Culture and artd

Reggae

A style of Caribbean music originating in Jamaica in the late 1960s, known for its infectious rhythms, dynamic performers, and influences from American rhythm and blues, Jazz, Calypso, and African music.

The music has become popular among young people because of the message it carries – a message of peace and love that they can identify with. It is also an outlet for documenting social and political criticism.

In Jamaica it is one of the largest sources of income as it is a major earner of foreign exchange. Example, reggae sumfest

In the view of Professor Peter Manuel (1998), “Reggae can be considered to be a reinterpretation of American rhythm and blues”.

Famous artist ; Bob Marley, peter tosh, Third world

Bob Marley

A prominent figure in popularizing Reggae music in the 1970s with his Rastafari lifestyle, notably with the album Exodus, listed by Time magazine as the album of the century.

Calypso

A music style originating in Western African music, used by lower socioeconomic classes providing social and political commentary, mainly in Trinidad and Tobago, and historically used to resist colonial powers and poke fun at institutions such as Roman Catho

Artist and songs:

The mighty sparrow with: “Ah feeling hot, hot, hot” (which could be defi ned as Soca, a development of Calypso, see below), which has gained international recognition, and Calypso Rose’s “Fire in meh wire”

*(Black Stalin) “Caribbean Unity” (1979)

David Rudder’s “Haiti I’m Sorry” (2010)

both express a unity plea or a longing of Caribbean people for a collective regional identity and regional solidarity.

Steel Pan

A musical instrument invented in the 20th century in Trinidad from readily available material, associated with grassroots communities, developed from Carnival musical traditions, and widely used in the Caribbean and diaspora for various music genres.

It is also electronically tuned from soprano to bass to produce different sounds. It was originated from grass-root people on the outskirts of Port of Spain.

The names selected for the bands, such as Tokyo, Invaders, and Red Army, reflected the current situation of the war years, elements of resistance to domination, and the desire to project a tough image.

Local pan players went abroad to play pan, then settled and have now become involved in teaching young people there, not only to play the pans but also to tune them. This has resulted in steel pan music becoming part of some schools’ curriculums in Europe and North America.

Soca

A music genre developed from Calypso in the 1970s and 1980s, incorporating Indian rhythms, known for being dance music and in high demand during Carnival celebrations.

Punta Rock

Originated in Belize in the 1970s out of traditional Garifuna Punta. While originally in the Garifuna language, the music is now translated into English and Spanish and has become popular in Central America. . It was taken abroad, significantly to the Belize community of New York, where it grew in popularity and developed to take on new elements of more percussion, musical accompaniment, and sophisticated arrangements. T

How has music evolved?

, various forms of music have evolved to cater to the tastes of the younger generations, as in the case of the development of Punta Rock out of traditional Punta forms. Other examples of this development are the many forms of Reggae (such as Roots Reggae, Ragamuffin n) and of Calypso (such as Chutney, Soca, Rapso, Reggae Soca).

Explain 7 Culinary contributions to the Caribbean

*Salt Fish- A staple item in the diet across the Caribbean is salt fi sh. It was imported by the British to feed the slaves. Today, this has developed into regional variations such as: fried fish cakes (Barbados); saltfish and dumpling, saltfish and roast breadfruit (St Vincent); and ackee and saltfish (Jamaica).

Food made from discarded animal parts – chicken feet, pig feet, pig snout, fish head, cow heel or goat belly – and fed to slaves) all have a long regional heritage.

Various root crops (such as cassava, yams, dasheen or eddoes) that were part of the slaves’ diet are still very popular.

From the East Indians came the curries, pepper, lentil peas and various herbs and spices that are widely used in cooking,

Fry- The Chinese brought their ever popular Chinese-style fry rice, fry chicken and vegetables.

British- tea, porridge, Irish potato

Explain festival in your own words

there are two types of Festivals

Religious and Secular

Christian Festivals - Came from the Europeans, Muslim and Hinduism- East Indian Festivals.

Muslim festivals:

• Eid al-Fitr (fasting) – a religious celebration that marks the end of the period of Ramadan fasting for Muslims. It is a national holiday in Trinidad and Tobago.

• Eid al-Adha (sacrifice) – a holy festival known as the festival of sacrifice.

Christian festivals:

• Easter – the Christian festival symbolic of the death and resurrection of Christ, celebrated with an Easter parade.

• Christmas – represents the birth of Christ. It is celebrated by all nationalities and is highly commercialized and to some extent has lost its religious significance

Hindu festivals

• Diwali (light) – connects the East Indians to Mother India and is the festival of light over darkness. It is a national holiday in Trinidad and Tobago.

• Phagwa (colors) – also called Holi, a spring festival of colors

What are four ways that art and popular culture has influenced human development?

*Empowerment- promotes self-development, self-identity, has helped to push through hard historical times. People like Luis Bennett, Rewx Nettleford, Aubry Cummings have helped Caribbean people find their identity in life and a place in this world.

*Productivity- arts and popular culture has allowed people to make careers out of them, like, Sumfest, and has generated income for the country, through foreign exchange and international travel.

*Sustainability- Many Caribbean governments are making an effort to keep cultural traditions alive by promoting folk festivals. This is a form of cultural retention and can be marketed to promote economic and sustainable development via tourism.

