Akua Leith has come to understand that good health is a form of wealth—and that poor health can drain both life and resources. The highly decorated musician and steelpan innovator has navigated dangerous twists and turns throughout his life, but always envisioned greatness waiting on the other side. He attended St Ann’s Primary and South East Port-of-Spain Secondary before eventually progressing to tertiary studies locally and abroad. But the path was anything but smooth.
Leith’s list of accomplishments is vast. He studied at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, and Northern Illinois University, excelling academically and immersing himself in a range of impressive music-related activities before pursuing graduate studies. Under the direction of Professor Liam Teague, steelpan pioneer Clifford Alexis, and Dr Ronnie Wooten, he honed his craft and represented the instrument with distinction both locally and internationally.
He has graced countless stages as an artistic director and conductor, collaborating with renowned musicians and working with steel and traditional orchestras for major productions—including Errol Hill’s acclaimed Man Better Man.
Leith has also made steelpan history. He is credited with producing the version of Trinidad and Tobago’s national anthem performed by the National Steel Symphony Orchestra (NSSO), a rendition that stands alongside those of musical giants such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Summer Olympics, Commonwealth Games, Pan Am Games, and CAC Games. He also co-founded and co-directs Musical Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago (MITTCO), the country’s first eight-pillar ecosystem steelpan manufacturing company, launched on August 11, 2022, in Diego Martin.
In 2023, Leith guided MITTCO to win the Breakthrough Exporter of the Year Award, adding to a growing list of local and international honours.
Among his many achievements, he has directed, advised, drilled, arranged, and composed for numerous ensembles in competition. He also established the MITTCO Ensemble and recently celebrated supplying 100 steelpans to the Government of Grenada for its COMS-PAN programme—an achievement he proudly shared as a milestone for his team.
But Leith’s journey began far from the world of awards and international stages.
He grew up with his five younger siblings and his mother in a small community in Cascade, high on the hillside in an area known as Casablanca. There was no running water, and although his father did not live at home, his mother ensured they maintained a meaningful relationship.
“My mom used to drop my siblings and me to see him on weekends, and he was very fatherly and kind,” he recalled.
He describes his mother as strict yet gentle—well-spoken, clean, organised and kind, but ready to raise her voice when necessary.
“Things were tough,” Leith said. “Living on the hills meant my brothers and I had to trek through tracks and cross a river to get to and from school. We brought buckets of water for cooking, cleaning and bathing, and we took refreshing baths in the cold spring up the hill because there was no tap water. It was a daily chore.”
As a boy, he sustained serious injuries to his wrist, foot, and eye but never blamed anyone. “I took responsibility and learned from my mistakes,” he said. Many of his dreams were shut down early on, but while disappointment and anger surfaced, he always picked himself up and moved forward.
One constant was the sound of the steelpan.
“When I heard pan through the atmosphere, it haunted me,” he said. “Entering the pan world became my escape from trouble—my go-to for peace.”
Leith was often judged harshly because he was a poor Black boy with dreadlocks—something heavily stigmatised, particularly based on where he lived. But he remained determined to keep his locks neat, do the right thing, and maintain his happiness.
Against all odds, he encouraged himself—and now encourages others—to stay centred even when life feels overwhelming. His philosophy is simple: every effort should lead to positive results.
“Despite the challenges, I remained humble, God-fearing, spirit-guided, intentional, and a big dreamer,” he said. “We must help up one person at a time.”
To fund his education, Leith cleaned yards, washed cars, operated forklifts, and off-loaded containers, among other jobs. But his passion was always pan.
“I truly wanted to be engulfed in pan,” he said, “so eventually, I learned to make pans at Panland for five years.”
Leith is especially concerned about male mental health.
“Men’s empowerment is critical. The world is advancing, and if you are not confident in yourself, you can get left behind,” he said. “Poverty was an education for me—it sparked an inquisitiveness to learn and experience more.”
While he appreciates the “rags to riches” arc of his story, what matters most, he said, is the process—“the gut, the perseverance, the stickability, the don’t-give-up attitude.”
“There is no one else responsible for your success or failure but yourself,” he added. “It’s one of the hardest pills to swallow. The only person who can change or improve you is you. It gives you back productive power. It all depends on the power of your mind. Write your vision, speak it, and pursue it every day.”
For the 2025–2026 National Panorama season, Leith is working with the former single-pan champions Chord Masters.
He credits several men for helping him along his journey, including David Hackette, Mario Joseph, and brothers Robert and David Hadad.
Closing off the year, Leith and his MITTCO team earned the 2025 Entrepreneurship Award—another milestone in a life shaped by resilience, vision, and unwavering commitment to the steelpan.
