Happy World Steelpan Day!
August 11 is World Steelpan Day. Join us and find out about intercultural education and outreach through musical and other traditions with CEIBA-EDUtainment.
UN Declares August 11 World Steelpan Day
In declaring World Steelpan Day the United Nations noted that the steelpan, also known as a pan, steel drum, and sometimes, collectively with other musicians, as a steelband or steel orchestra, is a musical instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago. It is played using a pair of straight sticks tipped with rubber; the size and type of rubber tip varies according to the class of pan being played. Some musicians use four pansticks, holding two in each hand. This grew out of Trinidad and Tobago’s early 20th-century Carnival percussion groups.
Steelpan and sustainable development
According to the UN, Cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind. The importance of promoting and preserving cultural diversity is set out in the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.
The steelpan possesses cultural and historical significance and correlates to cultural, social and economic development. It also has the potential in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, through its use in sectors such as tourism, culture, education, as well as science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
World Steelpan Day
Acknowledging that the steelpan promotes inclusive societies, sustainable communities and the creative economy and can have a positive impact on mental health and well-being, gender equality and youth empowerment, the General Assembly decided to proclaim 11 August as World Steelpan Day.
The Assembly invited stakeholders to observe World Steelpan Day, through activities aimed at raising awareness of the cultural and historical significance of the steelpan as well as its link to sustainable development.
The UN Resolution
The UN resolution of July 24, 2023 declaring World Steelpan Day reads in part:
Reaffirming also its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled
“Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, in which
it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and
transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to
working tirelessly for the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, its recognition
that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty,
is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable
development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three
dimensions – economic, social and environmental – in a balanced and integrated
manner, and to building upon the achievements of the Millennium Development
Goals and seeking to address their unfinished business,
Recalling that the Sustainable Development Goals and targets, as set out in the
2030 Agenda, are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of
sustainable development, and acknowledging the importance of taking measures to
ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning
opportunities for all, including expanded opportunities for all children, particularly
girls, to access quality education, as well as the need to promote peaceful and
inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and
build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels,
Reaffirming its resolution 77/192 of 15 December 2022, entitled “Literacy for
life: shaping future agendas”, in which it expressed its conviction that literacy is
crucial to the acquisition by every child, young person and adult of the essential
knowledge, skills and competencies that will enable them to address the challenges
that they may face in life and represents an essential condition of lifelong learning,
which is an indispensable means for effective participation in the knowledge societies
and economies of the twenty-first century, and to promote inclusive and equitable
societies,
Recalling its resolution 77/268 of 18 January 2023 on education for democracy,
in which it recognized the importance of equal opportunities for young people,
including young women, to be an integral part of decision-making processes and
participate in all spheres of life, and reaffirming that lifelong learning is an
indispensable means for effective participation in the knowledge societies and
economies of the twenty-first century and for promoting inclusive and equitable
societies,
Reaffirming the importance of promoting and preserving cultural diversity, as
set out in the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, and emphasizing
that cultural diversity and the pursuit of cultural development by all peoples and
nations are a source of mutual enrichment for the cultural life of humankind,
Recognizing the cultural and historical significance of the steelpan instrument,
which originated in Trinidad and Tobago, and its correlation to cultural, social and
economic development,
Recognizing also the potential of the steelpan in advancing the Sustainable
Development Goals, through its use in sectors such as tourism, culture, education, as
well as science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics,
Acknowledging that the steelpan promotes inclusive societies, sustainable
communities and the creative economy and can have a positive impact on mental
health and well-being, gender equality and youth empowerment,
- Recalls the note by the Secretary-General transmitting the report of the
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on culture and
sustainable development;1 - Decides to proclaim 11 August as World Steelpan Day, to be observed
annually; - Invites all Member States, organizations and entities of the United Nations
system, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization, through its national commissions, as well as civil society organizations,
academic institutions and other relevant stakeholders to observe World Steelpan Day,
through activities aimed at raising awareness of the cultural and historical significance of the steelpan as well as its link to sustainable development.
About Dr Kris Rampersad
Dr Kris Rampersad is an international development consultant, UNESCO-trained culture specialist, National Geographic Educator, Google Digital Skills Ambassador, Women Techmakers’ Ambassador and Small Island Innovator’s Ambassador who invented the newest creative genre the MultiMedia MicroEpic. To learn more about how you may give effect to the UN Resolution and utilise other UNESCO instruments and for training, policy and programme development and book LiTTours LiTTributes or request copies of LiTTscapes make contact.
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