Community festival blends performance and education
The Griffin Museum terrace in Winchester hosted the AfroCaribe Festival on 25 July, a free afternoon of music, storytelling and hands‑on art that drew families and musicians into a programme exploring Caribbean and African traditions. The event, presented by Winchester Community Music School with support from Arts Winchester, featured performances, workshops and demonstrations designed to connect audiences with the history and technique of the music.
Debra “Sista Dee” Smith delivered a central presentation on the origins and social meaning of the steel pan, accompanied on stage by her band, Dis‑N‑Dat, and the school’s Wicked Steel ensemble. The festival also included two sessions of Puerto Rican Bomba led by Yaya Inaru ni, drumming and storytelling, and visual‑arts activities run by artist Linda Forsythe.
“A lot of people don’t know that it’s from Trinidad. They don’t know that it came out of rebellion and slavery,”
The presentation placed the steel pan in its historical context and explained elements of the instrument’s construction and range. Smith described how steel pans are made from oil barrels and noted the relationship between playing area and pitch: the larger the surface, the lower the notes. She explained ensemble roles — the lead pan carrying melody, doubles in the alto range, and a full bass set requiring multiple drums because each drum holds only a few notes.
Outside on the terrace, musicians performed beneath a canopy pitched against the museum’s stone wall. Audiences heard brass, drums and vocals projecting across the space as members of the community engaged with workshops and demonstrations. Children and families took part in art‑making sessions, and informal games and social moments were observed, including twins Caleb and Lucas Jones, 11, playing the Barbadian card game SPIT.
Local organisations and sponsors
The festival was supported by local sponsors and partners, reflecting a collaborative community effort to present world music and cultural education in Winchester.
- Presenter: Winchester Community Music School
- Partners: Arts Winchester, the Griffin Museum
- Sponsors: Winchester Co‑operative Bank, Winchester Rotary Club, Winchester Cultural Council
| Programme element | Activity |
|---|---|
| Steel pan | History talk, demonstrations, performances by Dis‑N‑Dat and Wicked Steel ensemble |
| Bomba | Two sessions of Puerto Rican Bomba — drumming, storytelling, audience engagement |
| Visual art | Hands‑on activities led by Linda Forsythe |
The festival underlined Winchester’s growing calendar of community arts events and the role of local institutions in bringing diverse musical traditions to public spaces. By combining performance with explanation and participation, the organisers aimed to deepen understanding of the instruments and cultures represented, while offering an accessible, family‑friendly afternoon on the museum terrace.
For residents and visitors, the AfroCaribe Festival provided both entertainment and education — a reminder that world music traditions often carry histories and techniques worth preserving and sharing in the local community.
