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Is Reggae Jamaican Or Caribbean?

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live_reggae_music_getting_stamped.jpgIs Reggae Jamaican Or Caribbean?

Associate Writer | Associate Writer

Persons living outside the Caribbean, might not be fully aware of the many different genres that can be found on the islands and might assume that Reggae or Dancehall are genres of the entire Caribbean.

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But the music on the islands has benefitted greatly from the merging of multiple cultures and it is evident in our various genres of music as well.

Is Reggae Jamaican or Caribbean?

The genre of Reggae was created in Jamaica, that is a fact. Dancehall, a completely different genre, was also created on the island as well.

While there are now multiple subgenres of Reggae music and Reggae musicians can be found all over the Caribbean and the rest of the world, Jamaica is still the home of Reggae music and many Reggae legends are actually Jamaican musicians.

Is Jamaica the birthplace of reggae music?

Yes, this genre of music was developed in the late 1960s when American entertainment shifted to rock music. Jamaicans did not care much for the new sound and from the existing genres they created something authentically Jamaican.

Reggae became very popular among Rastafarians and many of its front runners at the time, who went on to become pioneers of the genre on Jamaica’s music scene in general, were actually Rastafarians. Bob Marley, Toots Hibbert, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer are just a few of these musicians. Because of this, the tone of Reggae was mainly conscious and introspective which themes promoting peace and unity among all.

Is Jamaican music considered Caribbean music?

Since Jamaica is the Caribbean island where the genre originates from and many islands enjoy and make Reggae music as well, it is considered Caribbean music. But this is just one of the many genres in the region.

Why Is Reggae Music Popular in The US?

Jamaicans have always been migrating to other parts of the world and America being one of our closest neighbours, is often the chosen destination. Although Jamaicans living abroad are influenced by their new environment, they also have some impact as well which is evident in the popularity of Jamaican music. Melting pot cities such as New York often has the best representation of this.

What music originated in the Caribbean?

These are some of the genres found on the islands of the Caribbean.

  1. Soca - One of the more popular genres coming out of the Caribbean is Soca music. The genre which was inspired by another Trinidadian genre, Calypso, is known for its high-energy, fast-paced rhymes which were made even more popular by Carnival.

  2. Reggaetón - The genre of music inspired by Jamaican Reggae originates from the Spanish-speaking country of Panama. Where Spanish lyrics are rapped over fast-paced beats. This genre has become increasingly popular in Puerto Rico, Columbia and even the Anglophone islands as well.

  3. Bachata - The genre which originates from the Dominican Republic produces ballad-type songs which often centre around the topics of sadness and heartbreak.

  4. Merengue - You might know this as a style of dance but it is also a genre of music as well. The genre which has origins in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic is known for its romantic themes and its fast-paced steps on a five-beat pattern known as a quintillo. It is one of the earliest recorded genres in the Caribbean as it was first recorded on the islands in the 1840s.

  5. Salsa - The Latin Caribbean created this lively, music by blending jazz rock and soul with Cuban rhythms. The genre’s origins are said to be traceable to the Cuban song “Échale Salsita” which translates to “Put Salsa On It” in English. The genre is very popular in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and New York where there is a high concentration of immigrants from Spanish-speaking islands. Just as Jamaican music impacted these areas, Spanish genres had just as much influence.

  6. Cha-cha-cha - Cha-cha-cha is a fast-paced Spanish ballroom dance which inspired the genre of the same name. Sometimes shortened to Cha-cha, especially in the US, the dance is done with quick, three-step movements with a partner.

  7. Dancehall - Quite often, Dancehall and Reggae music are confused as the same when in fact they are two different genres. Dancehall is a lot more fast past and than the more conscious style of Reggae music and got its start in the 1970s when there were many social issues in Jamaica. This genre usually highlights these societal issues as well as more raunchy themes than Reggae was known for.

These aren’t nearly all the genres of the Caribbean. There are so many more that are directly linked to the culture of each island.

The history of Reggae music is a rather interesting one and our journey to Reggae is even more enthralling. Here is Jamaica’s music timeline.

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References & Sources For Is Reggae Jamaican Or Caribbean?

  1. Black history in Roots Reggae Music (no date) Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Available at: https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/black-history-in-roots-reggae-music (Accessed: February 17, 2023).
  2. February 26, 2021, |J.H.| C. (no date) Black history in Roots Reggae Music, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. Available at: https://folklife.si.edu/magazine/black-history-in-roots-reggae-music#:~:text=Since%20the%20late%201960s%2C%20reggae,industry%20was%20in%20its%20infancy (Accessed: February 17, 2023).
  3. Mazurek, D. (2022) Dance to the beat of the origins and facts about 12 Caribbean music styles, Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com. Available at: https://www.dictionary.com/e/caribbean-music-dance-terms/ (Accessed: February 17, 2023).

Is Reggae Jamaican Or Caribbean? | Written: February 18, 2023

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