The documentary
The movie Re-percussions is the story of the steelpan, which has evolved from the drum brought by African slaves to Trinidad to become a completely different instrument integrated into an orchestra. The performance of a Trinidad orchestra in Lagos, Nigeria for the 1977 Fespac festival captivated a young boy, Bowie Sonnie Bowie. He never forgot this musical revelation and, 25 years later, Bowie devoted his life to spreading the steelpan in Nigeria. But it wasn’t easy; he first had to learn the difficult trade of “tuner” to make the instrument, then faced the indifference of Nigerian society.
His solution is to target street children, but can he succeed?
Technical information
Format: Documentary
Runtime: 52′
Directed by Kim Johnson
Produced by Barthélémy Fougea et Jean-Michel Gibert
Written by Kim Johnson
