Steelpan
Steelpan is a melodic percussion genre originating from Trinidad and Tobago, centered on tuned steel drums crafted from oil barrels. Performed by large ensembles known as steelbands, it drives Carnival celebrations with syncopated calypso rhythms, polyphonic arrangements, and vibrant energy. It is fundamentally an instrumental genre characterized by metallic resonance and communal rhythmic interplay.
Origin: Trinidad and Tobago
Era: 1930s–present