...Did you know that Caribbean music has been an influence by African, European, Indian and Indigenous cultures? It also goes back and tie in with Central America and South America. Caribbean music goes back centuries, since Caribbean music is a mixture of different cultures, it goes all the way to the fifteenth century and so on. This type of music is here to bring happiness and most of the time tell what has happened in the past or what somebody has been through. Music is for the soul. The history of the Caribbean music goes back so far, it even goes back when the European settlers were importing slaves from west and central Africa. That was when the slaves used music to express themselves. Immigrants and human trafficking was very heavily...
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...African American Arts May 5, 2010 Exploring African Influence on the West Indian/Caribbean Culture It is rather interesting that in a “progressive” society, our behavior and practices are firmly rooted in our past. It is ever possible to wrest ourselves from the harsh realities of slavery and its ensuing impact upon Caribbean way of life? Probably to do so may mean rewriting history (our-story) or maybe knowledge of where we are coming from is what we need to help us embrace those parts of our history that must be held on to and celebrated and relinquish the undesirable parts: our acceptance of being powerless; our antagonistic propensities. The impact of West Indian slavery on the cultural landscape of the Caribbean cannot be under estimated or taken for granted. In the entire discourse on West Indian slavery, it is often taken for granted that the discussion centers solely on enslaved Africans. However, slavery brought to the region not only African but Europeans (Spaniards, French and British) and consequent to its abolition, there was the advent of the east Indians. We see the impact of their influence in the names of places; the foods we eat; our music and dance; our arts and craft, gender and sexuality. As these and other anecdotal evidences are examined and the academic contributions of others are analysed, Caribbean culture will be clearly defined and its origin established. Slavery and its attending impact upon Caribbean culture have been both positive and negative as remnants...
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...Formell, played an electric-accoustic guitar and also provided lead vocals; Gustavo Amarante, a Brazilian, played electric bass guitar; and Jesus "Chuito" Quintero, a Venezuelan, on percussion--"Chuito" not only played the congas, but the bongos as well. The instrumentation of congas, bongos, and guitars, derived from both Afro-Cuban and European music traditions suggested the music itself may be son and would also "creatively fuse equal amounts of white- and black-derived musical features" (Manuel 43). Professor Washburne repeatedly mentioned in class the importance of actual Cubans to classifying music as authentic, and although the supporting members of the group were not truly Cuban or even from the Caribbean, Formell's heritage as "truly Cuban" and as the bandleader gave the performance an authenticity that may not exist if Formell was Puerto Rican. Formell seemed to have a unique skin tone, suggesting that he would fall under the classification of "creole" which is defined by Stuart Hall as having the "contemporary meaning of 'racial mixing' or ... the inter-cohabition between the two 'races' " (Hall 29). The music of Formell y Son Radical seemed closely similar to the guajira or guajira-son genre, which Peter Manuel describes as "a spin-off of the son which ... fused a medium-tempo son rhythm with guitar-based backing" (Manuel 44). The band began with a song titled "Guantanamera,"...
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...other Caribbean musicians gave the world a conscience as they became the ‘voice for the voiceless’ not just at home, but also internationally. Has the current crop of musicians in the region deviated from this practice? Explain your response. The Caribbean is home to many of the world’s greatest and renowned musicians. Musical icons like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Mighty Sparrow and Jimmy Cliff worked hard; and with their great musical talent were able to use their music to inspire and create a level of consciousness in black people of the region and all over the world. These men, through the lyrical content of their music touched the lives of the down trodden, lifted the spirit of the hopeless and stirred in the hearts of men and women the passion to fight against the injustices of their own region and in so doing sensitised the universal world. Bob Marley’s music is just as popular today as it was in the early seventies when he released the single ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ and has continued to live on even in his absence. His music and that of his fellow counterparts; has continued to be the voice for the voiceless, regionally and internationally. Their music has been an opportune medium, which was used successfully to bring to the fore many of the social, political, economical issues that have plagued our societies. It was Bob Marley who sang “one good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain”, and indeed, historically, the influence of music on the...
