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Yah, Man! Welcome to... http://www.viajestauceti.com/images/jamaica.jpg

== Thank you for traveling with us as we journey through the cultural influences of Caribbean migrants to Great Britain! We will specifically be focusing on Jamaica and other islands within The West Indies; furthermore, we will discuss how the blending of British heritage and the Caribbean way of life have merged together to be one. ==

This presentation is a collaborative effort of Michelle Cochran, Ali Leon, Marlene Moore, and Ralph Reynolds​.

=**We’re going to begin our presentation with a short literary work by author Grace Nichols, titled //Skanking Englishman Between Trains//. This work illustrates the multiracial flavor of the Jamaican experience in England. Grace Nichols -- **= = = = http://gerryco23.wordpress.com/2009/06/19/malorie-blackman-my-life-in-verse/ = = = =Met him at Birmingham Station= =small yellow hair Englishman= =hi fi stereo swinging in one hand= =walking in rhythm to reggae sound/Man=

= = =he was alive= =he was full-o-jive= =said he had a lovely= =Jamaican wife=

= = =Said he couldn’t remember= =the taste of English food= =I like mih drops= =me johnny cakes= =me peas and rice= =me soup/Man=

= = =he was alive= =he was full-o-jive= =said he had a lovely= =Jamaican wife=

= = =Said, showing me her photo= =whenever we have a little quarrel= =you know/to sweeten her up= =I surprise her with a nice mango/Man=

= = =he was alive= =he was full-o-jive= =said he had a lovely Jamaican wife=

** JAMAICAN HISTORY **

The Jamaican experience as it relates to England is an interesting one, with a rich and interesting history. The Arawak Indians first inhabited Jamaica, and the name of the country derives from the Arawak name Xamayca, which means “Land of wood and water.” Christopher Columbus arrived in Jamaica on May 4, 1494, and for the next two centuries Jamaica was under Spanish rule. The Arawaks were eventually eliminated, and the island was inhabited by the Spanish until 1655. The British eventually seized the island in 1670. During the 18th century the slave trade increased tremendously to accommodate the labor needs of the huge plantations, and Jamaica became the largest sugar exporting nation in the world, on the backs of African slaves.

From 1/3/58 to 5/31/62 The West Indies Federation was a short lived Caribbean federation with the intention of being a political unit independent from Britain. Jamaica was a province of this federation. However, before this independence actually occurred, the Federation collapsed because of internal political strife. Finally, in 1962, Jamaica separated from the Federation and achieved independence from England.

The Empire Windrush was a ship that arrived in Tilbury, located on the River Thames in Essex, England, on June 22, 1948, bringing 492 passengers from Jamaica who were in search of a new life in the United Kingdom. An advertisement had appeared in a Jamaican newspaper that promised inexpensive transportation to England for anyone who wanted to come to Britain and work. These passengers were the first large group of immigrants from the West Indies to descend onto England after World War II. Their arrival signaled the beginning of modern multicultural relations that changed British society and what it means, really, to be British, over the subsequent years. So significant was the arrival of the Empire Windrush that in 1998, an area of open space in Brixton was renamed Windrush Square, to mark the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the West Indians. And with the first step that was taken by these Jamaicans off the vessel’s gang plank onto British soil, a most colorful, interesting, and dynamic infusion was made into Britain that would change its demographics forever.  So with this introduction we present Jamaica for your consideration as the premier country to be highlighted in your multicultural festival. We strongly believe our presentation is consistent with your desire to foster knowledge, understanding, and tolerance of different groups of people that comprise the new multicultural Britain! ** LITERARY TRADITIONS **

The Caribbean island of Jamaica has a reputation for its arts, including its strong literary traditions. An important aspect of Jamaican literature is the local patois (patwa), which is an English lexified Creole language with West African influences. Jamaica has produced many notable authors. A sampling of three famous authors follows.

Nobel Prize winner in Literature, 1992  http://www.nndb.com/people/987/000027906/ Derek Walcott was born in 1930 in Saint Lucia, one of the windward islands in the Lesser Antilles, an ex-British colony. He studied at the University of West Indies in Jamaica. He has studied and written about the conflict between European and West Indian cultures and the journey from slavery to independence, and he writes about his own journey as a wanderer between cultures.
 * DEREK ALTON WALCOTT **

V. S. NAIPAUL  Nobel Prize winner in Literature, 2001  http://www.nytimes.com/audiopages/2005/08/07/books/20050807_AUDIO_NAIPAUL.html V. S. Naipaul, born in Trinidad in 1932, is a British novelist and essayist of Indo-Trinidadian descent and is considered the leading novelist of English speaking Caribbean. He writes about cultural confusion and the experience of being a West Indian in England.

