Caribbean Art Forms

Module 1
Caribbean art forms
‘The Arts’ are described as “vehicles for cultural expression”.
(Thompson, 2017).
Note that there is:
• ‘High Art’ – classical approaches to art such as sculptures;
• Popular culture – mainstream culture based on the tastes of
ordinary people or the masses, rather than the elite.
The Arts can be divided into 3 major categories:
• Literary – literature, poetry.
• Performing – music, dance, drama.
• Visual – sculptures, paintings, music.
Past Paper Questions
• 2017. 1. Explain FOUR ways in which the arts have contributed
to human development in the Caribbean. 20 marks
• 2016. 2. Explain FOUR ways in which the historical experiences
and culinary practices of Caribbean people have
shaped/influenced food choices today. 20 marks.
• 2017 6. Festivals in the Caribbean have become
commercialized as a result of the influence of extra-regional
countries. Discuss the extent to which you agree with this
view. 30 marks
• 2015. 5. “Carnival and Phagwah create opportunities for
Caribbean people to publicly express their identities.” Discuss
the extent to which you agree with this statement. 30 marks
Caribbean art forms – popular music
• Popular music in the region:
Reggae – Reggae, style of popular music that originated in Jamaica in
the late 1960s and quickly emerged as the country’s dominant music.
By the 1970s it had become an international style that was particularly
popular in Britain, the United States, and Africa. It was widely
perceived as a voice of the oppressed. (Carolyn Cooper 2021, February
17). Reggae. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com
Caribbean art forms – popular music Reggae

• Origins in Jamaica in late 1960’s

• Professor Peter Manuel(1998, cited in Thompson,
2017)described it as a “reinterpretation of American Rhythm
and blues”.
• It is also described as having elements of Jazz, Calypso and
African music.
• It is sung in Jamaican Patois and Jamaican English.
• Was popularized in 1970’s by Bob Marley with his Rastafarian
lifestyle.
• Sung messages of peace, love, also an outlet for documenting
social and political criticism.
Thompson, 2017
Caribbean art forms – popular music
Reggae
Contribution of Reggae music to Jamaica
• Today it is one of the largest sources of income for Jamaica
since it is a major foreign exchange earner (e.g. through the
annual Reggae Sumfest)
• Bob Marley and his band placed Jamaica and Reggae music on
the international map as his songs made it to European,
American and Asian music charts.
(source: Thompson, 2017)
Lets look at the message behind Bob Marley’s music:
https://youtu.be/Qg5nPxHX7eg Redemption song
Caribbean art forms – popular music
Calypso
https://youtu.be/W3rax7rSG0o
• Calypso has its origins in Western African music.
• It resonated with resistance of the lower social classes to the
colonists.
• Was meant as a means to poke fun at important people and
institutions.
• It is a forum for social and political commentary today in our
country.
• It has not gained international recognition like Reggae, but
some calypso songs have gained international attention,
including those by artistes such as ‘Arrow’, Calypso Rose, The
Mighty Sparrow, and others.
(source: Thompson, 2017)
Caribbean art forms – popular music Steel
Pan
• The steel pan. Lets look at this video by National Geographic:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIFpOFBGHHM
• https://youtu.be/q3rbRoOJkbQ
• It is the only musical instrument to have been invented in the 20th century.
• It has its origins in Trinidad and is the national instrument of this country. It
developed as a result of experimentation with available material that could be
used and tuned for percussion, because the use of drums was prohibited. From
biscuit tins to oils barrels, these were the materials used to make music.
Eventually the oil barrels beacme more used and persons started to ‘pound’ it to
create a variety of sounds – and so the steel pan emerged.
• It is associated with the oppressed masses like those from poor communities in
Port of Spain.
(Thompson, 2021)
• It features prominently in our country's Carnival celebrations and even has its own
show and competition called ‘Panorama’. Pan players come from all over the
world to perform with the various local bands for Panorama during the Carnival
season, it is a major tourist attraction.
Caribbean art forms – popular music Steel
Pan
• It is mass produced today and can be used to form a steelpan
‘orchestra’.
• It is also electronically tuned.
• Students in schools locally as well as abroad can learn how to
play the steel pan as it has become a part of the school’s
curriculum locally and in the U.S.A. and Europe. It is also
taught in Universities abroad – such as in Japan.
• It is used throughout the region and the world.
Caribbean art forms – popular music Steel
Pan
• Steel pan music has contributed significantly to development in
our country because
• It has and continues to provide employment for those (locally
and abroad) who teach it.
• The Panorama festival is a significant tourist attraction, bringing
revenue to the country.
• It has helped to keep some youth occupied and out of trouble.
• It has helped in creating a send of community and unity among
persons within communities and of different races.
• It has placed out country on the world map for music.
• It continues to showcase and challenge the talents of our people,
and continues to be a outlet for expressing creativity., etc.
Caribbean art forms – popular music
Punta Rock
• It originated in Belize in the 1970’s out of traditional Garifuna
Punta percussion music and dance. Entails ‘calls and response’
with drumming.
• Is popular in Central America.
• It travelled with the diaspora to New York and took on
elements of more percussion and sophisticated arrangements.
• Originally sung in Garifuna language but now translated into
Spanish and English.
Caribbean art forms
Culinary practices - this refers to the methods used in the
preparation and consumption of different foods that are unique to
cultural or ethnic groups (Thompson, 2017).
• The culinary practices in the region are very diverse due to the
variety of groups which came to the region – the indigenous groups,
the Europeans, the Africans, the Syrian/Lebanese, Chinese, East
Indians, etc. As such, there has been some foods which remain true
to its original form but many that are combinations of various
culinary traditions.
• Caribbean food generally takes on the characteristic of being very
spicy – Caribbean people use a lot of hot peppers.
Caribbean art forms
SOME Culinary practices of the various groups include:
• The indigenous groups – corn beer, art of cooking wild meat (barbecued
and jerked), pepperpot, cassava bread, use of roots and tubers.
• The Spanish – empanadas.
• The British – use of Irish potato, use of porridge for breakfast, drinking
tea, apple pie.
• The French – the baking of pastries – croissants, eclairs, bouillabaisse, etc.
• The Africans – ground provisions, ‘pounding’ foods such as plantains,
ackee, coo coo, Ackra (fried salted fish and flour).
• Syrians/Lebanese – gyros, humus.
• The Chinese – stir-fry style e.g. for fried rice, vegetables, fried chicken,
pow, wontons, etc.
• The East Indians – style of ‘currying’ and use of various herbs and spices
such as turmeric, peppers, use of a variety of lentils ,chutneys, etc.
Caribbean art forms
Culinary practices
True Caribbean culinary practices which were created out of the
combining of cultures include:
• The use of salted fish is a ‘staple’ across the region. Salted codfish was
imported by the British to feed the slaves but today it has taken several
forms:
Fried fish cakes (Barbados); saltfish and dumplings, salt fish accra (Trinidad);
saltfish and roasted breadfruit (St Vincent); Ackee and saltfish (Jamaica).
• Peas and rice (one-pot dishes which are prepared in different ways across
the Caribbean, using red beans with rice, pigeon peas or Blackeye peas with
rice, depending on the country).
• Smoked herring, salted meat, souse (discarded animal parts fed to the
slaves) all became a part of the Caribbean people’s diet.
• The use of a variety of ground provisions (yams, dasheen, etc) is popular in
the region and have a strong basis in African heritage as well.
Caribbean art forms - Festivals.

