How did the use of steel drums start?

According to popular lore, they evolved or rather were invented

• from discarded Oil drums ( one group was even called the Esso

Steel Band) in Jamaica and or Trinidad. Unconfirmed sources claimed the authorities imposed a ban on Musical Instruments- thus driving this underground devellpment. it is a little hokey. I can scarcely imagine any civilized government banning musical instruments= which after all are used in Church services, patriotic marches, parades, etc- such a ban would be Titanically difficult to enforce, Mahnn!/ Buit so the story goes. they , unlike traditional drums have been tuned by annealing and are used to play melody part, not merely rhythm. a sort of poor-man"s Vibraharp.