In celebration of Trinidad and Tobago’s national instrument, the steelpan, US search engine Google yesterday featured a doodle illustrated by Trinidad and Tobago-based artist Nicholas Huggins.
A doodle is an animated alternation of the Google logo featured on its homepage and appears temporarily to commemorate special events, holidays, and even famous or historical figures around the globe.
Yesterday’s doodle was about the sweet sounds of the pan and where it came from.
In the Google Doodle, the two OS in the word Google were replaced with what appeared to be a two-second steel container.
And with just the click of a button, no matter where one was in the world, after accessing the Google home page, they would have been able to enjoy the sweet culture of T&T in the accompanying Google Doodle video.
According to Google, yesterday was also the day of the introduction of the pan to the world.
Its website stated: “On this day in 1951, the Trinidad All Steel Pan Percussion Orchestra (TASPO) performed at the Festival of Britain, introducing the world to the steel ceiling and a new genre of music.”
And on its social media platforms, Google posted: “Did you know it was just an acoustic instrument invented during the 20th century? The Steel Pan was created by resilient and innovative musicians in Trinidad and Tobago. Today’s Google Doodle celebrates the national instrument of the TT and the history behind it.”
Creative T&T
In a one-minute-and-ten-second clip accompanying the Google Doodle, the world was reintroduced to a 1956 Trinidad and Tobago, beginning with a van used to transport steel containers moving through the hills of Port of Spain, a male figure tuning a steel pan, a steel band performing on a stage as is the case at the Panorama events usually held at the Queen’s Park Savannah, and the same van is seen transporting players on board as masqueraders look on.
The animated video also included other cultural features such as a double-decker stand and the St James’s Street sign.
The music for the video was composed by jazz musician Etienne Charles and features steel soloist Len “Boogsie” Sharpe along with pianists Josanne Francis, Jonathan Castro and Luke Walker.
In an interview with Google, Huggins said he drew inspiration from early pot innovators like Winston Spree Simon and Ellie Mannette.
He added that he was nervous when first approached because he wanted the story being told to be one that made Trinbagonians around the world proud.
Similarly, Charles said he drew inspiration from his first time on the road with a steel band as well as Boogsie’s music.
When asked what message he hoped people would take away from his doodle, Huggins said: “I hope people can take away a sense of the industriousness and creativity of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. We are a small country on the global stage. , but the fact that we have given the world such a beautiful instrument is something to keep in mind.”
And Etienne said: “I would like people to feel the magic in the steel pan. An instrument born of Afro-descendant resistance in Trinidad. A symbol of community, artistic excellence and scientific innovation. Hopefully, this makes people more inclined to come hear Pan in his birthplace and feel the energy that comes from him. It really is like nothing else.”
Huggins also tweeted yesterday that the doodle had received an overwhelming number of views making it the number one trending video on YouTube yesterday.
He tweeted: “Really shocked by the outpouring of messages and calls today. I love my country and I love seeing the sense of pride that Google Doodle has given our people.”
Pride and pleasure
This is not the first time that Trinidad and Tobago has been the focus of Google Doodles.
Last year, Google also joined T&T in celebrating its 59th year of Independence with a doodle showing the national flag waving in the wind and framed in a boat-like structure, which was also done in the national colors of red, white and black.
And in response to Google’s choice of Doodle yesterday, many locals residing in Trinidad and Tobago, and especially many living abroad, posted on their social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter how ecstatic they felt to see the culture of of them appearing on such a wide scale. platform and congratulated Charles, Etienne and Sharpe on a great job.
