Paradise

I am excited to share with you the rich and vibrant history of my country’s music and dance. It is the oil that gives the people energy.

Jamaicans love music…

You’ll hear the music and see the dance every where you travel over the island. You can’t ignore it as it will be coming from the rum bars, street corners, supermarkets, stores and even the church. Jamaica’s rich music culture is rooted in the traditions and customs of our ancestors who used their music and dance to ease the hardships of life and to celebrate. There are many different forms of music but the most popular are the folk music, reggae, gospel and dance hall.

Folk Music

Jamaica’s population is 90% of African descent and was brought to the island as slaves to work on the sugar cane estates. Life was hard and there was very little recreation and entertainment so the slaves turned to the musical instruments they once used in Africa.

The drums, fife, abeng, cow horn, bamboo fiddles and many others instruments were first used to make music.

Out of this era came the traditional folk dances like the Maypole. This is a dance usually performed on the first day of May where groups of dancers would plait a pole with ribbons.

There was also the Quadrille, a ballroom dance done by the plantation elite. The Kumina, an African ceremony performed by slaves add the music and dance as two of the major features.

It was out of the traditional folk music that Jamaica’s other music evolved. Today reggae, gospel, and dancehall are the more popular.

To keep alive Jamaica’s rich culture of music and dance, several festivals and cultural events are organized by organizations and the government of Jamaica