NEW YORK – The American West Indian Carnival is just around the corner. It’s a tradition that began in Harlem in the 1940s and eventually became an indisputable part of Brooklyn culture.
Inside the Crown Heights headquarters of the American West Indian Day Carnival Association, the warm, rhythmic tones of the steel pan reverberate through the rehearsal room.
In the corner, bright and beautiful costumes with feathers and rhinestones await their day in the park.
It’s been a busy few weeks for WIADCA, the group behind the planning and promotions for the annual event.
“We’re here almost every day from 9 to sometimes 2 in the morning,” says Shyka Scotland, legal counsel for the WIADCA board.
A host of events are planned for this week ahead of the big day on Monday. WIADCA says they get about 1.5 million spectators a year and more than 100,000 participants.
“This year is special because we’re coming out of COVID, right. This is our first year fully back in the park,” explains Scotland.
Playing inside the rehearsal room, Unison Steel is a small orchestra formed in 2020. Although they practice mostly at home, the use of space at the association’s headquarters allows them to play as they please.
“It changes my mood and brightens my day. And playing a steel pan is a really big expression that’s something I can’t live without,” says Sparkle Demming, band captain and manager.
Right now, they’re gearing up for “Pan in A Minor,” a musical extravaganza scheduled for Saturday at the Brooklyn Museum. Music professor Kendall K. Williams says the steel pan is a unique instrument worth celebrating.
“The instrument came out of a time of war when it was created, and so we relate to it quite a bit,” he says.
There’s nothing like learning from a pro, so CBS2’s Hannah Kliger tried to learn a simple tune. Although it took some effort, she says that even learning the instrument felt like a celebration.
Check out the full lineup of carnival events ahead of the big day.
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