• 2017 6. Festivals in the Caribbean have become

commercialized as a result of the influence of extra-regional
countries. Discuss the extent to which you agree with this
view. 30 marks

• 2015. 5. “Carnival and Phagwah create opportunities for

Caribbean people to publicly express their identities.” Discuss
the extent to which you agree with this statement. 30 marks
Caribbean art forms - Festivals.

• Caribbean festivals reflect the history of its people and

contains some element of a combination of several practices.
• Caribbean festivals stand out due their costumes, the
importance of music and dance, and crowd interaction.
Thompson, et al 2017.
Caribbean art forms - Festivals.
• Carnival
Caribbean art forms - Festivals.
Carnival
• Carnevale – translated to farewell meat.
• Emerged out of a Christian festival which marks the day before the start
of Lent. Traditionally it was the day that families used up their meat
supplies and rich foods and engaged in ‘merriment’ before the start of
lent.
• Brought to the region by the French.
• Influence of other Europeans saw the addition of masquerade and street
theater.
• Traditions from Africa were also added, all of these combined to for the
Caribbean version of Carnival.
• Some sources believe that Trinidad was the origin of modern Carnival in
the region and then the influence spread to other parts of the Caribbean,
USA and Europe.

Thompson, et al 2017.
Caribbean art forms - Festivals.

