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Looking For Panists to Play at Cabo Verde’s Carnival

Holland - “Who wants to go to Sao Vicente, to play at the carnival parade on 16/17 February 2015?  Flights are around €450, (depending on departure point); [and you are] staying there for free. There is not very much time to organize, so respond as soon as possible.  

“Cabo Verde celebrates carnival every year in a Brazilian way, with influences from Africa. The group of islands is situated off the west coast of Senegal, Africa. Every year the carnival is celebrated with loads of colors and dancing.  It starts in January and ends on the weekend 15/16 and 17 Feb.  

The island of Cabo Verde
The island of Cabo Verde

“Cabo Verde is not a rich country. Cesária Evora was born there and sang some beautiful songs about it. Steelpan isn't known there. They do play a lot of percussion on anything possible. Doesn't cost a lost of money, so there is a similarity with the origin of the Pan.  

“During the parades there is a lack of musicians. There is just percussion, not enough, and certainly no musicians - who play the melody of the carnival song. This is a big problem for the dance groups (up to 300 people).  

“In March this year I took my pan with me. Didn't play at the carnival, but just played in the neighborhood I was living. People were very enthusiastic about it and wanted to learn how to play.

“This gave me and the organizers of the carnival the idea to gather a group of pan players to join the carnival. Immediately after that came the idea to teach people there and form a steelband together.”  

For more information, call or email:

Deanne Pijl deannepijl@gmail.com
tel: 0031 (0)6 55 55 61 01 or info@steelbandshop.nl 

From the Newsdesk of Steelbandshop Holland

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