INTRODUCTION: Creolization in Caribbean Music

 The textbook Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of the Caribbean emphasizes three thematic threads - creolization, mentorship, and versatility. However, this blog will discuss the theme: Creolization in Caribbean music. The text defines creolization as the "blending of musical (and other cultural) traditions" and states that creolization is also referred to as "syncretism" (Gangelhoff & LeGrand, p.7, 2019). In other terms, creolization can be described as a process in which a new synthetic language or culture forms. Creolization can be seen in many different aspects in the Caribbean such as religion, languages, foods, rituals, and dance. Moreover, new styles of music such as the merengue (Dominican Republic), the son and danzon (Cuba), and mento (Jamaica) are the result of creolization (Roux, n.d.). An example of a merengue musical band is the Rikarena, as seen in Figure 1. A song sang by this four membered musical band is 'No Puedo Olvidarla' (refer to Video 1).

Figure #1 - The musical band Rikarena

Source: rikarena - Google Search



Video #1 -  The lyrics for 'No puedo olvidarla' by Rikarena

Source: YouTube


This particular video/song was chosen because it is one of this musical band's popular songs and the characteristics of merengue music can be heard clearly.


As previously stated, creolization is seen in other forms besides music. A well known language that evolved as a result of creolization is Patois. This is a special type of native language that resulted from a mixture of English and African tribal languages (Roux, n.d.). Jamaican Patois is a type of Patois spoken by Jamaicans, however there are many unique versions (refer to Video 2).

Figure #2 - shows phases in English (left) and how they are said in Jamaican Patois (right)
Source: patois language - Google Search



Video #2 - Gives examples of Jamaican Patios and an historical background of Patios
Source: YouTube 


This particular video was chosen because it not only gives examples of Jamaican Patios but includes an historical background as to where Patois came from and gives a great amount of information on Jamaican Patios.



REFERENCES

Gangelhoff, C. & LeGrand, C. (2019). Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of the Caribbean.


de Roux, H. F. Creolization in the Caribbean.

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