Over the years, the music has been an integral part of human culture. The number of musical genres is difficult to count, and sub-genres is and even more. Every continent, every country, every nation has its own unique authentic sound that the master holding musical instruments, warmed the hearts of his listeners. Sometimes it happens that neighboring states (in a variety of historical processes) affect the neighboring countries, thus bringing something new to the culture of the people and the music in particular.
A striking example of this influence can be called the influence of African music on the genre and the establishment of the Jamaican music. Jamaica is the third largest island in the Caribbean and was originally inhabited by Arawak people, when Columbus discovered it during his second voyage to America. According to Romer, Jamaica was one of the largest centers of the slave trade and the production of sugar cane, the island was densely populated by "Africans and people of African descent." Romer states that it is thanks to a huge number of Africans in Jamaica ”a high level of elements of African culture, including music styles" managed to maintain an inseparable part of Jamaican culture. According to Romer, the “one-drop rhythm, which is the basic rhythmic element of reggae music, is distinctly African”. Romer also indicates that, “the call-and-response style of singing”, which is an integral part of elements and is widespread in the music of West Africa, can be found in almost all genres of Jamaican music, in fact, this element is forming the basis of toasting, which, in turn, “forms the basis for rap music”. According to Romer, in Jamaican music, much of which is sung “in patois”, “the language of African-descended Jamaicans” is also reflected (Romer, “All About Jamaican Music. From Mento to Ska, Rocksteady to Reggae, and Beyond!”).
An important part of any musical sound, and Jamaican music in particular, are the drums. According to Cahn, depending on the occasion, a festival in Africa is arranged. Difference of the sounds and the percussion rate, played by the master, indicates mood and speed of movements for the listener. Kahn gives the example, when in the African tribe twins are born - dance and drums differ from the case when there is only one child born (Kahn, “Drumming, the Backbone Of African & Reggae Music”). This observation is very important because in all genres of Jamaican music known to date, drums are playing a very important role.
Do not forget that it is a long tradition and the isolation of the continent formed the African music, which in turn laid the foundation for the Jamaican music. Sherman states that Jamaican music is created “with incredible amount of soul and pride”, Jamaican music is more that just music it is “a way of life for those, who live in Jamaica and many others around the world”. Music of Jamaica, according to Sherman, which is more than five hundred years old now, has been formed due to “injustice, international influence, ineffective governing, and unequal distribution of wealth”. At the moment, Jamaican music, according to Sherman, has four major genres, which form a general idea of the Jamaican music. These genres are reggae, dancehall, ska and rocksteady, each with its own unique sound and style of performance. All these styles are relatively young, such as the genre of ska, which was born in 1960 and immediately became the voice of the free people and has become inspiration for “many third world liberation movements” (Sherman, “The Rise of Reggae and the influence of Toots and the Maytals”).
In conclusion, we can say that the music of Jamaica, which has its roots in the African prairies, irrevocably changed the world by opening itself to the world. Music of Jamaica gave the world great artists such as Bob Marley, whose compositions are still playing in our playlists and open festivals of independence, love and peace around the world.
Works Citied
Kahn, J. (n.d) Drumming, the Backbone Of African & Reggae Music. The Dread Library.
Web. 1 Apr, 2016. Retrieved from: https://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/kahn.html
Romer, M. (25 Nov, 2014) All About Jamaican Music. From Mento to Ska, Rocksteady to
Reggae, and Beyond! Worldmusic.about.com. About Entertainment. Web. 1 Apr,
2016. Retrieved from: http://worldmusic.about.com/od/genres/a/Jamaican_Music.htm
Sherman, M. (n.d.) The Rise of Reggae and the influence of Toots and the Maytals. The
Dread Library. Web. 1 Apr, 2016. Retrieved from:
https://debate.uvm.edu/dreadlibrary/sherman.html
