...Did you know that Caribbean music has been an influence by African, European, Indian and Indigenous cultures? It also goes back and tie in with Central America and South America. Caribbean music goes back centuries, since Caribbean music is a mixture of different cultures, it goes all the way to the fifteenth century and so on. This type of music is here to bring happiness and most of the time tell what has happened in the past or what somebody has been through. Music is for the soul. The history of the Caribbean music goes back so far, it even goes back when the European settlers were importing slaves from west and central Africa. That was when the slaves used music to express themselves. Immigrants and human trafficking was very heavily...
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...to be the most important agent of socialization the development of new technologies has bridged an increasing gap between the older and younger generations. Newer generations are drawn into the entertaining and appealing world of technology and are being constantly bombarded with messages from a multitude of media sources, these messages not only promote products, but moods, attitudes, and a sense of what is and is not important. With lesser and lesser interaction between the older and younger generations cultural traditions, values, morals and attitudes of institutions and families are being disintegrated and replaced by the mass Medias ideas and perceptions. This social conditioning is spread mainly through Music, television, the internet and print media. Music exerts significant influences on its listeners as it can express, convey and illicit powerful emotions that its...
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...has defined modern Caribbean features since colonization, slavery and indentureship (Nurse 2003). The Caribbean has one of the largest diasporic communities in the world, in proportion to population (Stalker 2003). For example, it is estimated that the Cubans and Dominicans in the USA are equivalent to 8% of their respective populations of origin (UNECLAC 2002: 237). And, in some of the mini states in the region like St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and Belize, annual labour migration accounts for as much as 12% of their population, thereby transferring their population growth (Mittelman 2000: 60). In addition, the loss of highly educated individuals from the Caribbean was due to the brain drain and the question of migration and remittances and if they could improve the standards of living for the individuals, their families and communities hence, aiding in the development of the region at large. The issue of migration and development has health and security risks associated with it for instance, HIV/AIDS and the increase in deportees into the Caribbean. Emigration in the Caribbean has occurred in two waves. The first wave occurred in the 1950s and 1960s in the Western economies during the post World War II which was a result of improved standards of living by finding full employment and lack of work in unskilled and semiskilled jobs. The second wave was due to the outcome of global economic restructuring and both economic and social decline in Caribbean countries. Emigration...
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...other Caribbean musicians gave the world a conscience as they became the ‘voice for the voiceless’ not just at home, but also internationally. Has the current crop of musicians in the region deviated from this practice? Explain your response. The Caribbean is home to many of the world’s greatest and renowned musicians. Musical icons like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Mighty Sparrow and Jimmy Cliff worked hard; and with their great musical talent were able to use their music to inspire and create a level of consciousness in black people of the region and all over the world. These men, through the lyrical content of their music touched the lives of the down trodden, lifted the spirit of the hopeless and stirred in the hearts of men and women the passion to fight against the injustices of their own region and in so doing sensitised the universal world. Bob Marley’s music is just as popular today as it was in the early seventies when he released the single ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ and has continued to live on even in his absence. His music and that of his fellow counterparts; has continued to be the voice for the voiceless, regionally and internationally. Their music has been an opportune medium, which was used successfully to bring to the fore many of the social, political, economical issues that have plagued our societies. It was Bob Marley who sang “one good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain”, and indeed, historically, the influence of music on the...
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...hotel, enjoying delectable island cuisine and nightlife that sizzles with the heat of Bahamian music. The Bahamas is the ideal vacation destination and will have any vacationer coming back. While the Bahamas is primarily known and visited for its bright white beaches, tourist can enjoy the Caribbean feel while staying in luxurious resorts. There are quite a few hotels in Nassau, on Atlantis Paradise Island, which is right off the coast; there is the Atlantis Paradise Island resort which is the resort Paradise Island is known for. This resort offers a casino, 11 pools, Adventure Water Park and The Dig and Ruins Lagoon. The...
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...Arts May 5, 2010 Exploring African Influence on the West Indian/Caribbean Culture It is rather interesting that in a “progressive” society, our behavior and practices are firmly rooted in our past. It is ever possible to wrest ourselves from the harsh realities of slavery and its ensuing impact upon Caribbean way of life? Probably to do so may mean rewriting history (our-story) or maybe knowledge of where we are coming from is what we need to help us embrace those parts of our history that must be held on to and celebrated and relinquish the undesirable parts: our acceptance of being powerless; our antagonistic propensities. The impact of West Indian slavery on the cultural landscape of the Caribbean cannot be under estimated or taken for granted. In the entire discourse on West Indian slavery, it is often taken for granted that the discussion centers solely on enslaved Africans. However, slavery brought to the region not only African but Europeans (Spaniards, French and British) and consequent to its abolition, there was the advent of the east Indians. We see the impact of their influence in the names of places; the foods we eat; our music and dance; our arts and craft, gender and sexuality. As these and other anecdotal evidences are examined and the academic contributions of others are analysed, Caribbean culture will be clearly defined and its origin established. Slavery and its attending impact upon Caribbean culture have been both positive and negative as remnants of the...
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...Akari Devonish Caribbean Studies Culture is the beliefs or customs of a society. There can be two distinctive types of culture, material culture which consists of all tangible things created by the members of society like architecture, cuisine etc. and non material culture which comprises society’s belief and norms like music and religion. In recent times however, due to the increase of development and modernization, many traditional practices can be erased, retained or even renewed. We can see these changes in the Caribbean, especially in Barbados. Culture erasure refers to the process of gradually removing various traditions from society. This usually comes from newer generations having little or no interest in certain traditions. In the Caribbean the majority of young adults prefer foreign music, clothes and even sports. For example, there is a severe decline in people who would prefer to listen to calypso over foreign music. In terms of sports, there has also been a reduction of cricket fans. In the past there were masses of people who flocked to the cricket grounds to watch the West Indies. Those who didn’t were usually at home watching from their television or listening to it on the radio. In modern times, other sports like football, has gained a massive increase in popularity over cricket. In addition, the advances of technology can have an effect on the rate of culture erasure as well. Although they might save much needed time and energy, the introduction of various...
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...was also awarded the green star Diamond award for environmental practices. TravelAge West Wave awards 2009 Beaches Turks & Caicos was named Best Resort for families in the Caribbean for the second consecutive year. Travel + Leisure magazine named Beaches Turks & Caicos as World’s Best family Resort in the Caribbean. Travel + Leisure magazine march 2007 Beaches Turks & Caicos was voted the #2 Caribbean Resort, While Beaches Negril was voted #9. Trip advisor 2008 Travellers Choice award Beaches Boscobel named in the top 10 hotels for families in the Caribbean and Latin America. Sandals Corporate University has partner with many institutions/universities aboard such as the American Hotel and Lodging Association to offer team member a chance to continue their education by obtaining certification, and degrees. Weakness Better themselves against the competition such as Breeze all inclusive resort and other family resorts that are popping up all over the place They need to promote more from within instead of always bringing persons in especial for management roles. Most times they bring person in, someone has to train them to do things the way Beaches wants it to be done so someone who they person will oversee have to training and that’s not right. Showcase more local culture, food, music, drinks, and talent. The two Resorts in Jamaica are good, but for the Property in Turks & Caicos, More local items such as the rum, native foods and more of that Country Culture...
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...Topic: Treats faced by coral reefs in the Caribbean. In the Caribbean, the natural structures of the coral reefs are faced with many severe dangers which are caused naturally and by human activities. Coral reefs however, are living communities. Coral polyps are tiny marine creatures that secrete a calcium carbonate or limestone shell around their bodies, which remains when they die. The long shells become cemented together to form the physical structure of the reef on top of which the live Coral polyps grow. The coral reefs are significantly beneficial to the Caribbean region, thus, certain strict measures should be implemented to minimize or reduce the dangers posed to the coral reefs. The coral reef structure provides protection to plant and aquatic life. Waves break on the reef ensuring that a calm lagoon or stretch of sea occurs between the reef and the coastline. Coral reefs are therefore, ecosystems that support an immense variety of life and also have great potential to produce new medicine for mankind. The coral reef is important to the Caribbean regions with regards to the tourism industry. Thus, these reefs should be protected from human threats. First of all, Caribbean countries can immediately create marine reserves which are places in the ocean that are completely protected from uses that remove animals and plants or alter their habitats. These reserves are off limits to fishing activities because destructive fishing methods physically destroy the reef when explosives...
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...Caribbean Festivals at Home and Abroad Concept of Carnival/Festival Carnival brings about a "second world condition" so that when carnival comes around, another world is created and people go into that world. Notion of carnival as one of “the decentralising forces that militate against official power and ideology. Carnival as the interruption of dominant discourses “to surrender the critical and cultural tools to the dominant class and in this sense, carnival can be seen above all else as a site of urgency.” Mikhail Bakhtin in Rabelais and His World- Uses the term in reference to carnivals of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Bakhtin one of the key theorists on carnivals. Bakhtin-Carnivals allowed people mostly from the under class to rebel momentarily against social conventions and the class and financial hierarchies that structured society. Bakhtin- Carnival in medieval times offered a “second world and a second life.” Play, mockery, inversion, laughter and profanity all elements in Bakhtin's canival. Bakhtin-Carnival underlined is not a spectacle seen by the people; they live in it and everyone participate because its very idea embraces all the people...It has a universal spirit; it is a special condition of the entire world, of the world's revival and renewal in which all take part.” Bakhtin's views on Carnival have led to many theorists using Bakhtin's views to discuss carnival. Robert Stam- Carnivals can be politically ambiguous affairs that can be egalitarian and emancipatory...
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...Access the importance of any two perennial national festivals in the Caribbean Carnival is Bacchanal! It is an annual celebration of life found in many countries of the world. Carnival is the time when individuals releases themselves and parade with enjoyment of the various Caribbean local art forms. According to Julia Hewitt “in the Caribbean, carnival as a mode of performing resistance, the memory of repression and sacrifice but also of hope, in a sense of becoming other”. “Caribbean festivals embody an aesthetic formally rooted in the early European, African and Asian traditions brought to the West indies between the 15th and 19th centuries, as well as from 20th century publications, broad casts and artistic movements. Caribbean festival arts are evidence of the transformation worked by a creoles aesthetic.” Judith Bettleheim et.al. Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago and Jonkonnu in Jamaica are two perennial festivals in the Caribbean. These festivals have been celebrated in the Caribbean for years and play an integral role in the maintenance and development of the region. Moreover, they contribute significantly to the nation’s social, economic, cultural tourism welfare. The Caribbean has many festivals such as Jonkonnu and Carnival. Jonkonnu has several schools of thoughts but according to Richard Allsopp denotes that Jonkonnu is more likely related to Yoruba word Jonkoliko, one elevated as a figure for fun or disgrace. This seems logical, especially since many of the...
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...1423 Richmond Avenue Saturday morning around 11 a.m. Since we were so early we were lucky enough to be seated in one of the many white linen cabanas. This restaurant is known in Houston as a cultural, Latin American-Caribbean fusion. As we glanced over the menu, several delicious items popped up, such as redfish, salmon, trout and chicken often paired with a fruit relish, yellow rice and vegetables. The waiter brought us free appetizers, two bowls, one red salsa and the other a yellowish color salsa with some green specks. My sister took a bite out of the yellow salsa, I bit into the corn chips and red salsa. We were both surprised to find out that we enjoyed the tastes of the salsas which were uniquely different. However, we could not figure out what special ingredients were in the salsa but as soon as our waiter arrived we immediately determined the secret as to what the yellow in the salsa was and that was pineapple and a jalapeño blend which was the green specks in the salsa. Both were delicious and exotic. Being on a student budget, we decided the free appetizers were more than adequate for flavor and our budget. Next up was the entrées, we came across many options including both Tex-Mex and Caribbean dishes but ended up with two great choices; the Caribbean snapper which is a fresh bay snapper which is infused with El Pueblito Patio house sauce which came with beans, rice, fried plantains and sour cream. We also had the chipotle chicken which is a grilled chicken with...
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...though Grenada has had such a violent political history, it does not even mention politics. It is as if Buffong has given up on politics; so much so that she does not even bother to critique it any more. Yet she does critique corrupt religious figures, from obeah practitioners to those of the higher echelons of the Roman Catholic Church. This suggests that Buffong sets her hopes on a return to an African-based spirituality in harmony with nature and community, illustrated by the novel’s nature symbolism and African-Caribbean religions and folklore. In Healing Narratives, Gay Wilentz develops the idea that “cultures themselves can be[come] ill” from a brutal history of colonial conquest and slavery (1). The colonists’ violent disruption and dislocation of African communities were compounded by the psychological violence caused by the repression of the root culture and the imposition of the dominant culture; conditions which laid the foundation for sick Caribbean communities. Members of these communities suffer from the identity crises caused by the conflict between Western materialism and African spirituality. Although the enslaved Africans clung to their culture to maintain an identity in opposition to that of the colonizer, their descendants were lured into assimilation by promises of material wellbeing and social mobility under the condition that they submerge their traditional African worldview. However in the context of the traditional African worldview, the spiritual...
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...with first and second generation Haitian and Dominicans Americans. Why one island praises their African roots while the other tries to eliminate and hide it? Growing up in a predominate Haitian household you are opened to the culture, the cuisine, the music and the history, and this is for the same for a Dominican household, but imagine being of both ethnicities and wanting both. In some instances, the families allows both cultures to influence...
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...United States. The article involves far more than the traditional linking relationship of traits of Africa and the West Indies. The article examines the resistance and spiritual survival of African Culture among the black Diaspora in the United States. While at the same timeexpounding the scope and the significance of African culture by providing a fertile concept of Africanism that reflects the unique manner in which each black individual of the Diaspora envisions African Cultural retention. Herskovits in his writing posits that the retention of the African cultural has been long lost in the American Culture; however this observation is not the same in the Caribbean/West Indian context. The West Indian retention of the African Culture is evident in many of the religious practices that are still being done in the Caribbean, some of which are Revivalism, Pucho, Voodoo (Vodun), Keele, Santeria, Shouter Baptist and Komfa (Cumfa). These are some of the ways in which West Indians have retained many of the cultural practices of their African ancestors. In his writing Herskovits argued that “for the negro to appreciate his past he has to endow confidence in his own position in his country and by extension the world. He must have scientific facts concerning the ancestral cultures of Africa and the survivals of Africanisms in the New World. In the article Herskovits argued that the survival of African Cultural forms was not present in the American culture as it is in the West Indian...
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