Indo-Caribbean music

Indo-Caribbean music is the musical traditions of the Indo-Caribbean people of the Caribbean music area. Indo-Caribbean music is most common in Trinidad, Guyana and Suriname.

Indo-Caribbean traditional music often reflects the Bhojpuri heritage of many Indo-Caribbeans; women's folk songs are especially reflective of the music of Bhojpur. These include folk songs for childbirth ("sohar"), humorous and light-hearted songs for a bride's family to insult the groom's ("gali"), funereal songs ("nirgun") and sexual "matkor". Other women's folk songs are seasonal and are performed at festivals like the "phagwah" and "holi". Instrumentation is based around the "dhantal", a metal rod and claper, and the "dholak", a two-headed barrel drum. Traditional Hindu bhajans are also common.

Modern Indo-Caribbean traditions include the seasonal, responsorial men's form, the "chowtal", and a vocal song form called "tan-singing", performed by a single male vocalist accompanied by his own "harmonium" and further accompaniment by the "dholak" and "dhantal". "Tassa" drumming is also common.

Indo-Caribbean contributions to popular music are very important. The most well-known is the Indo-Trinidadian "chutney music" tradition. Chutney is a form of popular dance music that developed in the mid-to late 20th century. Modern Indian film music, "filmi", is also renowned among Indo-Caribbeans.

References

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Further Reading

* Manuel, Peter. East Indian Music in the West Indies: Tan-singing, Chutney, and the Making of Indo-Caribbean Culture. Temple University Press, 2000