• Carnival origins - https://youtu.be/ltXfR_TIlEE

• The Mas tradition started in the late 18th century with French
plantation owners organizing masquerades (mas) and balls before the
fasting for Lent. It took the form of masquerade balls, house parties,
and street parades with carriages.
• Originally, Carnival was a strictly for the whites (only slaves who were
performing were allowed to be present).
• It involved acts which mocked and made fun of the slaves.
• After the emancipation of slaves in 1834, African slaves reenacted
Carnival by taking to the streets in celebration of their newly found
freedom.
• Carnival now became a form of resistance to the oppression the
slaves experienced by the whites.
• The former slaves now tried to mimic the French in their parades, etc.
Caribbean art forms - Festivals.
Carnival has contributed to the region in the following ways:
• It allows local music an opportunity to gain international
recognition.
• It unifies persons of all races, social classes, etc.
• It supports entrepreneurship and local small businesses.
• Facilitates the use of emerging technologies (used by band leaders)
• It provides a sources of income for the country (from taxation).
• Via tourism, it provides a supply of foreign currency as well.
• It generates employment directly and indirectly.
• It increases the country’s GDP – leading to economic growth.

• Thompson, et al 2017.
Caribbean art forms - Festivals.
Carnival
Thompson, et al 2017 argue that it is no longer a national
festival because it has been influenced by countries outside the
region (extra regional countries) in the following ways:
• How individual events reflect a global market
• How overall presentation also reflects a global market
• How it is packaged to cater for tourists needs
• Has experienced increased commercialization due to
technology.
Caribbean art forms – Regional Festivals.
Crop Over festival in Barbados
• Started in 1780’s when Barbados was the largest world’s
largest producer of sugar.
• It lasts for 5 weeks.
• Highlights the history, art and culture of Barbados.
• Has a large Carnival-style show called Cohobblopot where
there are bands and costumes being showcased.
• The festival ends in a parade – the Grand Kadooment.
Junkanoo (The Bahamas)
• Origins in slavery as well, when they were allowed to leave the
plantation and join with their community.
• Celebrated in December around Chritsmas.
Caribbean art forms - Regional Festivals.
Reggae Festival (Jamaica)
• Started in 1978 .
• Usually takes place in Early August.
• It lasts for 1 week.
• Different types of Reggae music is played every night.
• Has become the Reggae Sumfest.

Tobago Heritage Festival.

• A re-enactment of Tobago’s history through – the Old Time
Wedding, music, dance, crab race, goat race.

Tobago Jazz festival

• As the name says, a jazz festival that attracts artistes and supporters
from USA, Europe, Canada, etc.
• It is an annual festival.
Caribbean art forms – Religious
Festivals.
Christian festivals
• Easter – the commemoration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
• Christmas – celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. (Has become highly
commercialized and has lost some of its religious significance, Thompson, 2017).
Muslim Festivals
• Eid-Ul-Fitr – a festival celebrating the end of fasting in the month of Ramadan.
• Eid-ul-Adha – festival of sacrifice for the Muslims.
These festivals have not been as highly commercialized as others, but it still
attracted business opportunities via sales.
Hindu Festivals
• Phagwa - also called Holi, is a ‘spring’ festival of colours in India. It celebrates the
triumph of good over evil with the coming of God to protect his loyal worshipper.
Involves special singing competitions among temples/Hinus schools,
• Divali – the ‘festival of lights’ for Hindus, celebrating the triumph of light over
darkness and all that it signifies (success of knowledge over ignorance).
Easter
2. Easter
• Easter is a festival celebrated by Christians, which
celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the
third day after his Crucifixion.
• https://
www.britannica.com/topic/Easter-holiday/Liturgical-obs
ervances

• Let’s look at this video on Lent and Easter -

https://youtu.be/-4ZuiMdCH7w
• Easter follows Lent, the period of 40 days (not counting
Sundays) before Easter, which traditionally is observed
by acts of penance and fasting.
Easter
•The week before Easter is called Holy Week, which includes:
• Maundy Thursday, the commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his
disciples;
• Good Friday, the day of his Crucifixion;
• Holy Saturday, the transition between Crucifixion and Resurrection.
• Easter Sunday – the day of resurrection.
• The festival of Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, when Christians
(especially Roman Catholics), go to Church to mark the start of the Lent
season. On this day, Roman Catholics receive ash on their forehead in the
form of a cross.
• In Trinidad and Tobago, Roman Catholics fast from all meat – instead
they consume fish during these 40 days. Others prefer to fast /avoid
something else, such as snacks, obscene language, etc.
Easter

• In our country, Christians and non-Christians

celebrate Easter, as with other festivals.
• In some Roman Catholic Churches, mass is usually done
3 times a day during lent.
Phagwa
Phagwa
• This is a Hindu Festival celebrated in
spring: March/April. It is also called ‘Holi’.
• .

• It was introduced to Trinidad by

indentured East Indian labourers around
1845.

