Christian rhyming spirituals and the ant'ems of sponge fishermen are now mostly dead traditions, decimated by the arrival of pop music, a 1930s sponge blight and other causes. The originator of Junkanoo: John Canoe, West African Slave Junkanoo is a Bahamian Cultural event that includes music, dance and a celebration of freedom, that occurs during the morning of Boxing Day and New Year’s. Soca, calypso and reggae arrived from other places like Trinidad, Jamaica ad Cuba and are now a part of Bahamian music. Many different factors contributed to the formation of a potent and vital body of myths within The Bahamas. This makes for an interesting cluster of people, customs, and traditions. Voters List. University of Texas Press, 159–183. The Bahamas were granted limited self-government as a British crown colony in 1964, broadened (1969) through the efforts of Prime Minister Lynden O. Pindling. Government High School Files. August 17 1937 - November 19 2017) was a famous Bahamian calypso and rake n scrape entertainer and singer. They can be found singing their own tunes in the local island bar room or accompanying social dances and events. The Department of Archives receives numerous visits by researchers looking for FAMILY HISTORY or PROPERTY. Prehistoric music, once more commonly called primitive music, is the name given to all music produced in preliterate cultures (), beginning somewhere in very late geological history.Prehistoric music is followed by ancient music in most of Europe (1500 BC) and later music in subsequent European-influenced areas, but still exists in isolated areas. Birth, Marriage and Death Records . The Bahamian Quadrille and heel toe polka dance forms accompany the rake and scrape music. A festive parade complete with colourful costumes, goatskin drums, clanging cowbells, whistles and horns, it has remained remarkably unchanged over the years. The history and heritage of The Bahamas have resulted in a diverse culture rich with customs that continually remind visitors of the love for celebration and community in The Bahamas. 2, Performing the Caribbean Experience, Ed. This celebration, which may have started as early as the 16th century, honours the country’s history with traditional music and dancing. The information or details for the listed event(s) may change at any given time and The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, or The Government of The Bahamas, will not be held liable for any decision made based upon it This is when they performed Junkanoo. Blue Books. The Bahamas has three indigenous forms of music and dance: Goombay, Rake ‘n’ Scrape, and Junkanoo. The ethnic compositi I CD, Smithsonian Folkways SF 40405 (1997). Father's Name. Butler, began his career in music at the age of 16. Rake and scrape is believed to have originated on the island of Cat Island but evidence suggest that it was emerging in many places simultaneously. Junkanoo is a significantly important part of the Bahamian culture because it is a celebration of freedom. The word Junkanoo is said to be derived from a Ghanaian leader, John Connu, or from the Qujo supreme deity (Canno) and ancestral spirits (jannanin). Texas: University of Texas Press, 359–376. Spouse's Name. World Championships in Athletics. In more modern bands, it is replaced by an electric guitar or electronic keyboard. From town to town, village by village this can be changed. Parades and other celebrations mark the ceremony. Concerts range from youth-oriented popular music (reggae, rock, rap) to more adult-oriented forms (blues, jazz, gospel) to classical music. Centuries of colonial domination, and the nearness of American and Caribbean cultures have also shaped the character of Bahamian music. Contract Labour Records. Bahamian secular music, particularly when played by rake and scrape bands, relies on the goatskin drum to create its rhythmic base. Costuming and competitions became more complex and commonplace, and soon became a tourist draw. 2007. After almost disappearing entirely with tourist marketing in the 1940s, a gradual resurgence of rake-n-scrape began in 1969 along with the push for national independence. Mother's Name. Junkanoo music is an intoxicating combination of African and Caribbean rhythms, often played with drums and various skin or pipe instruments. [5], Aerophones: The accordion is the component that adds the round form which enables dancers to dance the ring dance. But the music is changing as it continues to draw on outside influences. It’s a time to have fun, Bahamian style! They enjoyed a peaceful way of life and had developed viable political, social and religious systems. Date of Marriage The Bahamas are a self-governing country that has been inhabited as early as 300 to 400 A. The drum is always heated over fire to retain its tone. As early as 700 AD, Lucayan Indians inhabited the Bahamas, first living on the southern islands and eventually spreading out to inhabit the entire archipelago. Other popular Bahamian artists include Stileet and Stevie S. Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago. A recording of that show is available for sale from Ringplay Productions. Rake-and-scrape's popularity has been declining in recent years, but performers like Lassie Do and the Boys continue to keep the tradition alive. Early history. The music makers combined these three instruments to produce the inventive rake and scrape sound. For hundreds of years along the 700 scattered limestone islands in the Caribbean sea that make up The Bahamas, the human voice has been raised in melodious strains to a rhythmic pulse that is deeply influenced by the African ancestry of most Bahamians. The Bahamas boasts some of the best guitarists in the world, many of whom are self-taught on homemade guitars. In 1973, the year the Bahamas achieved independence from the United Kingdom, black professionals of the middle and upper classes began to dominate junkanoo celebrations. Butler is referred to as "The Godfather of Bahamian Music" and his career spans more than five decades. Since the 1950s the influence of American culture has increased, mainly through TV and radio broadcasts from Florida stations, and other Caribbean styles have made inroads: calypso, reggae and soca, from Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, an… 1, 1992. August 17 1937 - November 19 2017) was a famous Bahamian calypso and rake n scrape entertainer and singer. Audio clips: traditional music of the Bahamas. 2000. Rhyming songs are also part of Bahamian worship services. Bahamas Staff List. Kaliss, Jeff. Groups like The Baha Men, Ronnie Butler and Kirkland Bodie have gained massive popularity in Japan, the United States and other places. 92.5 Bahamian or Nuttin is the only station that can guarantee 100% Bahamian music. It is a music and dance form that originated in The Bahamas during the days of slavery. The Bahamas: Islands of song, recorded and produced by Oete Reiniger, with introductory essays by Gail Saunders and Kayla Olubumni Lockhart Edwards. This page was last edited on 27 October 2020, at 16:21. In 1492, Christopher Columbus made landfall in the New World on the island of San Salvador. The junkanoo was formerly practiced in North Carolina and remnants still exist in Belize. List of Bahamian musicians Avvy – Inagua, Bahamas recording artist Baha Men Sebastian Bach – Canadian heavy metal singer, born in Freeport, Bahamas Ronnie Butler Exuma "King" Eric Gibson - (ca. Ronald "Ronnie" Butler, Sr. M.B.E. Rommen, Timothy. (Downloadable recording), South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Music_of_the_Bahamas&oldid=985727534, Articles with French-language sources (fr), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Artist Biography by Matt Collar. Rake-and-scrape music is a unique type of instrumental music made by bending a saw and scraping with a small object, most typically a screwdriver; it is used to accompany dances derived from European forms like polka and waltz. It is performed by the Dicey Doh singers in the a cappella four-part barbershop harmony typical throughout the Bahamas. Traditional / folk music of Bahamas Each country may has different types of folks musics. The largest Junkanoo celebration takes place on Bay Street, in downtown Nassau, but Bahamians across the 16 islands celebrate this joyful tradition. After almost disappearing entirely with tourist marketing in the 1940s, a gradual resurgence of rake-n-scrape began in 1969 … 1, 1992. The potential for the creation of wholesome indigenous Bahamian music is unlimited as we consider the many forms, rhythms, styles and lyrics to be produced in the genre of social commentary, social protest, romantic, patriotic, religious, ballads or simply songs of merriment. - Music On TV: What Works Now; Close Calls; Chart Search; Boxscore; Billboard Bulletin; Artist index; Song Index; PRO CHARTS . As a result of these merging influences, Bahamian music is uniquely rich, reflecting generations of joy, hardship, innovation, and artistry. In these songs the lead singer tells an animated, often improvised, story in rhythmic verse against the harmonies of a backup chorus. Joseph Spence is probably the most well known Bahamian guitarist. This kind of celebration is practiced in full swing in Belize, Bermuda and Jamaica. Soca music has evolved in the last 20 years primarily by musicians from various Anglophone Caribbean countries including Trinidad, Guyana, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, United States Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica and Belize. Bahamian music has, for a long time, been centered on Junkanoo, the big Bahamian annual holiday famously featuring elaborate parades on Bay Street in downtown Nassau. Suggested routes for the earliest migrations have been from Hispaniola to the Caicos Islands, from Hispaniola or eastern Cuba to Great Inagua Island, and from central Cuba to Long Island (in the central Bahamas). Welcome to 92.5 Bahamian or Nuttin. In "Mama, Bake a Johnny Cake, Christmas Coming," played here by the Fresh Creek Dance Band of the Fresh Creek settlement, located on the Bahamian Island of Andros, one can identify the sound of a carpenter's saw being scraped to create a distinctive form of percussion. The earliest reference to usage of the accordion by Bahamians is in 1886 in an Article in the Nassau Guardian. They are descendants of various African ethnic groups, many associated with the empires of Ghana, Songhai and Mali, the various Fula kingdoms, the Oyo Empire, and the Kingdom of Kongo.According to the 2010 Census, 92.7% of The Bahamas' population identifies as African. Bent against the body of the player and flexed, various timbral effects are obtained. "Take Your Burden to the Lord and Leave It There" is an example of this style. Date of Birth. and a variety of groups competing against each other. Among the strongest factors were the nation's unusual geography, its noteworthy history, and the often turbulent mingling of cultures. Rake-n-scrape is a traditional Bahamian music featuring the common handsaw, accordion, and goatskin drum. "Come Back Home: Regional Travels, Global Encounters, and Local Nostalgias in Bahamian Popular Musics." It is most well known, though, from Nassau and Freeport. It was not until 1971 that Junkanoo was brought to Grand Bahama. Junkanoo : a mix of Afro-Bahamian music and dance, began with the slaves who were given three days off at Christmas. About Ophie and Da Webbsite. Historically, secular music in The Bahamas has been called goombay music, a derivative of the Gambian word gumbay, or large drum. "The Bahamas" in An Encyclopedic History: Music in Latin America and the Caribbean, vol. They were brought to The Bahamas from North America by the mostly enslaved Creole individuals who accompanied British Loyalists near the time of the American Revolution. With a tropical calypso-style melody, Goombay is a musical method of storytelling and dancing often performed by The Bahamas’ honored rake and scrape bands. Soca is a form of dance music which originated from many calypso music in Trinidad and Tobago. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.). Sometime between 500 and 800 AD, Taínos began crossing in dugout canoes from Hispaniola and/or Cuba to the Bahamas. NOTE: The Department of Archives holds SOME records from the REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT and the DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEYS. His distinctive style was widely admired and copied by many up-and-coming American and British folk guitarists. However, The Bahamas is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and we celebrate July 10th as Bahamian Independence Day. Nothing is more indigenous and unique to Bahamian culture than Junkanoo. The unique character of Bahamian music demonstrates the breadth and range of Caribbean music in general. The term rake and scrape became the norm in 1969 by Charles Carter although he claims the people of Cat Island were already calling it that when he visited the Island. Butler, began his career in music … Today Bahamas cultural history and the history of the Bahamas can still be observed in some of the historical sites and museums. They were brought to The Bahamas from North America by the mostly enslaved Creole individuals who accompanied British Loyalists near the time of the American Revolution. As early as 700 AD, Lucayan Indians inhabited the Bahamas, first living on the southern islands and eventually spreading out to inhabit the entire archipelago. It is most well known, though, from Nassau and Freeport. "Junkanoo and Sloop John B.". Inspired by the surrounding shallow sea, he described them as islands of th… In 1971, when manufacturers started shipping products in metal barrels, Bahamians switched the drum to metal, slightly changing the tone of the drum. Aside from being a type of drum, goombay is also a percussion music made famous by Alphonso 'Blind Blake' Higgs, who played to tourists arriving at Nassau International Airport for several years. Rake and scrape music was born during the time of slavery in the Bahamas when slaves used the little resources they had to create music. Sailing from settlement to settlement along the coast on small, locally made fishing sloops, they hoped to find and record traditional Bahamian music that had not been influenced by either tourism or the popular calypso music of neighboring Trinidad. Stories of everyday occurrences become popular songs telling of broken hearts, holidays, and the beauty of the Islands' natural environment. On this recording, two groups from Cat Island—Ophie & Da Websites and Bo Hog & Da Rooters—take the basic sonorous ingredients of accordion, scraped saw, and goatskin drum to interpret some of the most popular rake-n-scrape … Place of Birth. Place of Death. The music of the Bahamas is associated primarily with Junkanoo, a celebration which occurs on Boxing Day and again on New Year's Day. On July 10, 1973, The Bahamas became a free and sovereign country, ending 325 years of peaceful British rule. Notable Bahamians. [4] In more modern music, the saw is replaced with maracas or a guiro. Keywords Art music Bahamas Bahamas - Emigration and immigration C Force Citizenship Classical music College of The Bahamas College of the Bahamas Composers Education History Libraries Media Migration Music Research San Salvador The College of The Bahamas The Contract Tourism music This form of music has spread through many parts of the Caribbean, including The Bahamas. It is also referred to a goatskin drum, as the skin of a goat was stretched over a wooden barrel. The calypso tradition, popularized abroad in the late 1950s, dates to the early 19th century and was originally called caïso or cariso. Culture Olympic Games. Music of The Bahamas was first performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1991, and was revived in 2002 for fresh Bahamian audiences. PM Christie declares Majority Rule Day as a milestone of equality.The Journey To Majority RuleNassau, The Bahamas -- On January 9, Prime Minister the Rt. His improvisational finger-picking style drew from folk and jazz influences and typified the rhythmically relaxed Bahamian guitar sound. Calypso, a type of folk song primarily from Trinidad though sung elsewhere in the southern and eastern Caribbean islands. The largest events are held in Nassau and Freeport, but smaller concerts are held in most out-island communities. Pan-Caribbean reggae, soca, and salsa are heard in clubs. [6], http://www.bahamasentertainers.com/Paper/rkeNscr.html. Bahamian or Nuttin celebrates the unique sound of Rake n Scrape and Junkanoo music while featuring the musical artists and culture of the Bahamas. Project Muse: Latin American Music Review, Vol 30, Number 2, Fall/Winter 2009. The music of the rake and scrape band is traditionally used to accompany Bahamian Quadrille and Heel and Toe polka dances, social celebrations that grew out of the initial mixture of Africa and Europe. Catch this celebration of Bahamian culture and history on Boxing Day—aka the day after Christmas—as well as on New Year's Day and many Saturdays throughout the summer. ... Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People, vol. Jury List. Ronald "Ronnie" Butler, Sr. M.B.E. The rake and scrape band hails back to the 1800s, when the Africans who were brought to the Bahamas looked to make music on whatever was available to them: a carpenter's saw, pork barrels with goat or sheep skin to make a drum, and the accordion which might have been a gift from their colonial master. Different music instrument or different style of folk music maybe used. It includes the playing of instruments such as, cowbells, whistles, goatskin drums, etc. Concerts range from youth-oriented popular music (reggae, rock, rap) to more adult-oriented forms (blues, jazz, gospel) to classical music. Rake and scrape music is played traditionally with Concertinas, Goombay drums, and a Handsaw. Bahamian music is strongly tied up to Junkanoo…a grand celebration that happens on Boxing Day. It originally combined the melodic lilting sound of calypso with insistent percussion (which is often electronic in recent music) and local chutney music. By Malena Kuss. Tourism has also had an impact, bringing in Japanese, European and North Americans with their attendant forms of cultural expression. Bahamas is the intimate, lyrically wry, indie-folk solo project of Canadian guitarist and singer/songwriter Afie Jurvanen. Ingraham, Veronica. Today Bahamas cultural history and the history of the Bahamas can still be observed in some of the historical sites and museums. Since the 1950s the influence of American culture has increased, mainly through TV and radio broadcasts from Florida stations, and other Caribbean styles have made inroads: calypso, reggae and soca, from Jamaica, Cuba, Trinidad, and other islands. 1934, 2013) calypso music Blake Alphonso Higgs Goombay, Calypso music Johnny Kemp Bahamian … The junkanoo was formerly practiced in North Carolina and remnants still exist in Belize. Rake-n-scrape is a traditional Bahamian music featuring the common handsaw, accordion, and goatskin drum. Biblical and historical stories are also sung to sometimes issue a warning or inspire courage. Bahamian sacred music is one of the Islands' most outstanding artistic expressions. The largest events are held in Nassau and Freeport, but smaller concerts are held in most out-island communities. [3], Idiophones: The main component that makes Rake-N-Scrape unique is the use of the Carpenter's Saw. Anthems are religious hymns that closely resemble songs of the antebellum slave era. In this milieu more traditional Bahamas performers such as Joseph Spence, have still enjoyed successful careers playing junkanoo, Christian hymns and the ant'ems of the local sponge fishermen, which include "Sloop John B", later made famous by The Beach Boys. "Drive the Nail A'Right, Boys." Today, music in the Bahamas maintains its place of importance in the lives of the islands' residents. Having honed his skills working alongside artsy roots luminaries like Feist and Jason Collett in the mid-2000s, Jurvanen garnered widespread critical acclaim for his 2009 Bahamas debut Pink Strat. Bahamians are famous for the art of storytelling and their stories are sung as often as they are spoken. Junkanoo drums, calypso, rake ’n’ scrape, and overarching Caribbean flavour gives visitors a real taste of the history, life, and culture of The Bahamas. Anthems are religious hymns that closely resemble songs of the antebellum slave era. Butler is referred to as "The Godfather of Bahamian Music" and his career spans more than five decades. It is decorated by simple or complex geometric designs in bright colors. Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People: Volume 2: From the Ending of Slavery to … The originator of Junkanoo: John Canoe, West African Slave Junkanoo is a Bahamian Cultural event that includes music, dance and a celebration of freedom, that occurs during the morning of Boxing Day and New Year’s. The word Junkanoo is said to be derived from a Ghanaian leader, John Connu, or from the Qujo supreme deity (Canno) and ancestral spirits (jannanin). This is of European descent. Modern religious services continue to integrate outside styles, as it is now common to hear contemporary African American gospel and traditional European hymns alongside these classic Bahamian songs. To help narrow the search, researchers are asked to know one or more of the following details about their ANCESTOR or FAMILY: Name. English language pop and world music are widely recognized. [1][2], Membranophones: The Goombay drum is main rhythmic component in rake-n-scrape. During the carnival season before Lent, groups of slaves led by popular singers, or shatwell, wandered through the streets singing and improvising veiled lyrics directed toward unpopular political figures. The name Bahamas is of Lucayan Taino derivation, although some historians believe it is from the Spanish bajamar, meaning “shallow water.”The islands occupy a position commanding the gateway to the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the entire Central American region.Their strategic location has given the history of The Bahamas a unique and often striking character. From around 900-1500 AD the Lucayan people settled here. Popularized widely by The Beach Boys, the song "Sloop John B" is about the adventures of sailors in Nassau. Take Your Burden To the Lord and Leave It There, Mama, Bake a Johnny Cake, Christmas Coming. Afro-Bahamians are an ethnicity originating in The Bahamas of predominantly African descent. As early as 300 to 400 AD, people who came from what is now Cuba (there was no country named Cuba at that time) lived on The Islands Of The Bahamas and relied on the ocean for food. Credits: Words adapted from feature by Angela Modany, NGS Staff. And yet the stories and music of the people—that which conjures up the soul of the Bahamas at home, in worship, at work, and in play—endure. E. Clement Bethel's master's thesis on traditional Bahamian music was adapted for the stage by his daughter, Nicolette Bethel and Philip A. Burrows. Goombay is the official music and dance of The Bahamas. This instrument is scraped with a nail or butter knife. Bahamas 397,164 (2017) ... History. Junkanoo went into decline after slavery was abolished and became all but extinct in areas of the caribbean where it … The PLP, campaigning on a platform of immediate independence, won an overwhelming victory in the 1972 elections and negotiations with Britain were begun. ... Islanders in the Stream: A History of the Bahamian People, vol. Foremost traditional Bahamian bands Ophie & Da Websites and Bo Hog & Da Rooters are essential to the preservation of “rake-n-scrape” — the traditional dance music of The Bahamas.