UNA MARSON  http://www.deliajarrettmacauley.com/marson.htm Una Marson was born in 1905 in Santa Cruz, Jamaica. She was a feminist activist, a writer, and a program producer for the BBC. From 1932 through 1936 she moved back and forth between London and Jamaica, writing about race issues in England.

OUR KEYNOTE FESTIVAL AUTHOR: ** Michelle Cliff ** - Ms. Cliff was born on November 2, 1946. She is Jamaican and grew up in both Jamaica and the United States. She has received several fellowships in creative writing and fiction and is an internationally known author. She was educated at the University of London and has held positions at several educational institutions, including Trinity College and Emory University. Her work includes three notable novels: __Free Enterprise__, __Abeng,__ and __No Telephone to Heaven__. She also has written essays and articles and has lectured on topics of racism, feminism, identity, class, color, and gender constructs. She is bisexual and lives with her partner, poet Adrienne Rich. Cliff's early years coming of age with her sexuality, as well as her experiences growing up in the Caribbean and United States, inform her work on all fronts. Her work reveals her own struggles in dealing with fragmented identities and how identity is difficult to define. The protagonist in her novels, Clare Savage, mirrors Cliff's own experiences with her early childhood struggles.

http://post.queensu.ca/~varadhar/eng%20384/ Michelle Cliff

= = = = = = = = =The Religions of Jamaica = = = = = == = = = = =<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 150%;">A melting pot of Religions = =<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">The practices of religion in Jamaica first began within history itself, like so many rituals within our cultures begin. With the overtaking of the country came various settlers that spread their countries' beliefs among the slaves. The very first settlers came to Jamaica in 1509 from Spain. Through their missionary efforts the settlers tried to convert the Arwarks/Taino (the first inhabitants to Jamaica) to Roman Catholicism. However, these efforts were very labour intensive and because the Arwarks were not accustomed, the tribe died out slowly due to disease and overwork. In 1655 The Church of England established itself in Jamaica, running out the Spanairds and Catholicism. This church remained established in Jamaica until 1870. However a shift began again in 1792, when Catholic Haitians started revolting and fleeing to Jamaica, re-introducing Catholicism to the island. After many years of changes within religion that were out of the natives' control, a huge change emerged. In 1962, the Jamaican Constitution was established (which is modeled after the English Constitution), creating the freedom of religion and allowing people to practice freely and create their own belief system and culture that they choose on their own. In present day, Jamaica consists of a vast amount of different religions. While the majority of the island believes in the faith of Christianity (approximatly 59-61%), it is not surprising to see many other religions being practiced such as Hinduism, Judiasm, Spiritualism, and Rastafarian. While we could go on and on about the history of all the religions that were introduced into the beautiful country of Jamaica, we must keep focused! The purpose of this proposal is to educate and enlighten you on the migrants of Jamaica and their influences to the UK. Although the religion of Rastafarian is not the main religion of Jamaica, it has had a huge impact in England. With that being said, I must express the importance that the Rastafarian religion has had on England and how the influence of this religion has helped create a diverse multicultural country. =

​ =**<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 170%;">Lets Learn about the Rasta!!! **=

=<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">To many followers a Rastafarian can also be known as Rastafaris, Rastas or Ras Tafarians. Starting as both a religion and a political movement, it was first established in the slums of Kingston, Jamiaca in the 1920's by a man named Marcus Garvey. Garvey was a black Jamaican man that gained popularity through his teachings and beliefs that people should take pride in their heritage. He created an overwhelming positivity within the community that through hard times, felt inferior to the white man. This notion of pride amongst people of your own kind seems to be very beneficial to those that traveled to the UK during the times of the Windrush, when they came to a new foreign land and were in need of people with the same values and beliefs to get them along. Marcus preached his beliefs of the following : = = = =<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* The messiah is a living God in the form of Emporer Haile Selassie I = == =<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* Resist oppression/ the white man is inferior to the black man = =<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* Be proud of your African heritage = =<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* The situation that was dealt with in Jamaica (slavery and oppression) is considered Hell and the voyage to Ethiopia is Heaven itself. = =<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* The black man is the reincarnation of ancient Isreal = =<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">* It is at the hand of the white man that the Rastafarians have been exiled to Jamaica. = = = = = = = = =

