You can hear the drums playing in the distance. Its 5:30am and we are at the Queens Park Oval. Our maxi van driver Derrick is joining us for our first Trini republic day celebration.
We walk down a street with throngs of revelers each with a beverage in their hand. It’s not coffee that is apparent from their excited faces, although 5:30 seems a bit too early in the day. We can hear the band approaching down the street, the sharp and distinct sounds of the steel pans rising as they get closer
A band in action
“You can do a jump-in with the next band” shouts Derrick. I look confused, so he explains – “You can go Chipping behind them”. “What is Chipping?” -I ask and he demonstrates. a forward shuffle of the feet, knees slightly bent, as he shifts his weight from one feet to the other swaying from side to side in response to his shifting weight.
Chippin away
The band draws nearer- It’s the “Invaders” a popular steel pan band. There are 6 steel “panyards” being featured in todays republic day celebration. The history of steel pan drums in Trinidad is complex and rooted in its Afro-Caribbean history. These deceptively simple looking steel drums are made from recycled oil barrels., each meticulously crafted to produce a specific sound. The music is loud, fast paced, high-energy, with a melodic percussion that draws you into it, till your feet start moving on their own.
The flag bearers. Each band has one. Different people take turns with the flag.
Behind the Invaders are the band followers “chipping” to the music. It looks effortless so I “jump-in” doing my best imitation of chipping although it feels more like clomping. At the end of the street I step away from the band and circle back to the next one that follows. I repeat this over and over again behind each band that follows, until I have the “Chipping” thing down. Now to try “Wining”- or maybe that is best left for another day. I am ready for some liming.
Derrick and our band of sailors
Sailing Jajabor 