Creolization in Caribbean Music

For my blog's theme, I will be focusing on Creolization in the Caribbean, specifically in Caribbean music. Creolization, according to Tour de Tores, is the "mixing" of music as well as cultural traditions due to migration (LeGrand, C.G. C., 2019). The result of this mixing is a new cultural product of entertainment, food, etc. Due to the wide diaspora of the Caribbean, there is a mixture of cultures from several regions such as African, European, and East Asian. It is through the blending of these cultures that creolization happens. An example of creolization in Caribbean music is Reggae. 

Reggae music, according to Portes de Roux, is a “complex musical fusion” of Jamaican styles (ska and rock-steady) and American rhythm and blues (Portes de Roux, n.d.). 

One of the most well-known reggae artists is Bob Marley. Marley earned his status as one of the greatest artists of Jamaica through his reggae music. 

Photo taken from: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/24/manufacturing-bob-marley


Here is one of Bob Marley's greatest hits, Jammin.

 

Video taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFRbZJXjWIA


Again, creolization can occur in more than one aspect of culture. Aside from music, creolization can also be seen in language. Creoles, such as Jamaican Patois, are the result of contact between two languages (typically slave masters and slaves) (African American Registry, n.d.). Jamaican Patois is the result of contact between English and West African influences, according to the African American Registry (AAREG).

Here is a snippet of Jamaican Patois:

Video taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqWkD_DZSNE







References

African American Registry. (n.d.). Jamaican Creole, an article. African American Registry. https://aaregistry.org/story/jamaican-creole-a-brief-article/ 

LeGrand, C.G. C. (2019). Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of the Caribbean. Sound Caribbean. https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9789769624900

Portes de Roux, H. (n.d.). Creolization in the Caribbean Heliana Fortes de Roux. https://folklife-media.si.edu/docs/festival/program-book-articles/FESTBK1989_09.pdf 


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