==<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**Marcus Garvey predicted that a Messiah would come to represent the human form of God on Earth. When this Messiah came, it would mean that a "divine punishment" had been lifted and the return of Africa would then begin.** In 1892 Haile Selassie I was crowned Emporer of Ethiopia. Selassie I was said to be the Messiah that Marcus Garvey had predicted. Rasatafarian followers believe Selassie I to be the presence of God on Earth, which they called their Jah. The religion itself was named after his birth name Ras Tafari Makonnen. The meaning of his birthname was "Might of the Trinity" and "Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah". We see this within the flag which consists of the three colors red, gold and green underneath a royal lion. Ironically, Emporer Selassie I never claimed to be the Messiah and considered himself to be an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. Although he denied his divinity, Rastafarians still believed him to be the Messiah that Garvey had predicted to come and lead them to their homeland. They felt it was proven on April 21,1966, during a long drought in Jamaica. Upon Selassies' visit to Jamaica a down pour of rain graced the island. Followers believe this to be evidence of his divinity. In 1975 Emporer Haile Selassie I was killed after being captured and placed on house arrest. Still to this day, followers like to think that his death was simply a hoax and that Selassie I will be back to liberate all of his followers. Rastafarians believe that Emporer Selassie I lives within each and every individual Rastafarian .==

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 130%;">**The Rastas believe their god to be a Judeo-Christian God whom they call Jah. Their Jah is said to be a black man and is believed to be the Emporer Haile Selassie I. Their "bible" is called the Holy Piby or the Black Man's Bible, which is very loosly related to the Christian Bible. Due to years of opression, the religion chose to ommit any deliberate "distortions believed to be made by the white man." They firmly believe in the idea of oneness between Jah and humanity, and also with the equality of all humans. In order to express this they have coined the terms (I&I). According to Wikipedia, "Rastafari scholar E. E. Cashmore:' I and I is an expression to totalize the concept of oneness, the oneness of two persons. So God is within all of us and we're one people in fact. The bond of Ras Tafari is the bond of God, of man. But man itself needs a head and the head of man is His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I (always pronounced as the letter 'I,' never as the number one or 'the first') of Ethiopia'. The term is often used in place of //you and I// or //we// among Rastafari, implying that both persons are united under the love of Jah." They strongly believe in immortality or what they call the "ever-living" rather than than the afterlife. Africa, the homeland to many Rastafarians, is said to be their heaven on Earth. This heaven is also known as Zion, and we can hear many raggae songs such as the //Road to Zion// by Damien Marley, emphasizing their path to their heaven. Babylon is the Rastafarian name for the white power structure that once cruelly enslaved their people. Babylon is said to be described as the opposite of simplicity that their religion consists of and thrives off of. **

= = = = =<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 170%;">Jamaica's Touch-of-de-Spice =

==<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">While today there are only approximatly 5,000 Rastafarians actually living in England and Wales, over one million people in the world identify themselves as Rastafari (according to a 2001 census by the BBC). On that note, I think it is important to look at the impact that Rastafarians had on the UK. With the influx of Jamaican immigrants to England, there came change and... babies... the second generation immigrant! Not to say that the first wave of immigrants was not of importance, but there was a distinct difference in their voice being heard. The //Black British// attitude appeared to be more open about their opinions and their views than that of their Jamaican/West Indian immigrant parents. They wanted to be heard and they wanted to claim their rights as Black British Citizens. People started to embrace the beliefs of the Rastafarian religion in order to get their opinions heard, and with this the Rastafarian religion truly became a political //movement//. This Black British subculture made this movement so popular throughout the 1970's and 80's that we began to see influences of Rasta within Black British literature, music, forms of dance and theater. Poets such as Linton Kwesi Johnson wrote about their struggles being a Black British working - class man. His famous poem //Ingland is a Bitch// (1980) is a direct influence from the experiences that he felt coming to England and the dissapointment of what England had to offer its migrants. Some of his other popular works include: ==



<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">**<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Today, in 2010, it is no secret that England is a multicultural country. In celebration of this country's diversity, many multicultural artists and authors have emerged to the forefront and have written about these differences in their works. One of the most popular authors of today is Zadie Smith. Not only is Smith beautiful and intelligent, she too is both Jamaican and British. She is best known for her first novel __White Teeth__, which portrays three culturally diverse families (including Jamaican) and recounts the struggles of being a 1st and 2nd generation immigrant colonizing in England and striving for an identity of their own. It is within Smith's work that we can see how far the Rastafarian influence has stretched. Within her work she describes one of her main characters Millat a, young Bengali teen, struggling to find his place, " ...they were of a breed: Raggastani. It was a new breed, just recently joining the ranks of the other street crews" (Smith, 192). This just shows us that Rastafarian is just one of those cultures/religions that have become open to being multicultural and open to any color. The article "Chance and Gesture in Zadie Smith's White Teeth and The Autograph Man: A model for the Multicultural Identity" (The Journal of the Commonwealth Literature) states, " Young British people, both black and white, are these days increasingly invested in the cultural plurarity as a signifier of their identity rather than crude notions of race. They are able to synthesise Wordsworth with Jamaican patties, or //Romeo and Juliet// with the music of Bob Marley, and happily many of the pioneer generation who stepped from the ships in the 1940's and 1950's have lived long enough to see these changes" (Sell, 32). Rastafarinism is an example of how people are chipping away at the cultural binaries and continuing to embrace the multiculturalism of England. Some other popular works by Zadie Smith include: **

