Culture of Jamaica

Jamaican culture represents a rich blend of cultures that have inhabited the island. The original Taino settlers, followed by their Spanish conquerors (who were in turn conquered by the British), all made major contributions. However, it is the West African slaves who became the dominant cultural force as they suffered and resisted the harsh conditions of forced labour. After the abolition of slavery, Chinese and Indian migrants were transported to the island as indentured workers, bringing with them ideas from the Far East. The official national language is English, heavily spiced with local idioms and Elizabethan usage. The primary local language is patois, or Jamaican Creole.

Arawak (Taino) natives

The original inhabitants of the Caribbean region, including Jamaica, were the Arawaks, sometimes referred to as Tainos. While it appears that some Taino survived the arrival of the Europeans, there are no self-identified Taino communities living as such in Jamaica, and recovering traces of their original culture requires sophisticated archaeological techniques. However, modern linguistics and anthropology reveal many currently existing elements of Taino culture. For example, the words 'canoe', 'hammock' and 'barbecue' all derive from Taino words.

Religion

By far the largest religious group in Jamaica is the Christian faith. The Anglican Church, and the Church of God are throughout the country, and many old churches have been carefully maintained and/or restored [2]. Almost every musician in Jamaica has learned his or her craft in the Christian churches of Jamaica. The Rastafarian religion is a folk derivative of the larger Christian culture, likely influenced by Ethiopian Coptic culture. There are also a small number of Jewish synagogues in Jamaica, dating from 17th century. Elements of ancient African religions remain in remote areas, most of which practices are described generally as Obeah, Kumina or Pocomania.

Rastafari

By far the best known aspect of Jamiaca's African-Caribbean culture is the Rastafari religion – particularly those elements that are expressed by reggae music, and whose practioners are recognized all over the world. The distinctively syncopated style of reggae arose from earlier ska rhythms. Bob Marley became Rastafari's most high-profile exponent. His reputation as an innovative musician devoted to his faith has continued to grow since his death, making him by far the world's most famous Jamaican, and one of the biggest selling artists in the history of recorded music.

Rastafari is a local religion loosely based on some selected teachings of the Old Testament. Adherents believe in the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as the true descendant of Solomon.

Some Rastafari wear their hair in an untended, uncut condition called dreadlocks. Some also only eat food that is Ital (natural) where certain foods are avoided. However, like most religions, there are various strands of thought and practice rather than just one written dogma of the Rastafari movement.

Dance

Dance has always been important on Jamaica - from colonial times until the present. Early folk rhythms and movements often enhanced Christian religious celebrations, or were associated with Christian holidays. More recently, dances have become associated with the music of Jamaica, particularly dancehall styles.

More than 30 distinctive Jamaican dances have been identified. According to the National Library of Jamaica, traditional Jamaican dances fall roughly under three categories: African derived, European derived and Creole. The Africa derived dance tradition is divided into two types: religious dances and social dances. Religious African dances, such as the ritualistic Kumina, Myal and Pocomania, are integral parts of worship ceremonies. The aim is to bring the dancers into the realm of the spiritual and heighten their readiness for possession. This part of Jamaica's African heritage has mainly been preserved by the Maroon Communities. Social African derived dances include Etu, Quadrille and Maypole (originally religious but now mainly social).

The Jamaican Creole dances integrate elements from both European and African cultures. Examples are Jonkonnu, Bruckin's, Revival, Pukkumina (possibly the best-known Revival (religious) style which still exists today) and Dinkie mini, a dance in the Wake Complex of traditional dances. Social dances that are European derived include those that accompanied work songs and ring games.

Dance is also represented during the Jamaican Hosay, a Caribbean East Indian festival. Jonkonnu and Hosay are considered secular dances, despite the performance of Jonkonnu around Christmas time.

