Steel band seminar

The business of music - with emphasis on the steel drum - will be the subject of the free "Business Seminar for the Steelpan Community" today, sponsored by Basement Recordings.

Marketing, promotion, financing and other topics will be examined in the session, which will target steel band managers, officers and musicians of all ages.

The seminar will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. For information, call (718) 485-7120, send E-mail to basement@usa.com   and visit the Web site at www.basement2000.com and click on "Events."

Barbados fete

A service of thanksgiving and praise celebrating Barbados' 36th anniversary of independence will be held Dec. 1 at 4 p.m. in Brooklyn at the Hanson Place United Central Methodist Church, 144 Felix St. (between Lafayette Ave. and Hanson Place). The Rev. Peter Fenty, rector of St. Joseph of Nazareth Anglican Church, Ontario, Canada, will deliver the sermon.

Festival kickoff

The African Diaspora Film Festival, featuring films from around the globe, will begin Friday in Manhattan.

The series - which kicks off at the Anthology Films Archives, 32 Second Ave. (between E. First and E. Second Sts.) - will run through Dec. 15 and include more than 60 films. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and Teachers College of Columbia University are among the venues that will sponsor screenings.

For a full schedule, visit www.africanfilm.com or www.nyaddff.net. For information, group sales and admission for students, call Rebeca Davilla at (917) 306-8616.

Musical merger

The question, "Why has soca never achieved the international fame of reggae?" may be answered through a unique merger: collaborative CDs with dancehall reggae and soca.

The creators of the new Now One record label are investing in the infectious rhythms of Caribbean soca and the popularity of reggae, specifically the recent international excitement over dancehall.

In Trinidad yesterday, the musical collaboration was launched by New York-based entertainment entrepreneur Junior Burton, the CEO of Legendary Records. His plan is to merge the genres by putting soca and dancehall artists on the same releases and market them internationally.

"Reggae music has received so much love from Trinidad over the years it is wonderful that Jamaican artists are now eager and happy to give some love back," said Burton.

Burton said he'll have top-flight dancehall performers - such as Elephant Man, Lady Saw, Merciless, Ninja Man and Red Rat - doing collaborations with Denise Belfon, Impulse, Millennium Krew, Supa Chile and other soca stars. Material for the first CD was recorded recently.

For information, call Global Event Marketing Specialists at (868) 780-5177 or E-mail socareggae1@yahoo.co.uk

Caribbean keynoter

Prime Minister Denzil Douglas of St. Kitts and the Grenadines is the scheduled keynote speaker for the Caribbean Peoples International Collective Scholarship/Awards Gala on Dec. 6 at Crystal Manor, 1460 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn. The donation is $75, which includes a reception and dinner. Call (718) 856-4474.

Awarding Haitian-Americans

The First Data Western Union Foundation recently announced that five Haitian-American organizations received grants and two students received scholarships.

The organizations are the Human Services Coalition of Dade County, Fanm Ayisen Nan Miyami, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami, Little Haiti Housing Association and Minority Development & Empowerment. The scholarship winners are biology/pre-med major Vera Lafosse and nursing student Joanne Celestin.

The foundation has awarded more than $1 million in grants and scholarships around the world this year. For information about the foundation, visit the Web site - www.firstdatawesternunion.org  - or call (303) 967-6606.

Medal winner

The St. Lucia United Association New York - one of the city's oldest Caribbean-American organizations - recently celebrated its 82nd anniversary at Le Cordon Bleu in Queens.

At the event, Allen Chastanet, vice president of sales and marketing of Air Jamaica, received the organization's Dr. Spencer Medal of Honorable Citizenship, presented each year to a person who has demonstrated commendable community service. For information about the association, call (718) 481-6355.

Powerful play

"Last Dance for Sybil," a play by veteran stage and film personality Ossie Davis, is being staged in Manhattan at the St. Clement Theater, 423 W. 46th St.

The drama stars veteran actress Ruby Dee and focuses on two families, power and economic freedoms. Performances are Wednesdays through Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $40, with group discounts available. Call (212) 279-4200 to charge tickets. For information, call (212) 353-1176 or E-mail newfederal@aol.com