The Pan Yards: Inside the Communities That Keep the Steelpan Alive
7 Feb 2025Kevin Alleyne
Topic Tag
#steelpan
2 articles — Trinidad & Tobago news, culture, and lifestyle
2 articles — Trinidad & Tobago news, culture, and lifestyle
Long before steelpan became a UNESCO heritage instrument, it lived in the yards of Laventille, Belmont, and Newtown. These communities are still its heartbeat — and they are fighting to survive in an era of commercialization and gentrification.
The steelpan is the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century. Born in the oil drums of Port of Spain's back yards, it is now played in orchestras worldwide — and remains Trinidad's most powerful cultural export.