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Tamboo bamboo bands were used by Africans

Staff Article
Interview Recorded: February 23, 2005
Posted: March 01, 2005

Staff Comment

Tamboo bamboo bands were used by Africans to celebrate social events like weddings and christenings because the colonial authority in Trinidad outlawed traditional African drums. It follows that Carnival was only one of the many occasions that Africans would utilize drumming. According to Mr. Darway steel drums were included in Tamboo Bamboo bands to improve the music and eventually the steel pan became the prominent instrument in the band. Therefore it can be said that steelbands grew out of the Tamboo Bamboo bands.

After the Steelband Association became well established in 1950, with Mr. Lenox Pierre being very instrumental, beginning of the official 'The Panorama Competition' was proposed. It was not until 1973, that Curtis Pierre, the captain of "Dixieland steelband, called for the patenting of the steel pan.

Norman Darway believes that steelband players have to become literate, by learning music in order to secure the future of steelband music and by extension become more marketable both nationally and internationally.


View Norman Darway Photos at:
www.trinisoca.com/gallery/storyofpan


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