From the birthplace of the steelpan
Pan poetry, original art and signature pieces by Jesse Andrews, De Pan Poet — celebrating the one instrument the whole world owes to Trinidad & Tobago.
#portofpan
“I am the grand pan kingdom
— De Pan Poet
Call me Port of Pan
In every Trinidadian
The soul is Port of Pan
In every Tobagonian
The soul is the port of pan
Throw de eye on de pan.”
Latest news
Two signature pieces Jesse has designed since the late ’90s — each one a small monument to pan heritage.
Signature piece · No. 1
One of the first pieces Jesse created and sold in the late ’90s. “What time is it, Mr. Andrews?” Time for a change. Trinidad and Tobago should be recognized and celebrated for bringing steel pan to the world.
Shop the watch
Signature piece · No. 2
The second instalment of Jesse’s signature pieces: a fusion of pan heritage and spiritual energy. This pendant captures the rhythm and soul of proud Trinidadians.
Shop the pendantIn the press · Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
A feature by Sandra L Blood in the Guardian’s We Heritage pages, Monday, September 28, 2026 — marking T&T’s 50th Republic anniversary with a five-course menu from the Port of Pan pantry.
“Many parts of the world, and surprisingly, many people in parts of the world that have pan, still do not know the power of the instrument and where it’s from. And I really want to change that mal-nutrition.”
Jesse Peter Andrews, De Pan Poet
The article presents poetry as food for the mind and soul, with Jesse as the “poetry chef” of Port of Pan. For the golden Republic anniversary he serves five poems of national cultural interest:
What’s next for Pan Poet
“I remain resolute to serve the pan as a main dish to make T&T and the world healthier and happier.”
In loving memory · 1935 – 2026
Slinger “The Mighty Sparrow” Francisco
July 9, 1935 – September 27, 2026
The undisputed Calypso King of the World died peacefully in New York on September 27, 2026, surrounded by loved ones after a brief illness. He was 91. For more than seven decades his voice, wit and fearless storytelling were the soundtrack of Trinidad and Tobago — and Port of Pan joins the nation and the wider Caribbean in saying thank you.
Official site: mightysparrow.com · Share your tribute with @therealmightysparrow
Born in the fishing village of Grand Roy, Grenada, Slinger Francisco moved to Trinidad with his mother when he was one year old and grew up in Port-of-Spain. He sang in the choir at St Patrick’s Catholic Church, then fell in love with calypso in the tents of the capital — the art form that let him mix humour, melody and performance with sharp social and political commentary.
He started out as “Little Sparrow” in the early 1950s. In 1956, Jean and Dinah won both the Calypso King and Road March titles and signalled a new era for calypso. Over the decades that followed he wrote more than 500 calypsoes and recorded more than 70 albums, carrying the music from local tents to Madison Square Garden and London’s Royal Albert Hall.
He was more than a calypsonian: a chronicler of Caribbean life, a fearless commentator and one of the defining voices of the region. His family shared that, before his passing, he gave his life to Christ and was baptised in the Seventh-day Adventist faith. A public celebration of his life is being planned.
“A giant voice has fallen silent.”
“He changed Trinidad, and he changed all the performers in Trinidad.”
“Kaiso has lost its greatest. He was like a Sobers in the team.”
“Thank you, Almighty King of Calypso.”
Sources: Trinidad & Tobago Guardian, September 28, 2026 (pages 1, 6 & 7) · ABC News · CBC News
Meet De Pan Poet
Born in Trinidad and Tobago. Grandfather, father, husband.
Jesse celebrates a love of his culture and the arts through his cultivated knowledge of steelpan history — travelling the world in search of steelpan everywhere it is played, and expressing it through pan poetry and art.
He grew up in Morvant in the days when “The Lady Young Road” was “de Yankee Road,” drawn as a youth to the pan music of the once great Ebonites steelband. In the 1980s he joined the Arima Angel Harps, performing at the national Panorama championships under the leadership of acclaimed arranger Nervin ‘Teach’ Saunders.
Port-of-Spain said: “You renamed my backyard the Brian Lara Promenade — but I have all the records on Pan. So pass a legislation and call me Port-of-Pan.”
— De Pan Poet
Born in Trinidad; schooled at Nelson Street Boys’ R.C.
Plays with Arima Angel Harps at Panorama
Produces “Pan Secrets,” a one-hour video on playing the tenor pan
Designs the tenor pan watch face; publishes “Crackshot Pan Poems,” coining the phrase “Port of Pan”
Releases “Pan Soul Vibrations Pan Poems” and “Bareback Pan Sticks Pan Poems”
Publishes “Port-of-Pan,” poems devoted to the steel drum and the struggles of pan players
Lemme tell ah story
Steelpan World
From backyard oil drums to concert halls, carnival roads and the United Nations — the steelpan is often called the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century, and it came from us.
The steelpan is created in Trinidad and Tobago, according to AP.
The UN General Assembly proclaimed World Steelpan Day, observed every year.
A new generation is bringing pan back to stages and streets across the islands and the diaspora.
Kaiso · Calypso of Trinidad & Tobago
Calypso and steelpan grew up together in the yards and tents of Port-of-Spain. Calypsonians wrote the melodies; the panyards turned them into Panorama. Here are some of the greats — tap any song to listen.
