The United Nations has designated August 11 as World Steelpan Day. The steelpan, Trinidad and Tobago’s musical gift to the world, is now widely used across the globe, with steel orchestras in most countries in Europe and a vibrant steelpan culture in Japan. Steel bands have played in some of the world’s best concert halls, including Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, the Royal Albert Hall and the Kennedy Centre.
“It is emblematic of artistic excellence, community empowerment, endurance, self-determination, community, culture, heritage and identity and not least of all national pride,” said Randall Mitchell, T&T’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, when he introduced the resolution for World Steelpan Day before the General Assembly.
“Some universities in Europe, Canada and the United States have academic programmes dedicated solely to steelpan music. In the province of Ontario, Canada, the steelpan has long been used as a teaching aide in the country's multiculturalism programme which supports the integration of Caribbean and other immigrant youth into the Canadian school system and into the wider community, helping to build tolerance and understanding among and between communities," said Mitchell.