The steelpan, the percussion instrument created in Trinidad and Tobago in 1939, is experiencing a resurgence as a new generation embraces its bright, melodic sound on stage and on the dance floor.
Fans say new technology has made the steelpan more accessible and affordable, and an increasing number of schools across the country are introducing students to its distinctive chime. While its lilting tone has long evoked Caribbean culture, the music once attracted mostly older audiences. That trend is now shifting.
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“That has been changing rapidly,” said Amrit Samaroo, son of the late Jit Samaroo, the legendary arranger, player, and composer. The steelpan is “sexy again,” he told reporters from his family’s living room, surrounded by a piano, a tenor steelpan, and photos of his father.
Samaroo leads the acclaimed Supernovas Steel Orchestra and has watched the demographic change firsthand. Social media platforms are filled with young musicians performing pop, reggae, and other genres on steelpan, helping to broaden its appeal.
“It is good to have familiar music played on the instrument,” he said. “It is a nice space we are in right now.”
A New Generation of Pannists
Steelpan players, known as pannists, celebrate the instrument’s versatility, saying it can perform any genre. Its ability to adapt to modern influences is drawing younger fans.
“Pan is an out-of-body experience,” said seventeen-year-old student Jael Grant, who began playing at age five and is now a member of the Exodus Steel Orchestra, a band her grandfather has supported for decades.
For fellow teenager Jahzara Lee Babb, the steelpan is a refuge. Now a fine arts student at a local university, she said, “When I am going through dark times, I can go home, stand behind my pan, run some scales, and it makes me feel better.”
On a recent Saturday at the panyard of the Exodus Steel Orchestra, young children prepared for a Christmas concert. Students as young as five followed instructions from instructors who paused lessons to refine their technique. The panyard follows a school-like structure where lessons progress by age group.
Exodus remains the reigning champion of Panorama, Trinidad and Tobago’s premier steelpan competition held each carnival season.
Roots of Rebellion and Revival
The steelpan emerged from a history of defiance and creativity. After emancipation in the 1830s, authorities banned percussion, string, and woodwind instruments during carnival celebrations following unrest. Former slaves responded by discovering music in discarded oil drums, ultimately giving birth to the steelpan.
“A spirit of the people went into this and came out, evolving from African roots to global acceptance,” Samaroo said.
The instrument was officially declared Trinidad and Tobago’s national instrument in July 2024, and modern manufacturing is helping fuel its revival. At Panland, a steelpan-manufacturing company operating for more than 30 years, workers now create a steelpan in a single workday using power tools, high-heat equipment, and mobile apps. In the past, it could take over a month to complete one instrument.
Panland also produces instruments with powder coating, which increases durability and resists moisture and rust. “It is more durable in many circumstances than chrome,” said Michael Cooper, the company’s president.
Cultural Recognition and Expanding Participation
The steelpan has recently gained greater formal recognition. Trinidad and Tobago updated its coat of arms, replacing Christopher Columbus’ ships with the steelpan. The United Nations now recognizes World Steelpan Day each year on August 11.
Once considered an instrument only men could play, the steelpan is now embraced by countless women and girls.
“It has been a lovely experience,” Grant said. “You do not just hear the pan or play the pan. You feel the music in your body.”
