Historic Day for Barbados Celebrated with Steelpan Instrument

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Pride of Nationhood: Declaration of the Republic and Installation of the President of Barbados

Fireworks peppered the sky at midnight as Barbados officially became a republic, with screens set up across the island so people could watch the event that featured an orchestra with more than 100 steel pan players and numerous artists. It was also broadcast online, prompting a flurry of excited messages from Bajans living in the U.S., Canada and beyond. -- USA Today

Several artists, including Barbados’ 100-plus-player National Youth Steel Orchestra, performed as part of the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony events to mark the birth of the new republic of Barbados on November 29, 2021. 

The song “This is who we are” arranged by Mark Forde, was just one of several performed by the steel orchestra, under the musical direction of Lowrey Leon. 

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