• The root of Holi is derived from the

Sanskrit word Holika, meaning, "parched
grains." This festival has deep religious
significance as a rite of purification to
promote good health.
Phagwa
• There are many Hindu texts that explain the
significance of Phagwa. One story tells of Prahalad,
son of the evil King Hiranyakashipu. The King wanted
desperately to destroy the young boy and enlisted the
aid of his equally evil sister Holika. Holika had powers
that rendered her immune to destruction by fire.
The King ordered her to take the boy into a large fire
to end his life, but the child's faith was so great that
not only was he unharmed, but Holika's powers were
reduced and she burned in the fire. Today's
observance of Phagwa incorporates aspects of this
story and an effigy of Holika is burnt as a symbol of
purification.
What phagwa Festivities look
like
Phagwa
• Other aspects of the festival include lots of joyful singing
and dancing.
• Participants are sprayed with a variety of coloured dyes
called ‘abeer’.
• These festivities (singing, dancing, use of coloured dyes) can
be seen at people’s houses, or on stages at Hindu schools and
savannahs and the general public is usually invited.
Sometimes the atmosphere is described as a Carnival-like
one.
• You can hear the strains of special folk songs called Chowtal
being sung, accompanied by two instruments - the Dholak, a
small hand drum and Majeera, percussive instruments.
• Lets look at this video on a phagwa song: https://
youtu.be/aGK444xs4T8
Caribbean art forms – Commercialization.
Recall - 2017 6. Festivals in the Caribbean have become commercialized as a result of the influence of
extra-regional countries. Discuss the extent to which you agree with this view. 30 marks
Commercialize - to exploit for profit. (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary)
• Thompson, et al (2017) argue that most of the festivals have become highly commercialized , especially
Christian ones, through globalization and the importation of foreign goods.
These are general guidelines which applies for all religious festivities:
• Sales – Black Friday sale (as copied from USA before Christmas, Christmas sales of toys and presents,
not seen as Christmas without presents)
• Tokens – e.g. chocolate Easter Eggs, baskets, coloured chickens, Easter bonnet parade, Easter Egg hunt.
• Decorations – party plates, cutlery, cups, table cloths, napkins, etc, e.g. green and white for Eid-Ul-Fitr,
with religious images for Divali (which is inappropriate).
• Attire and person accessories – attire colours to associate with different festivals, not related to the
religion (e.g. red and green for Christmas), hats – Santa hats for Christmas, Bonnets for Easter, mehndi
for Divali – has nothing to do with Divali.
• Foods – ham associated with Christmas in Trini (recall sale on ham at Massy stores and the chaos
created), chocolate and snacks, eggnog, fruit cake for Christmas as well, all well documented in Soca-
Parang songs).
• Music – many songs are released which do not highlight the religious significance of the festival – e.g.
chutney parang, soca parang).
• Concerts- Divali shows (e.g. fashion shows, singing non-religious songs) which have very little to do
with the religious significance of the festival and more to do with cultural and Indian Arrival.
It is believed that all these aspects take away from the religious significance of the festivals. The mass
media, globalization and online shopping has contributed to this commercialization .
Caribbean art forms
• See – article on Commercialization & Religious Festivals: A
view from a biblical-theological perspective, 2012, by A. van
Wieringen. source - https://www.academia.edu .

• 2015. 5. “Carnival and Phagwah create opportunities for

Caribbean people to publicly express their identities.” Discuss
the extent to which you agree with this statement. 30 marks
Art Forms in the diaspora – Notting Hill Carnival
• Notting Hill Carnival is a huge street festival that takes place in
London every year.
• It celebrates Caribbean heritage, arts and culture - including
music, food and dancing.
• The first festival was in 1966 and it was put on by someone
called Rhaune Laslett.
• Rhaune, who lived in Notting Hill with her parents, wanted to
highlight and celebrate the diversity in her area by putting on a
festival.
• It kept growing since then, organisers today say it's the second
biggest carnival in the world, and the biggest one in Europe.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk
Art Forms in the diaspora – Notting Hill Carnival
• It involves a lot of dancing, singing and processions that take
place through the streets.

• There are costumes, parades, music - including steel bands,

reggae and salsa artists.

• A lot of traditional food to choose from. There are around 240

food stalls selling things like curried items, roti and jerk-style
foods.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk
Art Forms in the diaspora – Notting Hill Carnival
• It's thought that around 50 people went to the first festival –
organizers expect over 1 million at times.
• There are approximately 40 static sound systems, ten steel pan
bands and 70 performing stages.
• There are roughly 15,000 costumes on display every year...and
every single one is made by hand. It takes around 1
million hours to make and decorate them all.
Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk

• Let’s see Notting Hill Carnival: https://youtu.be/Gp4aEkPN9Iw

Art Forms in the diaspora - CARIBANA
• The Caribbean community in Toronto, Ontario, organized this carnival for the first time in 1967
under the name Caribana as part of Canada’s Centennial celebrations. It has since grown into a
major summer event, drawing nearly two million people to the city every year. Since 2015, the
official name of the festival has been the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, although it is still commonly
referred to as Caribana by many.