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...The Proliferation Of Ska The music most commonly associated with Jamaica is reggae. However, this was not the first type of music to emerge from the island nation. Mento, ska, and rock steady all preceded reggae. “Mento was Jamaican folk music that combined sacred and secular elements. The styles mixed Pocamania church music, Junkano fife and drum sounds, the European quadrille, slave-era work songs, and even elements of American jazz. It was the first type of music recorded in Jamaica.”[i] In contrast rock steady is, “roughly half the speed of the standard ska beat, and the texture of the instrumentation is much less dense. Also, in rock steady the reggae accent patterns started to emerge. The guitar was played on the second and fourth beats of the four-beat measure while the bass guitar emphasized the first and third beats. The role of the drums was absorbed by the percussive playing of the guitar and bass, so the drummer’s role was diminished.”[ii] Ska music would come about in the early 1960’s, about the same time Jamaica was in the process of gaining it’s independence from England. “The general ska band lineup was a core of singer, guitar, bass, and drums, with the addition of a horn line of varying size. At barest minimum, the horn line included a saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. The style itself was a mixture of influences including Jamaican mento, American rhythm and blues, jazz, jump bands, calypso, and others. The ska beat was fast, appropriate for dancing...
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...Caribbean Festivals at Home and Abroad Concept of Carnival/Festival Carnival brings about a "second world condition" so that when carnival comes around, another world is created and people go into that world. Notion of carnival as one of “the decentralising forces that militate against official power and ideology. Carnival as the interruption of dominant discourses “to surrender the critical and cultural tools to the dominant class and in this sense, carnival can be seen above all else as a site of urgency.” Mikhail Bakhtin in Rabelais and His World- Uses the term in reference to carnivals of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Bakhtin one of the key theorists on carnivals. Bakhtin-Carnivals allowed people mostly from the under class to rebel momentarily against social conventions and the class and financial hierarchies that structured society. Bakhtin- Carnival in medieval times offered a “second world and a second life.” Play, mockery, inversion, laughter and profanity all elements in Bakhtin's canival. Bakhtin-Carnival underlined is not a spectacle seen by the people; they live in it and everyone participate because its very idea embraces all the people...It has a universal spirit; it is a special condition of the entire world, of the world's revival and renewal in which all take part.” Bakhtin's views on Carnival have led to many theorists using Bakhtin's views to discuss carnival. Robert Stam- Carnivals can be politically ambiguous affairs that can be egalitarian and emancipatory...
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...Tiffany R. Anderson Music 102 – Section R April 29. 2014 Coming from a family with a diverse musical background, I was exposed to most, if not all, genres of music at a very young age. My music library has a variety of songs, ranging from hip hop to jazz to rock. Every song gives off a different vibe and connects to my soul in different ways. However, as a native of the island of Jamaica, I have a high interest in music from the Caribbean. The diverse sounds of the musical genres such as Reggae, Dancehall, Soca and Chutney are great examples of the growing musical trends that distinguish Caribbean music from other musical cultures. Dancehall music isn’t for the “boring” folk. You either are ready to sing and chant, or perform one of the latest dance moves, if applicable to the song. I recently attended an event for a friend’s birthday at a local nightclub, which featured performances from both signed and unsigned dancehall artists. Attendees, both young and old, raved all night long and sang the songs of each performer with enthusiasm. Being that typical West Indian parties last all night, there was an abundance of music to be played. A few of my fellow dancers and I displayed some dance moves and event taught some of the guests how to do them. I is a wonderful feeling to see people of different ethnicities enjoying themselves, whether they understood the lyrics to the songs or not. To gain a better understanding of the rise of Dancehall music, you first have to...