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<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">**<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">-White Teeth <span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;"> (2000) ** ======

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">-On Beauty (2005)


==<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">However, when discussing the influences of Jamaica onto England we cannot forget the great contributions that music has done for everyone around the world!! With the beliefs of Rastafarian came the love and passion for the musical genre of reggae and of course Bob Marley himself!! We all are very aware that Bob Marley was like Elvis to reggae. His influence on the reggae music scene and his beliefs in the Rastafari religion made the religion not only a movement but a cultural state of mind. He made it possible for everyone around the world to be educated in its beliefs and allowed it to become a way of life to all who were willing to embrace it. Marley served as the "imaginary" of the Caribbean people. For those of you who don't know his music... just flip on the radio. Still in present day, Bob Marley allows us to live the nostalgia of the time he grew up as a black Rastafarian. ==

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==<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">But we can't even give Bob Marley ALL the credit! Before there was the God that we call Bob Marley, there was a young man by the name of Chris Blackwell, also known as the creator and founder of Island Records. Born in London, he spent many years of his childhood in Jamaica. In 1960, Blackwell created the record label and began recording. The music was a hit and especially with the Jamaican immigrants living within England. In 1962 he made the trip back to the UK, after realizing that the Jamaican music was selling more in England than in Jamaica itself. It is said that Blackwell came to England and sold his recorded albums of Bob Marley and The Wailers out of the back of his car. With his vast knowledge from his Caribbean roots and his love for the genre of music, Chris Blackwell introduced Bob Marley, reggae, and ska music to the UK! ==

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==<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Another key contribution to the culture of England would have to be The Notting Hill Carnival. Set in the heart of a prodominantly Caribbean neighborhood of London, this is one place you cannot miss out on! Although this particular event does not directly correlate with the adaptation of the Rastafarians in England, I do feel that it is a great display of the mentality of our fellow Rastafarians and their idea that everyone is one. The carnival is a national festival started in 1964 and is still gathering today. It has been thought of as a controversial event in <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">the past (like many Rastafarian movements) between the West Indians and the police; however, it is a celebration of the West Indian traditions and their refusal of letting their culture slip through their fingers. Today the carnival is said to be one of London's biggest events and attracts people from all over the globe who want to grasp the Caribbean experience in its fullest. What first began as a West Indian tradition in England has grown to embrace all races, nationalities, genders and cultures. If you go to England you're going to want to hit this event - there is calypso and reggae music,floats, masqurade, and dancing through the streets. This event is a key example of how far England and immigrants have come to accepting themselves as multicultural!! This year's event will be taking place August 29 & 30th in Nottinghill,London. ==



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==<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">So, you're probably wondering why we are filling your minds with so much information on the Rastafarians?! I feel for the purpose of this proposal... one must really be aware of the back history to understand why this religion has grown so quickly, not only within Jamaica and England but throughout the entire world! The beliefs of Rastafarians are no longer limited to that of black, Jamaican, or multicultural backgrounds. To them, everyone should be loved the same; your wife, co-worker, dog, all things within nature are considered equal. This stems back to the I&I and that there should be no one better than the other and no need for seperation or divisions. Like the lyrics to the infamous Bob Marley's song //One Love//, " One love, one heart, let's get together and feel alright..." ==

= = = = =<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 260%;">Camp Rastafari !!! =

=<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> * Throughout the day we will be offering a dreadlock display. Our services will be provided to whomever is interested in having their hair placed in dreadlocks. This is a timely, labour intensive routine so please be prepared to wait since we anticipate many participants. This service is free of charge and included in the festival ticket price. For those of you that are noncommital, we are also going to be selling dreadlock hats! These hats are full of fun- displaying the Rastafarian colors in the front of the hat and a party of dreads in the back!! Each hat is individually priced, but I can assure you that the pricing is quite reasonable. = = = == = = = = ==<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;"> * To be held on Sunday at the peak of sunset at the far east corner of the lawn. Everyone over the age of 18 that will be attending the event will be welcome to participate in the following traditions of Rastafarians. Please come dressed in comfortable Rasta wear and bring a hammock for sleeping overnight. Throughout the entire evening we will be having a gathering known to the Rastafarians as reasoning. This portion of the arts festival will be here to display and allow our patrons to actively participate in the practices and rituals of the Rastas! The informal gathering will consist of two major rituals of the Rastas, which include the smoking of ganja and the enlightening discussion on the Rastafarian beliefs. In this group- like setting a pipe is lit containing the "wisdom weed" (in order to achieve a heightened state of conciousness) and passed around while a guest recites prayer. The whole point of this event is to free ourselves from our mental bondage, enlighten our senses, and help ourselves relate to others. Along with the ritual of reasoning, the night procession will be holding a nyabingi, which is a dance held on special occasions. We will dance and sing to the traditional sounds of the Jamaicans until the wee hours of the morning when we will then rest and reason once again. This weekend is about learning about ourselves and getting closer to having a true Rastafarian experience! ==



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Jamaican Music

Several musical styles are particularly associated with the island of Jamaica. The words “Jamaican holiday” may bring about visions of white sand beaches, refreshing rum cocktails, and cheerful steel drums playing gently in the distance. However, steel drums and calypso music actually have their home on the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. But worry not, for Jamaica has an amazing selection of music to enjoy! The most notable and recognizable style of Jamaican music is…Reggae!

Reggae is certainly the musical style that is most identified with Jamaica. As a musical import brought over by Jamaican immigrants, it proved highly influential in both popular and experimental music. While the style maintains popularity in its own right, Reggae developed in Jamaica from several earlier styles of music. One of its earliest ancestors is a folk-style known as mento which was popular on the island at the turn of the 19th century. A slow infusion of American styles such as Rhythm & Blues and swing helped shape mento into a faster, more dance driven ska. Ska was deemed far too fast for a young generation known as “rude boys” who wanted to dance slower to appear more manly. This slower style was named rocksteady. Rocksteady finally developed into the most wide-spread and well-known style of Jamaican music: reggae.

Reggae is characterized by a relatively slow tempo and a rhythmic guitar playing on the off-beats of a four beat measure. “Reggae drumming is based on the Rastafari Nyabinghi “heartbeat” drumming…the bass drum plays on the one and three beats, simulating the rhythm of a human heartbeat, the supposed heartbeat of the universe” (Prahlad 48)

Roots reggae is a sub-division of the genre and has strong ties with the Rastafari movement. The lyrics of roots reggae focus on social issues, the oppression of black Jamaicans, and Rastafarian religious themes. "Records with roots themes - the ghetto people's suffering, repatriation to Africa, Haile Selassie as a living deity, slavery in Babylon - had beed released during and since the days of ska" (Barrow 135). Although these records were popular in Jamaica, they did not have the same appeal across the Atlantic.

When reggae reached the United Kingdom in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s it mostly lost much of the political messages that it had in Jamaica. Instead, what is known as “Lovers Rock” in the United Kingdom became popular, particularly with its target audience of working-class teenagers. This sentimental style was all about young love, just as the title suggests. This updated style was more accessible to a wider audience and often featured reggae covers of already popular love songs (de Koningh 394).

No discussion of reggae would be complete without the mention of Robert “Bob” Nesta Marley. Born in Jamaica to a Jamaican mother and Scottish father, Bob Marley experienced wide-spread fame at home, in the United Kingdom, and indeed, all over the world. Marley was particularly well-known for his popularization of roots reggae and the social messages conveyed through his music. . “Marley’s use of powerful metaphors assisted in expressing and popularizing Rastafarian ideas. His utilization of religious and social metaphors established a dichotomy between good and evil, provided strategies for action and offered a solution for peoples’ problems by advancing the concept of repatriation” (King 18). There are many UK artists with Jamaican backgrounds do not specialize solely in reggae. Linton Kwesi Johnson is a popular reggae-like dub artist whose “rebellious rhetoric” became popular with white and black crowds alike. Musical artist Goldie currently creates records in the genre of trip-hop and electronica (de Koningh 136).
 * Popular Reggae Artists **

Playing reggae is not solely for Jamaicans and British-Jamaicans. As the genre began to become more and more mainstream, it became increasingly common for non-black Brits to take up the playing of reggae music. Many hugely popular groups experimented with the genre by fusing it with their own musical styles. The Police had a distinct reggae flavour in several of their songs. 1980’s “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” features a reggae influenced chorus in double time, with beat two/four emphasis and off-beat rhythmic guitar. That same year brought us The Clash’s album // Sandinista!, // which was near bursting with reggae influence. The album’s “One More Time” demonstrates a fusion of reggae and rock with a reggae intro, verse, and rhythms played by typical rock band instruments such as the drum kit, keyboard, and electric guitar.