• It was inspired primarily by Trinidad’s annual pre-Lenten Carnival.

• It is a three-week festival of the arts and reflects the diverse expressive traditions of the Caribbean,
bringing together a wide range of indigenous songs and instrumental music, dances, masquerade
and oral traditions.
• The Toronto Caribbean Carnival is currently the largest festival of Caribbean culture in North
America. From its origins as a three-day celebration, the festival has grown to extend over three
weeks. It is one of Toronto’s major tourist attractions, bringing more than one million people to the
city on the Grand Parade weekend and a total of two million over the duration of the carnival.

• It also features various foods and folk traditions of the region. Since the late 1980s, participation by
groups from Central and South America, Africa, the Bahamas, Haiti and elsewhere in Canada has
added a dimension of multiculturalism to the festival that is uniquely Canadian.
• Festival events include calypso “tents” (shows), “jump-ups” (dances), “fetes” (parties), “mas”
(masquerade) competitions, a junior carnival, “pan blockos” or “blockoramas” (steel band street
parties), and “talk tents” (shows featuring storytellers, comedians and others well versed in oral
traditions).

Source: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/caribana-emc
Art Forms in the diaspora - CARIBANA

• Although the Toronto Caribbean Carnival is the official name for the
series of events organized by the Festival Management Committee,
other organizations and individuals mount carnival-type events during
the Caribana season. For example, the Organization of Calypso
Performing Artistes (founded in 1981) holds an annual Calypso Monarch
Competition featuring the talents of local calypsonians.
• The Caribana Arts Group, which owns the Caribana trademark, credits
itself with having paved the way for other Caribbean festivals held in
Toronto on the first weekend of August, such as Irie Fest and Jambana.

Source: https://
www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/caribana-emc
Art Forms in the diaspora - CARIBANA

• The highlight of the Caribana festival is the Grand Parade, which is now a 3.5 km
route.
• It is scheduled on the first Saturday of August in commemoration of the abolition of
slavery throughout the British Empire in 1834, it is a spectacular display of costume,
sound and colour that winds its way past dense crowds for several hours.
• Participants in the parade are organized into masquerade “bands”, each of which is
accompanied by live music bands (usually steel and/or brass, but the use
of percussion groups is a more recent development). Each masquerade band
expresses a particular theme (be it historical, satirical, political or fantasy) and is led
by a “king” and “queen” who appear in the most lavish costumes.
• These bands compete with one another and are judged based on their costumes,
energy and creativity.

Source: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/caribana-emc

• Lets see the following on Caribana : https://youtu.be/EN7etk_RlBk

Art Forms in the diaspora - The West
Indian Day Parade
• The West Indian Day Parade - History and general info:
• West Indian Carnival dates back to the 1920s, when immigrants from Caribbean
Islands held their celebrations in private places in Harlem. The parade permit for
Harlem was revoked in 1964 following a disturbance. Five years later it was re-
established on Eastern Parkway of Brooklyn by what later became known as the
West Indian-American Day Carnival Association.
• The Carnival goes on for five days in September starting on the last Thursday
before Labor Day. Its culmination and grand finale is the parade on Labor Day.
• The parade, as with local Carnival, showcases elaborate and creative costumes.
Each masquerade camp or “mas” tries to win a cash prize by introducing their
theme. Some of the more exciting themes of past parades include: Tribute to Bob
Marley, Jewels of the City, Seagate and Caribbeans Unite.
• The most coveted titles of the parade are the titles of king and queen. Naturally,
their costumes are the most stunning.
Source:
https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/uniquely_nyc/westindian-carnival.ht
m
Art Forms in the diaspora - The West Indian
Day Parade
• A variety of traditional Caribbean music and food made
available. Attendees can enjoy various types of Caribbean
music such as calypso, soca, reggae, rap and the steel band.
• Food vendors line up with colorful displays of Caribbean food.
Some of the traditional dishes found at the Carnival are: jerk
chicken, fish cakes, oxtail, meat patties and coconut bread.
• The West Indian Carnival attracts a huge crowd of spectators
ranging between one and three million each year. Its economic
impact, popularity and success has inspired similar events in
places like Miami and Boston.
Source:
https://www.baruch.cuny.edu/nycdata/uniquely_nyc/westindian-carnival.htm
• Also see - http: //wiadcacarnival.org.
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities
Rex Nettleford - literature

