Music, Song
*Musical instruments created/introduced by enslaved Africans in the Caribbean.
Enslaved Africans used musical instruments such as drums, tambourines, xylophones, banjos, etc.
*State occasions for music and dance
Enslaved Africans engaged in dancing and singing on the nights and weekends to entertain themselves and while they worked.
They would sing and dance at wakes nine-nights, funerals and during worship services which they held in secret.
*Describe the purpose/importance of music and dance to the enslaved Africans.
Singing and Dancing gave them a religious freedom. Music was a way for slaves to express their feelings whether it was sorrow, joy, inspiration or hope. They danced as a way to cope with their situation and to convey feelings about their lives and owners.
*What is the significance of music and dance to the retention of African culture?
In Africa and other parts of the world ceremonial dance tells a story. More than mere entertainment, it recounts history, conveys emotion, celebrates rites of passage, and helps to unify communities.
It is essential in representing the strong African heritage and its importance can be seen in many aspects of the culture. Unlike many cultures today, ancient African cultures encompassed music into their everyday lives.
*What is the significances of some of the instruments listed before.
They are: Drums, Tambourines, Xylophones and Banjos.
It way of communicating without the planters noticing what they were saying in the songs. It was used by the African enslaved.