The music of Anguilla is part of the Lesser Antillean music area. The music of the Lesser Antilles encompasses the Music of this chain of small islands making up the eastern and southern portion of the West Indies. The earliest people of the island were the Caribs and Arawaks, who arrived from South America. Cariban languages Carib, Island Carib or Kalinago people after whom the Caribbean Sea was named live in the Lesser Antilles islands The term Arawak (from aru, the Lokono word for Cassava flour was used to designate the Amerindians encountered by the Spanish in English settlers from St Kitts and Irish people later colonised the island. The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis) located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island Unlike regional neighbours, however, the plantation system of agriculture that relied on chattel slavery never took root in Anguilla, causing a distinctly independent cultural makeup. Fundamentally a plantation is usually a large Farm or estate, especially in a tropical or semitropical country on which Cotton, Tobacco Personal property is a type of Property. In the Common law systems personal property may also be called chattels or personalty. The most recent influences on Anguilla's musical life come from elsewhere in the Caribbean, especially the music of Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, as well as abroad, especially the music of the United States and the United Kingdom. The Caribbean state of Trinidad and Tobago is best known as the homeland of Calypso music, including 1950s stars Lord Kitchener and Mighty Sparrow The music of Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many popular genres such as Mento, Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, Dub music The music of the United States reflects the country's multi-ethnic population through a diverse array of styles Music from the United Kingdom has lost great popularity since the 1960s when a wave of musicians helped to popularise Rock and roll. Anguilla's Rastafarian heritage has played a role in the island's music and culture and produced influential figures like activist Ijahnya Christian and Robert Athlyi Rogers, author of The Holy Piby. The Rastafari movement (also known as Rastafari, Rastafarianism or simply Rasta) is a monotheistic, Abrahamic, New Testament The Holy Piby is a proto- Rastafarian text written by an Anguillan Robert Athlyi Rogers (d [1]
The island has produced a number of popular reggae, calypso, soca and country musicians. Reggae is a Music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean Music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago at about the start of the 20th century Soca is a form of Dance music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from Calypso music. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. Of these, the last is especially characteristic, as country is not otherwise a part of much Caribbean popular music. Anguilla's Island Harbour, an Irish-settled village on the east side of the island, is a major centre for local country music. [2] Soca is a major recent import that has become the most important form of dance music on Anguilla; it is often accompanied by frenzied, sexualised dancing called wukin up. [3]
Perhaps the most famous musician from Anguilla and one of the Caribbean's most acclaimed recording artists is Bankie Banx. Bankie Banx (born Clement Ashley Banks, 1953 Anguilla) is a Reggae singer known as the "Anguillan Bob Dylan " Banx has released over ten albums and has played with such music legends such as Bob Dylan, Jimmy Cliff and Jimmy Buffett. Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major Jimmy Cliff OM (born James Chambers, 1 April 1948, Somerton District St James William "Jimmy" Buffett (born December 25 1946) is a Singer, Songwriter, Author, Businessman, and recently He has also opened a popular music bar called the Dune Preserve, built in order to save the Rendezvous Bay dune; the Dune Preserve is home to the Moonsplash Annual Music Festival. [4] More recent popular successes include the soca group Xtreme Band, who gained regional fame following their success in the 2001 Carnival. Soca is a form of Dance music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from Calypso music. [5]
Music institutions in Anguilla include the Soroptimist Club and the Annual Tranquility Jazz Festival, though the island's most famous music celebration is Carnival, held near the beginning of August (the first Friday after the first Monday); it includes calypso competitions, j'ouvert, street dances, boat races, costumed parades and stilt walking, and beachside barbecues. Founded in 1921 Soroptimist ( "best for women") is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women Carnival is a festival season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February and March Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean Music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago at about the start of the 20th century J'ouvert (also spelled as Jouve) and pronounced 'juuvay' is a large street party during Carnival in the eastern Caribbean region [4][6] Anguillans also celebrate the anniversary of emancipation in August, and British holidays like the Queen's birthday. Emancipation is a term used to describe various efforts to obtain Political rights or equality, often for a specifically Disenfranchised group or more For the first time in 2005, Anguilla was home to a Country Music Festival, which was promoted by American country star Billy Ray Cyrus; in addition to Cyrus and other American musicians. Billy Ray Cyrus (born William Ray Cyrus; August 25 1961 is a Grammy Award -nominated American Country music singer songwriter and actor from Flatwoods Other popular musicians from Anguilla include Evan Webster,[7] the most famous recent performer to emerge from the island's country music heritage. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. [2]
References
- De Ledesma, Charles and Georgia Popplewell (2000). "Put Water in the Brandy?", in Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed. ): World Music, Vol. 2: Latin & North America, Caribbean, India, Asia and Pacific. Rough Guides, 507-526. ISBN 1-85828-636-0.
- Country Music Festival In Anguilla. The Anguillian. Retrieved on December 3, 2005.
- Cameron, Sarah (1996). Caribbean Islands Handbook with the Bahamas. Passport Books. 0844249076.
- Art Guide of Anguilla. Anguilla Guide. Retrieved on November 27, 2006.
- The Story of Island Harbour. Anguilla Vibe. Retrieved on November 27, 2006.
- Carnival Was Colourful, Fun and Loud. Anguilla News. Retrieved on November 27, 2006.
- History of Anguilla. The Anguilla Guide. Retrieved on November 27, 2006.
Notes
External links
- National Song of Anguilla: "God Bless Anguilla"
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