While reggae remains popular in its own right, the influence of reggae on other styles and genres is unquestionable. Despite reaching the height of its popularity in the 1970’s and into the 80’s, reggae still claims a firm fan base, and elements of the genre’s style continue to show up in popular music. Although the British had a particularly special connection with the production of Jamaican style reggae, American artists were highly influenced as well. Ska bands such as Sublime and pop artists like Jason Mraz gained fame on both sides of the Atlantic with their reggae-fusion songs. Had Jamaican artists and immigrants not popularized the genre first in Britain and then elsewhere, it is likely many musical groups that we are familiar with would not be around today. In addition to these influences, reggae continued its inherited trend of constant evolution. Newer genres such as TripHop and Jungle are a direct result of the continued transformation of reggae.
 * Why Is Reggae So Important? **

Summer festivals and reggae music go together like peas and carrots. Our Jamaican arts festival would feature live reggae acts from the local community throughout the day. In addition to this, reggae workshops would also be available where fair-goers can learn to strum a few guitar chords, or get down on the bongos. All musicians would be encouraged to bring along their instruments for impromptu jam sessions under the nearest shady tree. Reggae’s strong ties to the Rastafari belief system make creating music all about love, community, and understanding, so everyone is welcome no matter what your skill level!
 * What To Expect At The Festival: **

During the evening, the musical scene will change somewhat. The festival will continue to celebrate British-Jamaican culture by inviting several mainstream music artists to perform. Pop sensations Alexandra Burke and Jamelia are both wildly popular musicians from the British-Jamaican community. They will be asked to perform their respective hits “Bad Boys” and “See it in a Boy’s Eyes”.

A link to Alexandra Burke's hit song "Bad Boys": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li_nzTVYpk8

1. Skinhead Moonstomp – Symarip If you think that No Doubt invented ska, you are dearly mistaken. Symarip was one of the most popular ska bands in London during the early 70’s. This single sold 5,000 copies in London the first day it was released (de Konigh 40).
 * What Have I Been Listening To? **

2. Loving You – Janet An example of the lovers rock being produced after reggae became popular in the United Kingdom. If this song sounds familiar, it’s because Kay’s song is actually a cover of Minnie Riperton’s classic of the same name.

3. Cockney Translation – Smiley Culture I don’t know about you, but I think I’m in need of an English translation. This British-Jamaican group released “Cockney Translation” in 1985.

4. I’m In Love with a Dreadlocks – Brown Sugar Yet another classic example of lovers rock. This group experienced huge success in the mid 1970s. (de Konigh 124)

5. Inglan is a Bitch – Linton Kwesi Johnson Johnson’s poem expressing dissatisfaction with the poor quality of life in England for a Jamaican immigrant now set to danceable reggae beats!

6. Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley International law requires all reggae playlists to have at least one Marley track. Well, that may not be true, but it should be, shouldn’t it?

7. Red Red Wine – UB40 The multi-racial group originally considered themselves to be “jazz-dub-reggae”. This single, released in 1984 brought them worldwide success and continues to be popular today. (ub40.co.uk)

8. Don’t Stand So Close To Me – The Police The chorus of this track truly marks it as reggae inspired. In particular, off-beat rhythmic guitars and 2-4 beat emphasis.

9. One More Time – The Clash It might be surprising to find that the same brand that created “London Calling” and “Should I Stay Or Should I Go?” also had an album filled with tracks inspired by reggae. This song truly reflects that inspiration with the added benefit of being pleasing to listen to.

By Ralph Reynolds
<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The subject of Caribbean art is difficult to summarize in the traditional fashion. As Veerle Poupeye describes in his book //Caribbean Art,// "The study of Caribbean art is an emerging field and critical standards are still evolving so the quality of publications therefore varies considerably. Basic information on Caribbean art is not always readily available and the accuracy of source material is not always verifiable" (24). Thankfully, Poupeye's book is considered to be one of the best on the subject and gives wonderful insight into Caribbean art and its roots. In order to prepare ourselves for the journey ahead, a little history is necessary.

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<span style="color: #e7e713; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Unfortunately, due to hundreds of years of colonization, slave trade, and European occupation of Caribbean isles, Caribbean art can mean many different things. Artwork from the original inhabitants (i.e. before Christopher Columbus arrived and the disaster that befell the Caribbean after its "discovery") has been found, but most of it was destroyed during Spanish occupation of the West Indies. The African slave trade also heavily influenced Caribbean art, which Poupeye claims was the "....largest forced migration in history" (28). ======

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Eventually, other European powers decided to challenge the Spanish monopoly, including France, England, Holland and Denmark, giving rise to a melting pot of many cultures within the Caribbean (Poupeye 29). Like America and the United Kingdom, the Caribbean contains so many myriad cultures, people, backgrounds, and races that it is nearly impossible to choose one particular style of artwork that screams "CARIBBEAN!!"

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<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">However, a few styles will be showcased at the fair that will help citizens of the UK to understand what Caribbean art is and examine the contribution that Caribbean migrants have made to art in the UK. ======

Zemis:
<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">The first piece of artwork to be discovered from Jamaica is a zemi, which Wikipedia describes as "...both a deity, or ancestral spirit, and a sculptural object that houses the spirit." The zemi was an important part of the Taino religion, which was followed by the Taino people. The Taino were the largest group in the Caribbean when Columbus arrived in 1492, estimated to be more than one million in population (Poupeye 25). The first zemi to be found, called "Bird Man," was discovered in Jamaica in the year 1792.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">I propose a zemi specialist be called in for the arts fair, teaching lectures about ancient Taino religion and people, but more importantly to teach the attendees how to make a zemi for themselves. The zemis were often made out of simple and inexpensive materials, and the supplies would be cheap and could be built into the price of admission. This would get the attendees into the arts fair with a hands-on project and give them a memento to take home that would celebrate this ancient art form.

