Jamaican Dance & Music

The history of Jamaican music is absolutely intertwined with the history of the Jamaican people. The large number of African slaves and their descendants helped to maintain a high level of cultural elements from Africa including musical styles. These elements are the basis of Jamaican music as we know it, even the language is reflected in it, sometimes sung in patois. English and other European influences appear in Jamaican music and dance too.

Dance:

·    Quadrille: During the colonial era black slaves musicians played the popular music of Europe for their owners and performed the Quadrille and other dances and song styles to amuse them. Quadrille features the mento music which is played with acoustics instruments such as banjo, guitar and rumba box. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agIqGccZaQY

·    Kumina: This is an indigenous religion, dance and music. Its beat is largely influenced by the drumming and dance style of the Akan people. It is a folk Jamaican dance very similar to Candomblé, a religion here in Brazil. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcOgi1e-ihs

Music:

·   Reggae: It is considered the genre that represents the Jamaican music. It was influenced by the Rastafarianism, both musically and lyrically. Important artists of Reggae like Bob Marley and Eek-a-Mouse were born in  Jamaica. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kx6OW3AufM

·  Ska: It combines elements of mento music and American R&B featuring danceable rhythm and harmony singing. It is one of the basis of the Skinhead Movement. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0ZrHMY5Cso

·      Dancehall: It is a reformed kind of reggae with electronic beats. At the beginning its lyric content was about violence and impoverishment in Jamaica. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ4TW5Z8eu0