• The late Professor Ralston ‘Rex’ Nettleford was a leading Jamaican academic, poet
intellectual visionary & dancer.
• https://youtu.be/XdD4F5LSoEQ
• According to Moniquette (2017) “the experiences of Caribbean people and their struggles
for intellectual, cultural and political independence were pivotal to Nettleford’s intellectual
and artistic engagements.”
• Moniquette (2017) continued to say that Nettleford’s “writings, lectures and choreography
of his dances reflected confidence in the creative power of people of the region, a power
which was struggling to unleash itself from the historical and neo-colonial forces”.
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities –
literature
Ralston ‘Rex’ Nettleford
• Moniquette (2017) argues that he was always concerned about the
Caribbean cultural Identity.
• One of his acclaimed publication was ‘Mirror, mirror: Race, Identity
and Protest in Jamaica’ in 1970. It was set in the 1960’s when
Jamaica was newly independent, and examined the way that black
Jamaicans looked at themselves (hence mirror, mirror) and the
relation between that ‘schizophrenic and ambivalent relation’ they
have toward their national identity.
• Moniquette (2017) mentions his other works which also examines
Caribbean cultural identity, and includes: Caribbean Cultural Identity
(1978), essays (1995)– Inward Stretch, Outward Reach: A voice form
the Caribbean. She believed that these works started with the
understanding that ‘culture constructed from the lived experiences
and realities of Caribbean people are to serve as the principle means
of constructing a cohesive national and regional identity’ as well as
an avenue to economic development.
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities -
literature
Ralston ‘Rex’ Nettleford
• He co-founded the National Dance Theatre Company of
Jamaica – a company made up of unpaid dancers, musicians,
designers. They were to become cultural ambassadors of the
Caribbean.
• Through this dance company, he created an awareness among
the Jamaicans, of the indigenous practices of Kumina,
Pocomania and folk music from the island.
• He contributed significantly to the cultural, socio-political
landscape of the Caribbean.
• Moniquette, 2017 described Nettleford’s argued that his
importance to the Caribbean and its diaspora came from the
fact that his ‘master project has been the decolonization of
the Caribbean spirit and imagination’.
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities -
literature
• Louise Bennett-Coverly (“Miss-Lou”).
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities -
literature
Louise Bennett-Coverly (“Miss-Lou”).
• She was born in Jamaica in 1919. She was a Jamaican Poet,
Folklorist, performer, tv and radio personality. Moniquette (2017)
described her as “a model professional on stage, radio and
television, and an unselfish scholar of Jamaican folklore,
language and poetry.”
• Seen as one of the most influential figures in Jamaican culture,
she was seen by many as the ‘mother of Jamaican culture’ due
to her efforts to popularize Jamaican patois and to celebrate
the lives of ordinary Jamaicans (Moniquette, 2017).
• Poem by Louise Bennett – No Lickle Twang: https://
youtu.be/fj-S0J9MWYc
• https://youtu.be/aY08tz_rqUw
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities -
literature
• Mrs. Bennett-Coverly liked Literature and writing from an early age
and attempted these using standard English. However she eventually
started to wonder why more Jamaican writers were not writing
about the Jamaican realities and experiences in the Jamaican dialect
instead of in the Standard English and about European events.
• So eventually she started writing poetry using Jamaican creole.
• She participated in dramatic presentations and became increasingly
involved in the performing and assessing performance.
• She was awarded a scholarship in 1945 to hr Royal Academy of
Dramatic Art (RADA) in Britain.
• In a matter of a few months of arriving in England, she had her own
BBC programme – Caribbean Carnival and West Indian night.

Source: Moniquette (2017)

Contributions of Caribbean Personalities -
literature
• Ms. Bennett-Coverly returned to Jamaica in 1947 and eventually taught
folklore and drama at UWI.
• She co-authored Christmas pantomime in 1949 - Blubeard and Brer
Anancy, with Noel Vaz.
• She contributed to the increased use of the Jamaican dialect in the annual
Little Theatre Movement pantomime – it was started in the 1940’s but
‘was a pale imitation of English models’ (Moniquette, 2017).
• Her most noted book was a her 1966 collection of folklore and poetry
called ‘Jamaican Labrish’.
• She hosted a weekly t.v. show for children , in which children themselves
performed and were reminded of various elements in Jamaican folk
culture. She also had 4-minute radio monologues called ‘Miss Lou’s
Views’ which aired 3 times per week.
• She is seen as the Jamaican Theater personality of the 20th century.
Source: Moniquette (2017)
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities -
Dance
Beryl McBurnie.
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities - dance
Beryl McBurnie.
• She was born in Woodbrook, Trinidad on 2nd November 1914, passed on in 2000.
• She was a dancer, teacher and choreographer.