*Equity in society- They are the tool used to express both the Caribbean people’s struggles for justice and against oppression,

What are major expressions of Caribbean Art form?

The Notting Hill Carnival (London, UK) – the largest street festival in Europe, it began in the mid 1960s. It allows cultural expression for the London West Indian community and makes the people of London, and more generally the UK and even the world, aware and appreciative of the cultures and traditions of Afro-Caribbean communities.

West Indian Day Parade (Brooklyn, New York) – also called Labour Day Parade, held since 1969 in Brooklyn (but the earliest known carnival parade was in Harlem in 1947), it celebrates Caribbean culture with dance, dress, music and culinary delights as the focal points of the parade.

Caribana (Toronto, Canada) – a musical street festival that depicts Caribbean culture. It began in 1967 and has developed into the largest cultural festival in North America

What are the contributions made by Louise Bennett

1919-2006

Was a Jamaican educator, poet, writer and folklorist.

• Travelled throughout the world publicising areas of Jamaican culture. This was done through her performances and lectures, and her work has been translated into foreign languages.

• Through her work, she gained international popularity and recognition for herself and, most importantly, Jamaican culture

• Her work provided a perspective on the lives of working-class women in the colonial and post-colonial world.

• Wrote her poems in Jamaican Patios and enabled Patois to be regarded as a national language

Explain the contribution made by Rex Nettleford 1933-2010

Was a Jamaican scholar, historian, social critic, choreographer and poet.

• National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica to promote Caribbean dance forms.

• Trade Union Education Institute

• Was a co-author of a seminal study of the Rastafarian movement in 1961. • His artistic work, particularly his choreography, was based on the concept of ‘cultural marronage’, which represented the spirit of resistance to the colonial rulers shown by the maroons.

Explain the contributions of Beryl Mcburnie

A Trinidadian dancer and teacher. • Was responsible for the promotion of the culture and arts of Trinidad and Tobago. • Articulated Trinidadian culture and heritage through her dance and was the fi rst person to promote primitive and Caribbean dance. • Taught West Indian dance in New York and performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. • Formed the Little Carib Dance Company, which gained an international reputation and was instrumental in spreading Caribbean culture to Canada, paving the way for Caribana

Paule Marshall

An American author who has her roots in Barbados. • Her writings are an attempt for black Americans to reclaim their African heritage. • Many of her books have a Caribbean context or themes running through them. • Her works feature strong, black, working-class women.

Martin Carter and Aubry Cumminngs

Martin Carter- Has been widely regarded as the greatest Guyanese poet.

• Is best known for his poems, which were based essentially on the themes of protest, revolution and resistance.

• Played an active role in Guyanese politics, being detained for a time because of his support for the People’s Progressive Party, which the British viewed as communist. He later briefl y became Minister for Information.

Aubry Cummings-

-Was a famous Guyanese musician, artist and singer.

• Believed popular music contributed to ‘the healing’ of Guyana during the 1960s and 1970s, around the time of independence and general political upheaval.

• The influence of race, class and colour in Guyana during the 20th century can be found in his music

Impact of carnival

This has contributed to the growth and development of the Caribbean and is the single festival that has defi ned the Caribbean. It is a street festival, combining steel band music, dance and costumes. It has contributed to the region in the following ways:

• Local music is given a place on the world stage.

• It brings all classes of people together.

• There is the transfer of technologies as band leaders incorporate these technologies.

• It brings in foreign exchange, particularly by attracting tourism.

• It provides tax revenue for the government.

• Employment generation is a direct and indirect result through the multiplier effect.

• There is an increase in gross domestic product (GDP) leading to growth and development of the region

History

Was originally from the Roman Catholic Faith, and occurred right before lent. The day when households used their supplies of meat and rich foods. (Carne vale)- Farewell meat. The French in particular brought these traditions and, along with other European traditions, such as masquerade and street theatre, they merged with traditions brought from Africa to create the Caribbean celebration of Carnival.

Carnival is still often held just before Lent in countries with a strong Roman Catholic influence, such as Trinidad and Haiti, while other countries celebrate at other times of the year. In Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados, Carnival celebrated Emancipation

Explain Crop over festival (Barbados)

Started in Barbados in the 1780s when it was the world’s leading sugarcane producer. The festival lasts for five weeks and highlights the history, art and culture of Barbados. In it, there is Cohobblopot where there is a show of costumes. There is a Calypso contest where Calypsonians compete for prizes as well as a title. The festival ends with a parade – The Grand Kadooment.

Explain Junkanoo (Bahamas)

It is usually celebrated at Christmas-time and started during slavery as a day when the slaves were allowed to leave the plantation and celebrate with their community; with dance, music and costume

Explain the Reggae Festival (Jamaica)

This started in 1978 and takes place in early August. The celebrations last for one week. Different types of Reggae music are played each night. It has evolved into what is now called Reggae Sumfest

Tobago Heritage Festival

A re-enactment of the history of the island that includes the Old Time Wedding, music and dance, and a crab and goat race, which is the highlight for the many tourists who visit the island specially to witness this event.

Explain the Tobago Jazz Festival

A yearly event that attracts artistes and patrons from the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom