The People

In Jamaica, smiles beam from faces in hues ranging from rich coffee to condensed milk-sweetened cocoa. These warm faces bear physical features that are seldom duplicated. There are small noses, proud noses, strong chins, blue eyes and dark ones too, full lips, fine mouths, corkscrew curls and unruly locks. To appreciate these shapes and shades, and to understand our rich history and heritage, is to think on a global scale.

Nearly every race is represented here – African, English, Spanish, Irish, Scottish, Indian, Chinese, German and Syrian. They came – to conquer, colonise, unwillingly or in search of a better life, settling over time to call this island home. They've jumbled and fused, creating the most extraordinary racial and cultural medley, the Jamaican people.

Offering handshakes, hugs and hearty hellos, Jamaicans are naturally warm, friendly and entertaining. Often our humour cannot be contained by simple smiles, and breaks loose into contagious bouts of laughter and gesticulation. We seldom cry, choosing to laugh instead at whatever comes our way. Reggae pulses through our veins, giving us an innate internal rhythm that fuels our abounding energy and creativity. Our complex past, marked by slavery and the struggle for independence, has made us proud, resilient and strong. We refuse to be restrained, choosing instead to break the boundaries of our small island, gaining worldwide recognition in areas like music and sports.

Jamaicans, although soft-hearted, are sometimes not tactful or overly sensitive, and very often, not politically correct. We always say it like it is. Don't be offended if on the streets you are called "Browning", "Redman", "Coolie", "Whitey", "Blacka" or "Miss Chin". It's the way we acknowledge and make light of our diverse racial heritage.

African and European influences dominate our people. There is Africa everywhere – in the faces of nine out of ten Jamaicans, in our language, food, craft, religions and customs. Europe is here too. The Spanish, English, Irish, Germans and Scots have all left their mark. You’ll see it in our place names, legal, educational and governmental systems, language, architecture and religion. The Chinese, Indians, Lebanese, Syrians and Jews all have pieces of their homelands here as well. They fuel our entrepreneurial spirit while the aromas and flavours of these Eastern cultures waft in our food.

We have transformed the ways, traditions and customs of our foreign ancestors into something so special it could only be Jamaican. We've mixed and mingled, breaking down barriers, to become one people out of many, living one love.

Folk Music

Thumping, infectious and passionate sounds are the trademarks of Reggae, Jamaica's most internationally recognised music and the heartbeat of our people. Although this is Jamaica’s music, its origins are in the villages of Africa where our forefathers mourned the passing of an ancestor, heralded the birth of a son or celebrated the end of a harvest with song and dance.

Jamaica's traditional music is heavy with the substance of our collective experiences, struggles for personal freedom and independent nationhood. Music has been a tool for rebellion and for communication with each other, nature and the Divine. It also provides a lyrical voice for our social and political commentary. The fusion of our African and European heritage has produced several forms of music that still thrive in many modern communities.

These folk forms fall into three main groups – tunes for work and entertainment, religious melodies and dance music. Each group has its own harmony, but all share a commonality in the types of accompaniments used, primarily the drum and small wind and string instruments.

Music for Work and Entertainment

Work songs have their roots in the slavery period. They were used to pass messages and gossip, but also to lighten the load of daily chores. Often a "singer man" led workgroups by singing a line, which the others repeated. Many slaves were unable to read, so this call-and-response scenario also characterised community gatherings such as wakes and funerals.

Games are an integral part of Jamaican life, and it is common to see young children at play engaging in these singing games. Usually, they stand in a ring and accompany their singing with clapping. The energetic nature of the games makes instruments difficult to use, so they are often sung a cappella.

Religious Music

The eclectic mix of European- and African-influenced religious groups and their syncretistic offshoots results in a multitude of ceremonies and public expressions of faith. Among the most popular forms are Kumina, Pocomania and Rastafari. Rasta music is characterised by drumming and chanting; the Revivalist groups, to which Kumina and Pocomania belong, also use drums, often suspended from the hips or upper arms, and offset by rattling tambourines and shakers. The sessions usually involve all-night vigils with singing, accompanied by musical instruments, thumping and heavy rhythmic groaning.

Dance Music

Our traditional dance music forms, Jonkonnu, Bruckins, Dinki Mini, Quadrille and Mento, are used to celebrate special events and holidays. In this group, the accompanying dances and colourful costumes or regalia are as important as the actual music, providing a feast for the eyes as well as the ears.

Dance

There is a well-known adage asserting proudly that the heart of the Jamaican people has never ceased to dance. It’s true - dancing is an integral part of everyday Jamaican life. We dance everywhere and for all occasions - for worship, cultural celebrations, formal events and social gatherings. Once there's music, hips gyrate, hands start to clap, and everyone - old and young alike – finds themselves moving to the infectious rhythmic beat.

Shaped by a mixture of European and African influences, Jamaican dance forms have evolved. From the "jonkonnu" steps practiced by slaves at Christmas time, to the post-Emancipation "bruckins", the liberating "ska" of a newly independent nation to the vibrant, sometimes challenging choreography of the dancehall – our heritage in dance reflects the evolution of our cultural identity.

We have "Jamaicanised" traditional European dances, such as maypole and quadrille, performing them to the sounds of our homegrown "mento" music. Similarly, dances such as the "gerreh", the "dinki-mini" and "ettu" reflect our African heritage, but are also satirical commentaries on plantation life. These dances form the backbone of modern Jamaican dance forms.

Local clubs and HQs, reverberating with pounding beats of Dancehall music, are breeding grounds for new dance moves. Jamaicans and visitors alike are barely able to keep track of the many new dances that surface at a rapid pace. You can bet that almost every month there will be a new style, no less exciting, entertaining or exhilarating than the previous.

From the dancehall to the stage, hip street styles give way to elaborate contortions and clever choreography. The Edna Manley School of Dance, the National Dance Theatre Company and other recognised groups also keep Jamaica's dance tradition alive with regular shows. The themes of these performances sometimes explore the issues facing the nation, or reflect the artistic expressions of the performers with well-rehearsed and synchronised formations. These Jamaican ensembles have received both local and international acclaim, exposing our dance forms to our people and the world.

Dancing is a vital part of the Jamaican lifestyle. Whether as a means of enjoyment, entertainment or expression, the ability to move the body freely is essential to our identity as a people. To experience Jamaica is to dance with us.