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...Akari Devonish Caribbean Studies Culture is the beliefs or customs of a society. There can be two distinctive types of culture, material culture which consists of all tangible things created by the members of society like architecture, cuisine etc. and non material culture which comprises society’s belief and norms like music and religion. In recent times however, due to the increase of development and modernization, many traditional practices can be erased, retained or even renewed. We can see these changes in the Caribbean, especially in Barbados. Culture erasure refers to the process of gradually removing various traditions from society. This usually comes from newer generations having little or no interest in certain traditions. In the Caribbean the majority of young adults prefer foreign music, clothes and even sports. For example, there is a severe decline in people who would prefer to listen to calypso over foreign music. In terms of sports, there has also been a reduction of cricket fans. In the past there were masses of people who flocked to the cricket grounds to watch the West Indies. Those who didn’t were usually at home watching from their television or listening to it on the radio. In modern times, other sports like football, has gained a massive increase in popularity over cricket. In addition, the advances of technology can have an effect on the rate of culture erasure as well. Although they might save much needed time and energy, the introduction of various...
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...Candice Payne English 102 Research paper on carnival Mardi gras Just the name Mardi gras conjures up images of drunken, bead-wearing revelers dancing through the streets of New Orleans. But how, and when, did this huge mid-winter party get started? Here's a look at the history of Mardi gras throughout the ages and across the nations. Herman states, Historians tell us that the ancient Romans probably kicked off the Mardi gras celebrations. (pg. 115)Their mid-February festival known as Lupercalia honored the god Lupercus, alternately known as the god of fertility and the god of agriculture and pastoral shepherds. In either case, his party definitely had Mardi Gras-like qualities, including days of feasting and drinking. And a little enjoying the "pleasures of the flesh", probably, too -- in fact, the term Carnival, often synonymous with Mardi gras, is derived from the Latin expression meaning "farewell to the flesh." Like most of the ancient Roman and Greek festivals, Lupercalia was adopted and adapted by the Church as a way of subtly converting the local pagans to Christianity. The carnival-like celebration of Lupercalia thus morphed into a last "fling" before the beginning of the Lenten period. Lent refers to the 40 days of pertinence and purification celebrated between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. During Lent, the religiously faithful refrain from a number of indulgences of the "flesh", including eating meat. (pg. 220) What began as a Roman-based...
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...Topic: Treats faced by coral reefs in the Caribbean. In the Caribbean, the natural structures of the coral reefs are faced with many severe dangers which are caused naturally and by human activities. Coral reefs however, are living communities. Coral polyps are tiny marine creatures that secrete a calcium carbonate or limestone shell around their bodies, which remains when they die. The long shells become cemented together to form the physical structure of the reef on top of which the live Coral polyps grow. The coral reefs are significantly beneficial to the Caribbean region, thus, certain strict measures should be implemented to minimize or reduce the dangers posed to the coral reefs. The coral reef structure provides protection to plant and aquatic life. Waves break on the reef ensuring that a calm lagoon or stretch of sea occurs between the reef and the coastline. Coral reefs are therefore, ecosystems that support an immense variety of life and also have great potential to produce new medicine for mankind. The coral reef is important to the Caribbean regions with regards to the tourism industry. Thus, these reefs should be protected from human threats. First of all, Caribbean countries can immediately create marine reserves which are places in the ocean that are completely protected from uses that remove animals and plants or alter their habitats. These reserves are off limits to fishing activities because destructive fishing methods physically destroy the reef when explosives...
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...subsequent weeks. Few characters: There are only two characters in the short story: Brackley and Teena. One central incident: The central incident is Teena’s arrival in London. Conflict: The intrusion of Teena into Brackley’s seemingly uncomplicated life in London. Turning point/surprise: The main turning point is at the end when Teena reveals that her aunt is coming over to stay with them. 2 2a The short story is set in post-war London before 1962. There is a reference to the Colonial Office in London which handled matters related to the British colonies. Trinidad and Tobago was a British colony until 1962. 2b Brackley is the protagonist of the short story. He is a young Tobagonian who has come to London in search of work. Being a Caribbean he realizes that it is difficult to find decent work and accommodation in a white society such as London. He seems to have resigned to his fate, which has often been so typical of many immigrants from the colonies. When encountering such challenges, it is easy to become passive, lazy and apathetic. He also understands that the English do not care and that he has to rely on himself. In this environment he also tries to adapt to the British society by e.g. playing rummage and putting emphasis on material objects such as the bed. In relation to Teena he shows that for him a relationship to a woman is more a question of comfort and having someone to take care of the domestic needs and the household than romanticism. To secure this he is willing...
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...Access the importance of any two perennial national festivals in the Caribbean Carnival is Bacchanal! It is an annual celebration of life found in many countries of the world. Carnival is the time when individuals releases themselves and parade with enjoyment of the various Caribbean local art forms. According to Julia Hewitt “in the Caribbean, carnival as a mode of performing resistance, the memory of repression and sacrifice but also of hope, in a sense of becoming other”. “Caribbean festivals embody an aesthetic formally rooted in the early European, African and Asian traditions brought to the West indies between the 15th and 19th centuries, as well as from 20th century publications, broad casts and artistic movements. Caribbean festival arts are evidence of the transformation worked by a creoles aesthetic.” Judith Bettleheim et.al. Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago and Jonkonnu in Jamaica are two perennial festivals in the Caribbean. These festivals have been celebrated in the Caribbean for years and play an integral role in the maintenance and development of the region. Moreover, they contribute significantly to the nation’s social, economic, cultural tourism welfare. The Caribbean has many festivals such as Jonkonnu and Carnival. Jonkonnu has several schools of thoughts but according to Richard Allsopp denotes that Jonkonnu is more likely related to Yoruba word Jonkoliko, one elevated as a figure for fun or disgrace. This seems logical, especially since many of the...
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...Analysis of how and where the influence of bass culture has occurred in the United Kingdom Name Institution Introduction Bass culture began as one of the key musical paradigm shift of the rave and breakbeat hardcore in the United Kingdom in the early years of the 1990. Since its introduction in the 1980’'s, bass culture has undergone significant transformation in terms of style and incorporating dance elements from different music genres such as dancehall, hip hop, funk, and electro music among other music genres. Some of the pioneers considered having brought the bass to the UK between the years 1980-1990 include Joey Beltram, CJ Bolland, L.A. Style, and Richie Hawtin. However, historical analysis shows the period 1898 to 1992 as the period of “cross pollination” of the bass culture. This period saw the incorporation of the UK hard-core sound into the bass culture. The process included incorporating hard-core sounds from different countries such as the Belgium, Germany, and the Holland. Therefore, this essay discusses the ways in which the bass culture had developed in the UK and period when it witnessed greatest significant influence on the culture. How the Bass Culture occurred in the United Kingdom over the Last 6 Decades The bass culture was introduced in the UK by the influx of the Jamaican reggae musicians in the early ages of the 1950’s. However, it did not emerge as expected due to constraints such as violence...
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...Rastafari This page intentionally left blank Rastafari From Outcasts to Culture Bearers Ennis Barrington Edmonds 2003 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Bangkok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi São Paulo Shanghai Taipei Tokyo Toronto Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Copyright © 2003 by Ennis Barrington Edmonds The moral rights of the authors have been asserted Database right Oxford University Press (maker) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Edmonds...
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...Introduction “Up, you mighty race, accomplish what you will.” Marcus Garvey Rastafarianism is a religious movement born out of black slums of Jamaica which harnessed the teachings of the Jamaican born black nationalists, Marcus Garvey and conditionally uses selective Old Testament Christian writings to support its teachings and practices. Among Jamaican society, members of the Rastafarian movement were commonly perceived as social outcasts because of their anti-establishment way of life and their pride in identifying themselves as people of African ancestry. The inspiration which led to its genesis in the 1930’s was Messianic or millenarian in nature has been sustained and pervaded by a sense of African triumphalism. Although physical repatriation to Africa has not been fulfilled as Garvey or the founding Rastafarianism originally hoped, followers learned the “idea of Africa as home” can be a psychologically, culturally and spiritually empowering experience- all of which are important ingredients for creating positive ethno-racial self- conceptions of self and community. (Singh 2001) To participate in a form of active engagement towards liberation, Rastafarianism practice “reasonings”. The purpose is to heighten awareness by discussing local and worldly issues in an open communal environment and also emulating what theologian and educator Paulo Freire called conscientization. Conscientization arouse people’s consciousness and sense of self-redemption from the bottom up...
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