From the 1970s up to today, Reggae has been one of the most popular types of music in many countries all over the world. Having its roots in Jamaica, it was promoted by many artists, such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, and carried into many parts of the world. The growing popularity and the influence Reggae had on many other music genres gives a reason for an in-depth analysis of the background and development that created reggae music. In order to analyze music thoroughly, three major components need to be analyzed: historical background, language and music development.
One of the earliest and most important influences on Jamaica’s current music culture is the period of slavery in the Caribbean. Cruelty, oppression, and hunger for revolt can be seen as foundation for the development of Reggae. In addition to the importance of Jamaican and especially African-Jamaican history this paper deals with the relevance of Rastafarianism. The longing for freedom and equality as well as the discontent with life under white rule paved the way for the emergence of a new belief, which was based on the maxim of Black Pride and the superiority of the black race.
It was not only people and their souls which were influenced by the colonialists, but also their language. Through the blend of West-African languages and English, Jamaicans established their own Creole, which can be heard in almost all reggae lyrics. As well as the experiences during the days of slavery, the newly discovered religion along with the pride and self-confidence involved, did not only change the way of life and thinking for many people with African descent, but also altered the language.
The third component that led to today’s Reggae was the development of Jamaican music throughout the history. Based on the Africa-inspired drumming of slaves and impacted by Rastafarian and North-American music, styles such as Ska, Rocksteady, and finally Reggae were able to evolve.
By taking all three components into account, two Reggae songs are analyzed. Especially phonetic differences between the used language and Present Day English (PDE) as well as the similarities to Rastafarian Talk are examined.
Overall, this paper gives an insight into the reasons and circumstances that enabled Reggae to emerge. Taking this background into account, lyrics are analyzed in order to prove that history and religion were not only precursors but are still present in today’s music.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Political and Historical Background
- "Out of many one people" - Slavery in Jamaica
- Conquest, Genocide, and Slave Trade
- Slave rebellion
- The End of Slavery
- Rastafari
- The Birth of Rastafarianism – Garvey's Prophecy
- Haile Selassie I – unwilling God
- Rastafarian Beliefs
- Babylon versus Zion
- Inity
- Perception of the white race - Racial Boundaries
- The Bible
- Rastafarian Lifestyle
- I-tal
- Ganja
- Dreadlocks
- Color codes
- Musical Development
- Slave music
- Rastafarian Music
- Mento
- Calypso
- Ska
- Rocksteady
- Reggae
- Bob Marley
- Language Development
- Patwa
- Dread Talk
- Category I
- Category II
- Category III
- Category IV
- Category V
- Linguistic Analysis of Reggae Lyrics
- Song Lyrics
- Hail H.I.M. by Burning Spear
- Destiny by Buju Banton
- Linguistic Analysis
- Phonetic differences
- Comparison to Dread Talk
- Grammatical differences
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper delves into the origins and development of reggae music, exploring its deep-rooted connection to Jamaican history, particularly the legacy of slavery, and the impact of Rastafarian beliefs. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the historical, linguistic, and musical factors that shaped reggae, showcasing its enduring influence on music and culture.
- The influence of Jamaican history, particularly the experience of slavery, on the development of reggae music.
- The role of Rastafarianism in shaping reggae music, including its beliefs and practices.
- The evolution of Jamaican music, highlighting the contributions of different genres like Ska, Rocksteady, and Reggae.
- The unique linguistic features of Jamaican Creole, particularly Dread Talk, and its presence in reggae lyrics.
- Analysis of reggae lyrics to demonstrate the interplay between history, language, and musical expression.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of reggae music and its global impact. It highlights the three key components – historical background, language, and musical development – that will be analyzed to understand the origins of reggae.
- The Political and Historical Background: This chapter explores the influence of slavery in Jamaica on the development of reggae music. It discusses the impact of conquest, genocide, slave trade, and rebellions on the island's culture and identity.
- Rastafari: This chapter examines the emergence and beliefs of Rastafarianism, focusing on its connection to Jamaican history, the role of Haile Selassie I, and key aspects of Rastafarian faith like "Babylon versus Zion", "Inity", and the perception of the white race.
- Musical Development: This chapter traces the evolution of Jamaican music, starting with slave music and moving through different genres like Mento, Calypso, Ska, Rocksteady, and finally, reggae. It highlights the influence of Rastafarianism on music and the rise of Bob Marley.
- Language Development: This chapter explores the development of Jamaican Creole, particularly the influence of West African languages and English. It discusses the unique features of "Dread Talk" and categorizes its different elements.
- Linguistic Analysis of Reggae Lyrics: This chapter delves into the linguistic analysis of reggae lyrics, focusing on phonetic and grammatical differences between Jamaican Creole and Present Day English. It examines the connection between reggae lyrics and Dread Talk.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key words and concepts associated with this paper include Jamaican history, slavery, Rastafarianism, reggae music, musical development, language development, Jamaican Creole, Dread Talk, and linguistic analysis.
- Quote paper
- Marina Boonyaprasop (Author), 2008, English in Reggae Music, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/198323