Aldwyn Roberts · 1922 – 2000
The Grandmaster. Ten Road March titles between 1963 and 1976, and the calypsonian most loved by the panyards for writing music made for the steelband.
ListenLinda McCartha Sandy-Lewis · b. 1940, Tobago
The first woman to win the Road March (1977) and, in 1978, the first woman crowned Calypso King — the title was renamed Calypso Monarch in her honour.
Listenb. 1953, Belmont
One of the most successful calypsonians of all time. His 1986 breakthrough and “The Hammer,” a tribute to Desperadoes leader Rudolph Charles, became pan anthems.
ListenWinston Bailey · 1941 – 2018
The Bassman from Belmont. Road March with “Bassman” in 1974 and “Stranger” in 2001, and Calypso Monarch in 2000.
ListenDr Hollis Liverpool · b. 1940, Chaguaramas
Scholar and nine-time Calypso Monarch (1976 – 2017) — the record-holder, passing Sparrow’s tally in 2017.
ListenLeroy Calliste · 1941 – 2022
Five-time Calypso Monarch and a voice of Caribbean unity; his “Mr. Panmaker” honours the men who build the instrument.
ListenKelvin Pope · 1932 – 2009
The only calypsonian to win four consecutive Calypso King titles (1968 – 1971), and a Road March winner with “Thunder” in 1987.
ListenSandra Des Vignes-Millington · 1957 – 2021
The first woman to win Calypso Monarch twice (1999, 2003), singing for the working people of Trinidad and Tobago.
Listen1953 – 2023, St James
Eight-time Calypso Queen and Calypso Monarch in 2001 with “Nah Leaving” and “Heroes.”
ListenRaymond Quevedo · 1892 – 1962
Calypso King in 1946 and 1947, and the first calypsonian elected to public office. He took calypso to the United States with Roaring Lion in 1934.
ListenRupert Grant · 1914 – 1961, San Fernando
Author of “Rum and Coca-Cola,” copied into a US hit for the Andrews Sisters. He won his lawsuit over it — a landmark for calypso writers.
ListenSoca’s next generation
Pictured beside Sparrow and Kitchener as a boy in 1984, he carried the torch from calypso into soca — and called Sparrow “the greatest to ever do it.”
ListenPan in calypso
Calypsonians have always sung the praises of the pan. Start with these four.
Titles and dates: Kitchener · Calypso Rose · Rudder · Shadow · Chalkdust · Black Stalin · Duke · Singing Sandra · Denyse Plummer · Atilla · Lord Invader
The Wall
Original art by Jesse Andrews alongside the people and places of Caribbean culture. Tap any piece to view it large.
Pan Poet Products
Bring the spirit, flavour and creativity of De Pan Poet into your home — or gift it to someone with pan in dey system.
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The Travel Guide
Two islands, one rhythm. Here’s how to plan a trip around the music — panyards, Panorama, Carnival, food and the beaches in between.
No tourist visa needed for stays of up to 90 days. Bring a return or onward ticket and proof of funds, per the Government of Canada.
Fly direct from Toronto Pearson (YYZ) to Piarco International (POS) on Caribbean Airlines or Air Canada, per Kayak.
The currency is the Trinidad & Tobago dollar (TTD). Recently TT$1 has been worth roughly C$0.21, per XE — so about TT$5 to C$1.
For pan, go in January–February for Panorama and Carnival. The dry season runs roughly January to May; August brings Emancipation, World Steelpan Day and Independence.
Tobago is a short domestic flight from Port of Spain, or a longer scenic ride on the inter-island fast ferry. Book early around holidays and Carnival.
Traffic drives on the left. Use registered taxis (plates start with “H”) or a trusted driver, and ask your guesthouse for recommendations.
Panorama 2027 dates from Pan Trinbago; Carnival dates from Visit Trinidad.
Most bands practise in the evenings in the weeks before Carnival, and visitors are usually welcome. Go with a local or a guided panyard night tour that hops from yard to yard with street food between stops.
Practice schedules change every season — confirm on each band’s social pages before you go.
Settle in near Woodbrook or St. Clair. Evening lime around the Queen’s Park Savannah with coconut water from a roadside vendor.
Morning walk through downtown and the Brian Lara Promenade. After dark, make the panyard trail.
Drive the North Coast Road for the lookout views, then swim and eat bake & shark on the beach.
Take an afternoon boat tour to watch the scarlet ibis — the national bird — fly in to roost at sunset.
Visit the Temple in the Sea at Waterloo and the Pitch Lake at La Brea. Stop for doubles and roti along the way.
Hop across to Tobago. Spend the afternoon at Pigeon Point, then catch the sunset at Store Bay.
Glass-bottom boat to Buccoo Reef and the Nylon Pool, or hike the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. Finish with crab & dumpling.
Come hungry. The street food is half the trip.
Learn the language. A “lime” is hanging out, a “fete” is a party, and “wine” is how you dance.
Respect the yard. Ask before filming players up close, and never touch a pan without permission.
Book early for Carnival. Flights, rooms and fete tickets sell out months ahead.
Sun and water. The sun is strong year-round — carry sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water on the road.
Cash helps. Keep small TTD notes for vendors, taxis and panyard food stalls.
Travel smart. Check Canada’s travel advisory before you go and stay aware at night.
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Caribbean culture, the history of steelpan and its origin in Trinidad and Tobago, its evolution around the world — or an order. We reply within 24 hours.
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