<span style="color: #f6f60e; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">**Modernism:**
<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Jamaica was mainly unaffected by Modernism due to its colonization and therefore isolation from the other Caribbean islands (Poupeye 71). However, one particular Jamaican artist of note who was hailed during the British Modern period was Edna Manley (1900-87). Manley, "who was born in England to a Jamaican mother and an English father...exhibited in Britain, where she was acclaimed as a promising young modernist sculptor, and in 1930 she was accepted in the London Group..." (Poupeye 71). Wikipedia goes as far as to call her the "mother of Jamaican Art." Now, Manley's remembered with an art college named after her in Jamaica. Her art traverses cultural lines and exemplifies the deep link between Britain and Jamaica. For this reason, I propose a loan of a few pieces from "The Edna Manley Collection" on display at the National Gallery of Jamaica. With these we could create a display with biographical information and a few of her sculptures.

Black British Art:
<span style="color: #e7e713; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Currently, "Artists of Caribbean descent have played a prominent role in the new wave of black British art that emerged from the racial unrest in Britain of the late seventies and early eighties. They include Keith Piper (b. 1960), Eddie Chambers and Sonia Boyce (b. 1962), all born in Britain..." (Poupeye 210). These authors have created some wonderful art that reflects the impact of West Indies culture in the UK and I propose that these artists could be invited for an exhibit.

= Caribbean Food = <span style="color: #ff0000; display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: center;">by Ralph Reynolds <span style="color: #e7e713; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Similar to Caribbean art, Caribbean food is as Wikipedia describes "...a fusion of African, Amerindian, British, Spanish, French, Dutch, Indian, and Chinese cuisine. These traditions were brought from the many homelands of this region's population. In addition, the population has created styles that are unique to the region."



<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">These dishes which are unique to the Caribbean include "jerk" (a type of seasoning) meats, rice eaten with various sauces and beans (which West Indians call peas), and Caribbean goat stew, to include a few. Many of these dishes have populated Britain due to the numerous migrants that have come and are still coming from Jamaica and other West Indies islands. This is exemplified by the numerous restaurants located in the UK that feature West Indies foods.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">One idea that I propose for the arts festival to promote Caribbean food is a "jerk" challenge. We would call in chefs from around the UK, both of British and West Indies descent, and allow them to cook "jerk" meats in a competitive style. Then, attendees would be picked to be judges of which meat has the best seasoning and flavor. The "jerk" style has become so popular due to the migrant culture that examples of "jerk" challenges are numerous. Here is a short video of one to give a general idea of how it would be done:

media type="youtube" key="Y_hIoKigWFc" height="305" width="512" align="center"

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #f6f60e; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Additionally, various vendors and booths would be set up to house local Jamaican and o <span style="color: #e7e713; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">ther Caribbean food makers and sellers. We would sell these goods at a relatively low price, to encourage attendees to discover West Indies food and local restaurants that serve it.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Another component to enhance the culture of Caribbean food at the arts festival would be to design a cookbook. //The West Indies Arts Festival 2010 Cookbook// would feature one recipe from each vendor or booth that is selling their Caribbean food. After tasting so many new and delicious West Indies flavors, how could patrons resist purchasing this wonderful book that would add a Caribbean spice to their repertoire of dishes? Accompanying each recipe would be a coupon for participating restaurants, directing business to their establishment and giving the owner encouragement to divulge one of their secret recipes.

<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">

Lastly, I suggest that a beer garden be set up, showcasing the popularity of beer from the West Indies. The beer garden would allow patrons to enter for a fee that would cover the cost of tasting all brews available. For example: Red Stripe, Dragon Stout, Kingston Lager, Real Rock and Lion Heart Stout. These brands and others would encourage visitors to drink beer the West Indies way! Additionally, it would contribute to the exemplification of West Indies culture in the UK through a favorite European pastime: drinking.

Ralph's Works Cited

 * Poupeye, Veerle. //Caribbean Art.// New York, New York: Thames and Hudson Inc., 1998. Print.
 * Wikipedia contributors. "Zemi." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 26 Sep. 2009. Web. 27 Apr. 2010.
 * Wikipedia contributors. "Edna Manley." //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 10 Mar. 2010. Web. 27 Apr. 2010.


