinking about him, and I have to hold back my tears. I was able to capture his voice from his cell phone voice mail greeting, and I mixed it into the recording. That is why I got extremely upset, that this %^%$^^ attempted to project his own racist attitudes on me. Just last night, I was chilling with my friend, Shadaheen, and I have friends of ALL backgrounds. Anyone of you who are my FB friends, can go through my Friends List, if you truly want to know where I stand on racism, for certainly my post "None Of My Friends Are Niggers" failed to let you know where I stand on the issue of "race". I am always confident that the truth always surfaces, and that is why I am NEVER afraid to speak my mind. I would much rather be honest with you, than "mamaguy" you with words I believe you would like to hear. I'll leave that for others, however, when you look over all their posts, you will see the double-talk, that you will not get from me. As ALWAYS, I wish you all peace (Shem Em Hotep), and I come before you in TRUTH (Ma'at).
George D. Goddard, B.A. Music (Cum Laude)
Pan'tum - The Ghost Who Walks. Honoring The Legacy Of George "Sonny" Goddard, who, by the way, was also a former member of the Aranguez Pagwa Society, although he was not of East Indian descent.
All of you who are living in T&T if you do not know of the WAR between Roget and Kamla. Roget promise to bring down Kamla, at the moment MSJ (Roget political party) for the past 6 months promise to withdrawn from the PP talk, talk, and more talk Tuesday 19th June is Labour day in T&T look out for some kind of bombshell to drop in Fyzabad ?????
This play with the Tassa backfire on Roget, it is not the Indians involved here OWTU DISRESPECT THE PAN in the name of POLITRICKS...
When next u are one of these shows, request that the Tassa open with the National Anthem. Only then will it be accepted as equal to the Steelpan.
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