The origin of Steelpan

Posted By: R Ryce
Date: Thursday, 24 October 2002, at 4:50 p.m.

I was born in 1934. I can remember a war had just come to an end I can't recall which war but I can recall living in San Fernando South Trinidad and there was this large carnival parade along circular road in San Fernando and a Steelband from the area of Jarvis street was in the parade I remember they had a mock up of an atom bomb and the tune the band was playing and everybody was singing was:

CHINIE NEVER HAD A VJ DAY
LI FUNG, LI FUNG E YEA

Now I don't remember what year that was I was still in short pants, the point is Steelband was in south around that time. The captain of the band was an East Indian guy by the nickname of SHOWIN he was one of the best (chufang) man I ever heard in those days.

A CHUFANG was a pan with about four or five notes and played hanging sideways around the neck instead of flat. So no one really knows for sure where the Steelband really started in the country so we should all accept Trinidad as the land of the Steelband.

R Ryce