According to Moniquette, 2017:

• It was while training to become a teacher that she developed an interest in Caribbean folk dance
so as a teacher she worked on a lot of extra-curricular activities such as plays, concerts, etc.
• Her family wanted her to be a doctor but she thought it was a ‘terrible’ idea. In 1938 her father
took her to New York to study medicine, instead she ended up studying painting, drama and
theatre at the Academy of Allied Arts, the Evelyn Ellis school od Drama and the Columbia
University.
• She learned dance from a famous American dance instructor Martha Graham
• She eventually returned to Trinidad in 1942 and worked as a dance instructor where she
introduced folk dances to schools.
• Her passion for the arts led her to convert her parents’ backyard at 69 Roberts Street Woodbrook
into the ‘Little Carib Theatre in November 1948.
• In 1957, she taught at the Jamaica campus if the UWI; she later lectured at various colleges and
universities in the USA
• In 1978 Berly McBurine was recognized by the Alvin Ailey Dance Group as one of the 3 balck
women who had a ‘profound influence’ on Caribbean and American dance.
https://youtu.be/pwG2exjdifI
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities-
dance
Beryl McBurnie’s contributions:
According to Judy Raymond of the Caribbean Beat magazine (Issue 20
July/August 1996):
• McBurnie was different because she used West Indian dance, which even
then, at a time before independence when European culture was
dominant in the region, and indigenous forms were ignored or despised.
• McBurnie’s work was always deeply rooted in the Caribbean, she returned
to the Caribbean, giving up the fame, opportunities and the money, to
become a pioneer in the art, and a mentor to many.
• When she started, local dance was in danger of disappearing, it was even
frowmed upon and was seen as primitive and insignificant.
• Only European folk dance and ballet were being taught formally. It wasn’t
respectable. But McBurnie was convinced that dance was the most
significant West Indian art form, since it contained the greatest variety of
raw material.
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities-
dance
Beryl McBurnie’s contributions:
According to Judy Raymond of the Caribbean Beat magazine (Issue 20
July/August 1996):
• McBurnie’s example led Rex Nettleford to found the Jamaica National Dance
Theatre Company, and in 1978 she was one of three pioneers in black dance
to receive special tributes from the Alvin Alley Dance Company of New York.
• But she also encouraged local musicians and other artists. André Tanker.
• McBurnie was the first person to put a steelband on a stage – Invaders, who
played at the opening of her theatre. Their panyard was within earshot of the
Little Carib, in the middle-class district of Woodbrook, but in those days all
steelbands were considered disreputable gangs of good-for-nothings, not real
musicians.
• McBurnie, herself a natural rebel, choreographed a ballet, Jour Ouvert, to
music by invaders’ leader Ellie Mannette.
• She bridged the gulf between theatre and Carnival: her theatre was the mas
camp — the base — of Peter Minshall’s first Carnival band, Zodiac, in 1978.
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities -
Literature
Paule Marshall (Literature)

• https://youtu.be/4Q-LHmEC4zw
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities -
Literature
Paule Marshall (Literature)
• She was born Valenza Pauline Burke in 1929 in Brooklyn, New York
to Barbadian parents, passed on 2019.
• She was novelist whose works emphasized a need for black
Americans to reclaim their African heritage. The Barbadian
background of Burke’s parents informed all of her work.
• Her works were generally based on poverty and oppression in the
Caribbean.
• Among her writings include an autobiographical novel in 1959:
Brown girl, Brownstones. It spoke about an American daughter
with Barbadian parents, who travelled to their homeland as an
adult. This book was critically acclaimed for its accute rendition of
dialogue.
source: Moniquette, 2017.
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities -
Literature
Paule Marshall (Literature)
• https://youtu.be/4Q-LHmEC4zw
Some of her works include:
• Praisesong for the Widow – a 1983 novel in which she showed
her belief in the African-Americans’ need to rediscover their
heritage. It is believed that this novel positioned her and made
others aware of her as a major writer. Its character Avatara
goes to the isle of Grenada.
• Daughters – a 1991 book which described a West Indian
woman in New York who returned (to the West Indies) to
assist her father’s re-election campaign. The main character
has an epiphany after confronting her personal and cultural
past.
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities

Martin Carter

Guyanese revolutionary poet, teacher, government Minister

Information and Culture)
Contributions of Caribbean
Personalities
Martin Carter
• Born in 1927 in Guyana
• He joined the ‘turbulent political movement for national
independence in his country and quickly became a leading
spokesman for the more radical forces of the movement’, which
led to him being detained for some time. (Moniquette 2017).
• He had already launched his career as a poet, it was during that
time that he did a lot of his well-known works. Those poems were
fueled by the political turmoil in Guyana in the 60’s and 70’s.
• After his term of detention, he remained active in the
independence movement.
• One of his poems:
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2g1WJppyfW0
Contributions of Caribbean
Personalities
Martin Carter

