Artist's Corner:

Khamai – The Steel Band Man: A Photograph taken by Franco Chen.

18th October 2021, 12am

To mark BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2021, each week, in our Artist’s Corner we’ll bring you images from the photographer Franco Chen. Born in Jamaica, of Chinese heritage, Franco became resident photographer at the Irish Cultural Centre when it opened in 1995. He has taken hundreds of photographs of many of the bands and artists who performed here over the years and he’s captured so many ICC magical moments.

Throughout Black History Month 2021, we will bring you some of Franco’s photos of our wonderful friends in the Black Community and we’ll give you a glimpse of Franco’s unique eye and intuitive gift as a portrait and event photographer and as a London street photographer.

This weeks photograph from Franco’s gallery is of Khamai,  the magnificent musician and mentor of Caribbean Music, who is also known as The  Steel Band Man,

For many years, the ICC space was so, so gifted and blessed by the sounds and vibrations wafting throughout the building… of Steel Bands and Steel Pans practising and preparing for the Noting Hill Carnival !!

Most of those who practised and prepared at the ICC were the Young Steel Pan and The Young  Steel Band musicians, starting out!  Those young people were taking their first steps on their musical heritage journey –  and without doubt Khamai, – The  Steel Band Man was one of their mentors and one of the  magnificent elders, who truly inspired them!

The ICC is so delighted to bring this image of Khama,  who is an inspiration to young black musicians: and just like our friends in the Caribbean and Black Community, the ICC is and  has always absolutely been committed to ensuring that our young Irish  musicians are guided on their Irish music learning journey and gifted with their musical heritage.

We look forward,  to one day soon, to see us all come together with all of our young Irish, young Black  and  young Asian musicians to celebrate at the ICC, our shared musical joy,  our humanity, our friendship and our culture.

The ICC so looks forward, to one day  soon  when all  of our young people, across all cultural heritages and communities, will play music and will  share and enjoy and create new possibilities together!!