Dance theater is also growing in importance. Rex Nettleford, Eddy Thomas, Olive Lewin, and Edna Manley are four Jamaicans whose influences on the arts - music and dance in particular - has been extremely important. Nettleford, Thomas, and Ivy Baxter formed the National Dance Theatre Company in the 1960s. Other important Jamaicans in dance theater have included the Tony-award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan (The Lion King on Broadway).

Dancehall, or ragga, music has inspired a number of dance styles as well. To understand the evolution of popular dance, it helps to understand the musical progression. Ska music, with fast beats, also had fast dances. The slow to rocksteady also developed slower dances, allowing dancers to stay on the floor longer. Reggae is associated with many things, including the Rastafarian movement, but influenced the newer styles. Dancehall music often creates its own dances based on moves in the lyrics of the songs themselves.

Theatre

Jamaica's earliest theatre was built in 1682. Several more theatres opened in the 1700s and 1800s, attracting performances by both professional touring companies and amateur groups. But performances weren't limited to official venues. Many took place in houses, stores, court houses, and enclosed outdoor spaces large enough to hold them. During this period, classic plays such as Shakespeare were most often produced. However, the Jewish and French communities became large enough to merit productions aimed at them, too.

After the abolition of slavery, Jamaicans began fusing music, humour, and dance into public theatrical performances. Although it took many years for true Jamaican styles to develop, eventually they became more prevalent than European works. Today's most popular theatrical form in Jamaica, pantomime, began in the 1940s as a fusion of English pantomime with Jamaican folklore. Another popular style, "roots" theatre, evolved in the 1960s and 1970s. These riotous bawdy tales full of sexual innuendo remain crowd favorites in Kingston's open-air theatres.

Literature and writing

Derek Walcott, a Nobel prize laureate, born and educated in St. Lucia, attended college in Jamaica. Other significant writers from the island include Claude McKay and Louis Simpson. Plays and works in Jamaican English, or patois, attract special attention. Louise Bennett, Andrew Salkey and Mikey Smith have contributed to this phenomenon by writing works in patois. Ian Fleming wrote his famous James Bond novels while living in Jamaica. Jean Rhys is also well-known for her novel Wide Sargasso Sea, which was set in Jamaica. Jamaican authors are always faced with the decision of writing in standard English for a huge world-wide audience, or in the local patois, for a much smaller, but more trendy, audience. Jamaican films with patois sound-tracks such as The Harder They Come require sub-titles for export to general markets. In general, the use of patois severely limits the potential audience for the otherwise universal Jamaican message.

Film

Jamaica's film industry is not widely known, but it is growing. The Harder They Come, Shottas, Third World Cop, and Dancehall Queen are a few of the best-known Jamaican movies. However, many popular Hollywood movies have also been filmed in Jamaica. A short list includes The Blue Lagoon, Cocktail, Cool Runnings and Bond-flick Live and Let Die.

Sport

Jamaicans, in general, have a large interest in sports. Cricket, football ("soccer" in the U.S.), dominoes, horse-racing are several popular sports. The Jamaica national cricket team competes regionally, and also provides players for the West Indies. The Jamaica National Football Team qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The Jamaican Bobsled Team has been a serious contender in the Winter Olympics, beating many well-established teams. Dominoes, which can be played by young and old together, is played everywhere.

Woodwork, furniture, and metalwork

Jamaicans have a long history of fine craftsmanship in wood and metal. Jamaica was home to many excellent furniture factories dating from colonial times, and Jamaican "Georgian' furniture was exported to the metropolitan countries.

Further reading

• Mordecai, Martin and Pamela. Culture and Customs of Jamaica. Greenwood Press. 2001.
• Hill, Errol. The Jamaican Stage, 1655-1900: Profile of a Colonial Theatre. University of Massachusetts Press. 1992.

See also

• Music of Jamaica
• National Gallery of Jamaica
• Jamaican literature
• Rastafari movement
• Jamaican English

External links

• Jamaica National Heritage Trust