From Berbice to Buxton, 19 bands bring the Rhythms of One Guyana to life at the Seawall Esplanade.
MUSIC in Guyana and throughout the Caribbean is unique and vital. It is a way of storytelling, tradition, and identity, and no instrument highlights this quite like the steelpan. This is one of the main reasons the Ministry of Education’s Unit of Allied Arts, in collaboration with EdYou FM, is spearheading several projects aimed at developing music literacy nationwide. From newly trained music coaches to the development of robust music classes that integrate into the curriculum, music is becoming as integral to school life as it is to culture. At the heart of this effort is the AMITY Schools Steelpan Festival.

The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Rhythms of One Guyana’, a fitting representation of the unity, diversity, and celebration that the event embodies. Education Officer with responsibility for music within the Ministry, Joel Gonsalves, sat down with Pepperpot Magazine to talk about the steelpan festival, the work behind it, and how some of Guyana’s most talented high schoolers are reigniting the love of steelpan.
The word AMITY means friendly relations, and the AMITY Schools Steelpan Festival is far older and much more of a collaborative effort than most people might think. Although it has been reintroduced with new vigour and vibrancy, it is an event that dates back to 1996, when it was first held at the Botanical Gardens. However, like many events around the world, the festival was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic and only returned last year.
This year, the festival has grown, welcoming more bands and drawing larger crowds as they light up the Seawall Esplanade on Sundays. Highlighting the festival’s success, which triggered its expansion, Gonsalves stated, “We got a favourable response from the public because it’s really pleasing the public. And as a result, we had our second concert on the 6th of July. The concert was deemed a success. And again, the public — it was based on public demand – they asked for more. And so, we listened to what the public said and it was extended for another six weeks.”

The festival currently features a total of 19 bands from all across Guyana. From students at New Amsterdam Secondary in Berbice to Abram Zuil Secondary in Region Two, to community-based bands like Buxton Pride, AMITY is a live musical showcase unlike any other, with each band bringing its own unique flair.
Moreover, Gonsalves noted that this weekend’s performance is especially significant, as it celebrates World Steelpan Day; and it is the first time Guyana will be marking the occasion in such grand fashion. “This one on Sunday is going to be special. Because August 11 is known as World Steel Band Day. And in honour of that day, we’ve decided that we’re going to dedicate the entire show on Sunday to World Steel Band Day. Now, this is not only going to happen in Guyana. These concerts, steel band concerts, they’re not going to only happen here in Guyana. It’s happening across the world, in cities across the world,” Gonsalves shared.
The AMITY Schools Music Festival currently features more than 100 young Guyanese musicians; some are passionate about turning steelpan into a career, while others pursue the art form alongside other ventures. Regardless, Gonsalves says the goal is to make music an option for every Guyanese child at some point in their academic journey. This is one of the guiding principles of AMITY: creating a space where young musicians are given not just opportunities, but exposure.
“What we try to do with AMITY is to give the students the exposure because they would have learned a number of things throughout the school year. So this is like an end-of-term close. And that encourages students as well. You want to enhance your musical skill and knowledge, you can do the after-school programme as well,” he further shared. “AMITY is a product of the active music programme we have during the regular school hours as well as the after-school programme. And so, it’s now being showcased what we do.”

However, AMITY extends beyond steelpan and even beyond schools. Traditional music in the Caribbean is increasingly being used as a catalyst for tourism, and Guyana does not intend to be left behind. As Gonsalves explained, with continued support and investment, the Ministry of Education sees AMITY’s potential to gain international recognition and become a major part of Guyana’s tourism calendar. “We’ve decided that we can grow the product by not only having it surrounding specific concerts. But we want to gain international recognition,” he said.
It would seem that international recognition has already begun. As Gonsalves explained, “Now we are getting visitors from all over the world. Usually, we would see people from Berbice, Essequibo, and Linden. But the Esplanade has now become international — a site where international visitors gravitate to. We heard someone was from Kuwait. Someone from the United Kingdom. We had Canadians, we of course had Americans. We had Jamaicans, Antiguans, and Bajans.”
AMITY has also garnered incredible local support, with many visitors viewing the event as a unique and refreshing alternative to the music typically heard at public events. This Sunday, AMITY will kick off again at 5 p.m. with two more bands set to showcase their pan skills. But the event offers much more, as Gonsalves shared, “This Sunday we are going to have two bands again. People are going to see the New Amsterdam Multilateral and the Buxton Pride. Those are the two bands. We are going to have some guest artistes as well as some solo pianists. They are also going to grace the stage. We are inviting the public to come out.”
So if you’re around the Seawall Esplanade this Sunday, look out for the AMITY Schools Steelpan Festival, and feel the Rhythms of One Guyana.