00:00The Caribbean Music Awards wrapped its three-day program this Sunday with a spectacular night
00:05of stars and steel, a cultural finale which showcased the range of our national instrument.
00:11The proceedings of the evening were narrated by well-known folklore character Anansi,
00:16whose roots stem from West Africa but hold significant cultural relevance within the
00:21Caribbean diaspora. The 53-piece steel orchestra was led by artistic director and coordinator
00:27Okua Leith. TV6 spoke with Leith via telephone where he gave an insight into his creative process
00:33and what an event like this meant for the future of the steel pan.
00:37What we wanted to share in that entire production is that steel pan can play anything. That is the
00:43foundation of all the genres that actually came out of the Caribbean. The other part of my brain went to
00:50who will tell the story? Who is the person you'll be able to see all these things unfold and who
00:56better
00:56than Anansi. Who came out of the slave trade, the Atlantic slave trade out of Ghana and became part
01:02of the Caribbean legacy. CMA created a spot for the steep and industry. CMA gave us our own
01:08day. It gave us our own award. Pan don't need to be established. Pan now needs to be showcased and
01:13marketed to the world. In the presence of musical mastery, the audience marveled, chanted, and danced in
01:20jubilation as stars like Patra, Angela Hunt, and Jaa Mason performed alongside the orchestra. Outside the
01:28theatre, TV6 caught up with the reigning calypso monarch Terry Lyons, who emphasized the importance of
01:34knowing the history of the instrument. The steel pan came out of revolution and that's why we always
01:40have to be learning the history of stuff. Making sure that we are not going to be silent. We have
01:44to make
01:44music and by beating steel drums, a melody started to come from it. It became the steel pan, the only
01:52instrument that is created and invented in the 20th century. You know, the music, the instrument
01:58is not just something to enjoy and make money off. It's something to embrace and love. But you have to,
02:05have to read up on the history behind it. That is the only time you will actually understand and be
02:12passionate and determined to fight for your culture. The evening ended with the crowd chanting for more
02:18and Leith gave them just that with a rendition of Soka Artis, Marshall Montano's roadmatch winning hit,
02:25perfectly titled Encore.
02:34Janelle Hope, TV6 News.
