Unexpected musical partnerships that rocked the charts
Goombay is a traditional Bahamian genre of music that shares its name with the drum that is at the center of its uptempo beat. Goombay is often played during festivals and carnivals in the Bahamas and Jamaica.
One of the most famous uniquely Caribbean instruments, the steelpan, or steel drum, comes from the shores of Trinidad and Tobago. It's bright, tinny sound is now recognized around the world.
Benna, also sometimes called ditti, is an uptempo genre of music similar to calypso that originated on the islands of Antigua and Barbuda. It spread across the two islands shortly after the prohibition of slavery, and was originally used to spread news and gossip from village to village.
While calypso is well-loved and celebrated throughout Latin America, it has its roots in 19th-century Trinidad and Tobago. The upbeat and melodic songs were used to express scathing political criticism against the Spanish colonial government that imposed itself on the people of the islands.
Though the famous conga line dance is believed to have been brought over by enslaved people from Africa into the West Indies before being popularized globally, conga music has its origins in Cuban comparsas: large groups of dancers, singers, drummers, and other musicians who would perform in the streets. In the early 20th century, the new Cuban government tried to ban congo drums and music, but this uniquely Cuban form of expression has continued to be the voice of the working class up through the present day.
Junkanoo music is played predominately during the Bahamian festivals of the same name that occur on both Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Lively Junkanoo dance competitions are highlights of festivals across the Caribbean.
The cultures of the Caribbean islands are some of the most vibrant and distinct in the world, in every aspect from the colorful carnivals, to the delicious food, and, of course, the wonderful rhythms and sounds that have been moving through these island nations for years, decades, and, in some cases, centuries. The indigenous and Afro-Caribbean styles that originated in places like Cuba, Haiti, and Guadeloupe have spread across the world from the United States to South America to Europe, and wherever they're heard, they put a pep in the step and a smile on the face of everyone around.
It's a blessing to be able to enjoy the sounds of the Caribbean from anywhere in the world, and learning the ins and outs and histories of the many different types of music from this region only adds to the reward. Intrigued? Read on to learn more about sonic beauty of the Caribbean.
Gwo ka, which translates to "big drum" in the French creole of Guadeloupe, is a family of Guadeloupean folk music that can be built around seven different rhythms, all played on the local drum of the same name. Traditional gwo ka music is usually accompanied by dances and lyrics that relate the old folk tales of the island.
The Cuban tradition of bolero is characterized by elegant, romantic lyrics dug from the depths of the singer's heart, accompanied by soft and smooth movements of guitar, piano, and occasionally a horn or two.
The long history of the coalescence of cultures brought from indentured and enslaved peoples from India and Africa in the Caribbean and South America is kept alive in Indo-Caribbean chutney music, a unique and lively mix of Indian folk music and Afro-Caribbean rhythms that originated on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.
The tiny Antillean island of Sint Maarten is home to quimbe, a style of lyrical song, sometimes accompanied by instruments and sometimes not, that was traditionally used to spread news and gossip across the island, but more recently has developed into a playful competition between skilled lyricists. Quimbe 'battles' are popular events at Sint Maarten carnivals.
From its humble beginnings in the 1800s, the Dominican music and dance of merengue has become wildly popular across Latin America. The genre's infectious tempo, kept with the traditional güira and tambora instruments (pictured), and led by an accordion, can keep couples on the dancefloor for hours.
Tambu, popular on the islands of Aruba and Curaçao, has a rich history stretching back to the 1700s, when enslaved people from Angola were brought to the Caribbean. Then, tambu was the rhythm that accompanied the Angolan fighting competition called kokomakaku. Today, the rhythm is enjoyed without the fighting, and lyrics are still sung in the local creole, Papiamento.
A genre that is now a staple of nightclubs around the world thanks to the Jamaican diaspora, dancehall started as an offshoot of reggae in the 1970s that prioritized its rhythm over the content of its lyrics. The popularization of electronic music in the 1980s, which had a huge influence on dancehall artists, further separated it from reggae and cemented dancehall as a genre all its own.
In the early 20th century, caused by incoming influences from the United States, the noun "jazz" became synonymous with "group," or "band." In this respect, mini-jazz simply means "small band," and refers to a smaller group of three or four members playing traditional styles like calypso that were traditionally played by larger groups of musicians.