• He served for 2 years (1966-67) as a member of Guyana’s

delegation to the United Nations.
• He was also a Minister, he remained a poet throughout.
• He has been widely regarded as the greatest Guyanese poet, a
lot of which was based on the themes of protest, revolution
and resistance (Thompson, et al 2017).
Contributions of Caribbean Personalities

Aubrey Cummings

Guyanese artist, guitarist, vocalist, bandleader.

Contributions of Caribbean Personalities

Aubrey Cummings
• Aubrey Cummings was born in the year 1947 and grew up in Guyana.
• Early in his time, he became known as an artist as he loved to draw. However, he bemace better known
for his music.

• His decision to develop a career in pop music was influenced by Michael Bacchus and the Heartbreakers.
The magic of popular music and show business excited him, and he became a self-taught guitarist.

• The first band Cummings joined was Bumble and the Saints in 1965--the early days of the string band era.
he was described as a ‘musician of a generation’, whose experience provided valuable insights into the
dynamics of Guyanese society during the late colonial period and the early post-independence era.

• In Barbados, Cummings established an active musical career as guitarist and vocalist. In 1984 and 1985,
Cummings won the Best Male Vocalist Award in Barbados. During the same period, he consistently won
prizes at the Caribbean Song Festivals organized by the Caribbean Broadcasting Union.
• His guitar work also attracted critical acclaim, and he was a regular contributor to the acoustic guitar
festivals organized by Barbados' National Cultural Foundation.
Source: https://www.guyanagraphic.com (newspaper)
Contributions of Caribbean
Personalities
Aubrey Cummings
• Cummings believed that popular music contributed to the healing of Guyana during
the 1960s and 1970s. Moniquette 2017) argued that Cumming’s musical experience
provided valuable insights into the dynamics of Guyanese society during the later
part of colonialism and early period after independence.

• His musical career is a reminder of the pervasiveness of music in Guyanese social

life.

• Throughout his musical career, the influence of race, class, and colour in Guyana
during the 20th century could be found in his music. Many of the musicians of
Cummings's era who have migrated established careers overseas. Overall, Cummings
was described not only a musician of a generation, but as a cultural hero.
• Source: https://www.guyanagraphic.com (newspaper)

• One of his songs - https://youtu.be/h1EiyMo_kSE

Human and cultural
development via the arts
Please create a plan the following essay:
2017. 1. Explain FOUR ways in which the arts have contributed
to human development in the Caribbean. 20 marks
Human and cultural
development via the arts
2017. 1. Explain FOUR ways in which the arts have contributed to human
development in the Caribbean. 20 marks
Intro: define the ‘arts’ – music, dance, poetry, drama, songs, etc.; define human
development – development concerned with improving people’s well-being through
better opportunities and freedoms and trying to ensure that basic needs are met
(Thompson, et al 2017) ; define Caribbean (historically); develops human capital -
human capital – the skills, knowledge and productivity or other tangible assets that
individuals use to their benefit as well as that of their employers or their community.
List points for essay:
• create employment;
• empowerment;
• form of relaxation;
• development of human capital - an avenue for passing on of traditions;
• cultivates a sense of identity;
• recognition for artist and country;
• avenue for democracy through expression of views;
• provides opportunity for social mobility for those not academically inclined as well.
H/W
• Explain how the Caribbean has influenced extra-regional
countries and how extra-regional countries have influenced
the region. (see pgs 202-231 old text, 187-217 new text).
• To be done in a comparison table format with examples for
each point).
Caribbean influences:
• Politics – voting (Cubans, Haitans in USA)
• Immigration laws (wet foot policy)
• Brain drain/employment – our qualified, skilled workers go there, our agriculture
labour goes to Canada and USA on farms.
• Culture – food (Jerk, roti, dumplins, callalloo), music (reggae, danchall (Bennie man,
Sean Paul, Shaggy all did albums with artistes from USA.
• Religion – Rastafarianism (Jamaica), Voodoo (Haiti)

Extra Regional Influences:

• Music – rap, hip hop (USA),
• Foods- pancakes, waffles, etc.
• Sports – cricket, football.
• Fashion – Attire (brands – Nike, Jordon's, Addidas, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, 9 west,
Versace), & Make-up, skin and hair care, products.
• Technology & Communication – Facebook, WhatsApp, twitter, instagram.
• Foreign used cars – Japan.