 * Photographs:**
 * // A Taino zemi excavated from the Cinnamon Bay site on St. John (National Park Service). National Park Service. // <http://www.nps.gov/seac/outline/06-carib_prehistory/index-2.htm>. Web. April 15 2010.
 * //Edna in London in 1937 to attend her exhibition at the French Gallery.// 1937. National Gallery of Jamaica, Jamaica. //National Gallery of Jamaica.// <http://www.jis.gov.jm/special_sections/ednamanley/>. Web. April 24 2010.
 * Manley, Edna. //Dispossossed 1940.// 1940. National Gallery of Jamaica, Jamaica. //National Gallery of Jamaica.// <http://www.jis.gov.jm/special_sections/ednamanley/gallery.html>. Web. April 15 2010.
 * //Rice and Peas. Food Network.// <http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/Main/Beans/recipe.html?dishid=4614>. Web. April 20 2010.


 * Video:**
 * "Jerk Challenge." Online Video Clip. YouTube. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_hIoKigWFc>. April 2 2010.

Allie's Work's Cited

=**Work Cited**=

Anonymous. "Rastafari". //Religion Facts//. 2 December 2008.Web. 10 April 2010. <http://www.religionfacts.com/rastafarianism.htm>

Barrett, Leonard.//The Rastafarians// .Boston. Beacon Press Books. 1997. Print

BBC. "Rastafarian Beliefs". //Religions//. 10 September 2009. Web. 20 April 2010.<[]>

BBC."Worships and Customs". //Religions//.10 September 2009. Web. 20 April 2010.< http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari>

Meraz, Cesar and Sharon. "Rastafarian". //Black British Literature//. 10 May 2000. Web. 30 April 2010. <http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/~bump/E388M2/students/meraz/background/html>

Smith, Zadie. //White Teeth//. New York. Vintage International. 2000. Print.

Wikipedia Contributors. "Rastafarian Vocabulary". Irie. //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia//. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 4 May 2010. Web. 6 May 2010.[]

=**Images (in order of presentation)**=

Rastafarian Flag []. 01April 2010.

Marcus Garvey http://www.sunysb.edu/afs/images/m.garvey.jpg>. Department of African Studies.State University of New York @ Stony Brook. New York. 29 April 2010.

Haile Selassie I []. 29 April 2010.

Linton Kwesi Johnson [|http://www. midsummernightsinmidtown.com/09/?page_id=191]. 29 April 2010.

Bob Marley []. 29 April2010.

The ONE LOVE Album/ Bob Marley and The Wailers <http://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/music/bob_marley>.29 April 2010.

Chris Blackwell in the studio <http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/gallery/2009/may/12/>.29 April 2010.

Nottinghill Festival - Drummers []. 01 April 2010.

Nottinghill Festival - 2 woman dancing [] 01 April 2010.

Traditional Dreadlocks [|http://www.howtodread.com]. 04 March 2010.

Dreadlock Hats For Sale []. 04 March 2010.

Crowd of people at festival [] 29 April 2010.

Nybangi /resoning gathering [|http://www.][|[[http://reggaephotos.com/images/NERF_2004/7-23-04/new_england_reggae_festival_frid.htm|reggaephotos.com/images/ NERF_2004/7-23-04/new...]]]. 07 May 2010.

"Bob Marley: Talkin 'bout Ras Tafari - Pt. 1". Online Video Clip. Youtube. []

"Nottinghill 2009- Dance". Online Video Clip.You Tube. [].

Barrow, Steve and Peter Dalton. //The Rough Guide to Reggae.// London: Penguin Books, 2004. de Koningh, Michael and Marc Griffiths. //Tighten Up! The History of Reggae in the UK//. London:Sanctuary, 2003. King, Stephen, Jensen, Richard J. “Bob Marley's "Redemption Song": The rhetoric of regga and Rastafari”. Journal of Popular Culture. Bowling Green: Winter 1995. Vol. 29, Iss.3, p. 17-37.
 * Michelle's Works Cited**:

All photos are cited within the wiki Agosto, Noraida. //Michelle Cliff's Novels//. New York: Peter Lang Publishing, Inc., 1999. Cliff, Michelle. //Abeng.// New York: Penguin Books, 1984. Cliff, Michelle. //Free Enterprise//. San Francisco: Dutton, 1993. Nair, Supriya. //Caliban's Curse; George Lamming and the Revisioning of History.// Michigan: The University of Michigan Press,1996. Nichols, Grace. //The Fat Black Woman's Poems.// London: Verago Press, 1984. Paravisini-Gebert, Lizabeth. //Caribbean Women Novelists: An annotated Critical Bibliography//.Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1993. Wikipedia contributors. //Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.// Michelle Cliff, Derek Walcott, V.S.Naipaul, Grace Nichols, Una Marson, Jamaica. April and May 2010.
 * MARLENE'S WORKS CITED:**