Sources: (MasterClass) (All Around This World) (Carifrique)
See also: Where does our taste in music come from?
Hatian twoubadou music, which gets its name from the European French word troubadour, is the romantic and emotional music of Haiti, sung softly over guitar and usually accompanied by local percussion instruments.
Rara refers to Haitian music typically reserved for the island's Easter carnival. Distinguished by its use of the uniquely Haitian vaksin horns, rara music and its related dances are deeply connected to Vodou religion and the story of Haiti's fight for independence.
One of the most popular genres of music to come out of the Caribbean, specifically Puerto Rico, is reggaeton. Originating in the 1980s and later popularized by artists such as Daddy Yankee (pictured), reggaeton is now not only appreciated but constantly emulated by pop stars and singers of the Global West in the 21st century.
Perhaps the most iconic and enduring genre of music to come out of the Caribbean is reggae. Reggae has its roots in Jamaican folk music, called mento, and was popularized first in the 1960s by Toots and the Maytals, but truly took the world by storm in the 1970s when Bob Marley became an international icon.
Native to the island of Saint Vincent and practiced by the Afro-indigenous Garifuna people, Punta is a lyrical tradition that retells the old folk tales of the island's descendants. While modern punta music has spread to Central America and is sung in a number of languages, it is traditionally sung in the Garifuna language.
Chouval bwa is the traditional folk music of Martinique, and is closely related to Bélé. Performed as a call-and-response between the massive drums, the standalone singer, and a backing choir, improvisation on the part of all participants is common and welcomed.
From its beginnings as a tradition practiced by the enslaved peoples brought to Puerto Rico, bomba has grown to describe not just a genre of music but a uniquely Puerto Rican style of celebration involving an interactive and playful performance between all of its participants, from its dancers to its singers, and the always-important percussionists.
Kadans is the modern Haitian iteration of traditional merengue music. Bright and danceable, kadans is also referred to as cadence rampa, which literally translates to "rampart rhythm."
One of the more modern musical developments of the Caribbean is zouk, a genre championed by the Guadeloupean band Kassav' in the 1980s. Zouk is known for its infectious, uptempo rhythms and prominent horn melodies.
Guaracha is a Cuban song-and-dance tradition historically associated with the underbelly of society. Guaracha lyrics usually tell vulgar stories full of suggestive themes and antiheroes, making them a favorite of the rougher bars and brothels of Cuba.
Big drum music is central to celebrations in the Southern Caribbean. Based around a drum known as a boula, big drum music is commonly performed at carnivals, weddings, and funerals.
To many people, soca is the perfect blend of everything that makes different types of Caribbean music great. Elements of dancehall, calypso, and chutney are all present, and from its beginnings in Trinidad and Tobago it has become popular across the Caribbean, particularly in Barbados.
Bélé, a style of music and dance practiced on numerous Caribbean islands, is thought to be one of the oldest creole dances that originated in the region. The Bélé dance displays direct influence from African fertility dances from Benin. The dance and accompanying chants are still frequently performed at traditional funerals.
Extempo is a unique tradition of calypso most prominent in Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago. Rather than one collaborative performance, extempo is a friendly competition between singers who take turns improvising lyrics over calypso rhythms until a winner is declared.
One of the most popular Caribbean dances, taught in dance studios around the world, is the Cuban salsa. The intricate footwork is accompanied by a host of hand drums, bouncing piano melodies, and a tempo kept by an ever-present cowbell or woodblock.
The many musical styles of the Caribbean
The rhythm and movement of Caribbean culture
MUSIC Heritage
The cultures of the Caribbean islands are some of the most vibrant and distinct in the world, in every aspect from the colorful carnivals, to the delicious food, and, of course, the wonderful rhythms and sounds that have been moving through these island nations for years, decades, and, in some cases, centuries. The indigenous and Afro-Caribbean styles that originated in places like Cuba, Haiti, and Guadeloupe have spread across the world from the United States to South America to Europe, and wherever they're heard, they put a pep in the step and a smile on the face of everyone around.
It's a blessing to be able to enjoy the sounds of the Caribbean from anywhere in the world, and learning the ins and outs and histories of the many different types of music from this region only adds to the reward. Intrigued? Read on to learn more about sonic beauty of the Caribbean.