It’s Steelband Time in Nigeria with the Third Secondary Schools’ Panorama

Chief Bowie Sonnei Bowei
at the 2010 Nigeria Schools Panorama

Nigeria - The first day of November is a day of Steelpan in Nigeria, as the Nigerian Schools Steelband Panorama is held for the third time. Last year, seven steel orchestras participated in the event and this year, additional schools which were in the audience as spectators will now take the stage themselves. In all, twelve orchestras are expected to duel in the battle for steelband music supremacy with the goal of winning top prizes. “We expect more schools to participate each year as more schools get interested and want to join up in the competition,” Chief Bowie Sonnie Bowei tells When Steel Talks. Bowei, who came up with the idea of the Nigerian steelband competition is also President and founder of the Nigerian Steelband Association. He also owns and operates Panland, Nigeria’s only steelband manufacturing facility.

The Gymnasium Hall at the National Stadium in Abuja, Nigeria will be ringing with the sound of steel from bands representing the following schools and states: - NOWA Secondary School - Karshi, Nassarawa State; Nigerian Navy Secondary School - Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Corona Secondary School - Agbara, Ogun State; Bells School - Ota, Ogun State; Loral International School - Igbesa, Ogun State; Queensland Academy - Lagos; Sanya Grammers School - Lagos; Federal Government College – Lagos (defending champs); Greensprings School - Lagos; Nigerian Navy Secondary School - Lagos; Airforce Secondary School - Ikeja, Lagos (2010 runners-up) and St. Jude’s Private school - Festac Town, Lagos.

Members of the Steelband from Federal Government College, Lagos celebrate their win in 2010

His Excellency, President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria, is the special guest of honour at this year’s schools’ steelband panorama; it is the President’s first attendance of a major Pan event. Last year’s guest of honour was former Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the country’s Military Head of State in 1977, and responsible for the participation that year, of Starlift Steel Orchestra in FESTAC (Festival of Arts and Culture). Starlift’s visit sowed the seeds for the steelband movement in Nigeria, after the orchestra left behind steelpan instruments used for their FESTAC appearances, instruments originally manufactured in Nigeria to reduce shipping costs from Trinidad.

The expense of all prizes given out at the 2010 competition - which included desktops, as well as a set of steelpan instruments manufactured by Bowei’s company Panland and raffled off - was borne solely by Bowei. Thankfully this year some state governments and corporate organizations have stepped in with prize donations. These include gold, silver and bronze medals, a school bus for the winners, a 25KV power generating set for the first runners-up and ten desktop computers for the second runners-up. Laptop computers will also be given to the best Pan players for melody, rhythm, harmony and bass, as well as the best drummer. And Bowei is again making available another set of steelpan instruments to be won by a lucky school; and at stake once more is the BS Bowei Trophy. The show begins 10:00 a.m. at the National Stadium in Abuja, NIGERIA.