Hey Guys! I'm sharing some content I created 3-5 years ago for my blog that no longer exists. It's about the cultural influence between India and the Caribbean.Hope you enjoy the read.
INDIAN INFLUENCE ON CARIBBEAN CULTURE
Indian Culture has influenced the Caribbean since the 18th century with the arrival of Indian indentured laborers . Among their belongings that were carried on board the ships they also brought musical instruments along with them.
CHUTNEY MUSIC
Chutney Music is a genre of music that was developed in the southern Caribbean islands and is popular in Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Suriname.
With over 39 registered local Indian FM radio stations in Trinidad and Tobago, Indian music was first aired on the radio in 1947 when Radio Trinidad - the country’s first radio station - was launched. Chutney music is an up-tempo, rhythmic song, accompanied by the dholak, the harmonium and the dhantal. Originally, chutney songs made reference to deities and were offensive to religious leaders. Within recent times, the chutney has become extremely popular and new compositions are being written. Some of these contain calypso and soca rhythms. Ravi- B is a popular chutney artist who won the International Chutney Monarch in 2017 for his song.
BAZODEE - A ROMANTIC BOLLYWOOD- STYLE CARIBBEAN MUSICAL
Hindi cinema has always been a part of the island nation of Trinidad and the Caribbean. Most millennials grew up watching a Bollywood movie on Sundays with their families on local television channel TTT. That was the state-owned television broadcaster, and the only television operator for over thirty years from 1962 to 1991.
In 2016 a movie called Bazodee was released starring Kabir Bedi, Staz Nair and soca music star -Machel Montano. The plot for Bazodee is simliar to a romantic Bollywood musical where the doting daughter of a deep in debt Indian businessman. She's on the verge of willingly marrying a wealthy suitor when she meets a romantic rasta singer, Lee de Leon who's drafted last minute to perform at her engagement party
CARIBBEAN INFLUENCE ON INDIAN CULTURE
INDIAN REGGAE SCENE
The Reggae Rajahs are a collective of DJs and MCs and promoters based out of New Delhi. Formed in 2009, they have dedicated themselves to spreading the sounds of dub, reggae and dancehall music across India. They have opened for Snoop Dogg, Major Lazer and have also shared the stage with artists such as Apache Indian, Subatomic Sound (U.S), Dub Phyzix (U.K.) and many more.
The Reggae Rajahs have been performing at major festivals such as Rototom Sunsplash (Spain), Sziget Festival(Hungary), Outlook Festival (Croatia), Uprising Reggae Festival (Slovakia) and Ostroda Reggae Festival (Poland).
DANCEHALL CRAZE
Who would have thought that dance styles from the Caribbean would become so popular in India? Mumbai based Jahnavi Sheriff Saisuresh (Smash Dem Crew and Street Sisters Crew) and Bangalore based Divya Easwaran (Afontal Crew and Street Sisters Crew) are Indian dancehall enthusiasts. They not only dance but also perform and teach dancehall. You can catch them at the Street Sisters Workshop Series this month in Mumbai.
USING REGGAE TO FIGHT INDIAN HINDU NATIONALISM
One Indian man- Taru Damlia a.k.a. Delhi Sultanate thought of using reggae music as a weapon to fight Hindu Nationalist groups! Taru is a Delhi-based poet and hip hop/dancehall MC who also happens to be an academic historian and social activist.
Taru is the lead singer of The Ska Vengers, the mastermind behind Bass Foundations Roots, the co-founder of Word, Sound and Power with producer Chris McGuinness; a collective dedicated to producing documentary films and musical collaborations with grassroots movement.
If you guys like this type of content, let me know in the comments below. Also let me know what format to use. Any tips and ideas are welcomed. I enjoy discussing and creating content around topics like this and my perspective based on my unique life experiences.