Bongo, Backra and Coolie: Jamaican Roots, Vol. 1

Jamaican folk music blends African, European and East Indian (in dialect: Bongo, Backra and Coolie) roots into something distinctly Jamaican. Kumina, a magico-religious cult of predominantly rural peasantry, includes invocation of and possession by gods and ancestral spirits aided by songs and drumbeats. Convince, another magico-religious cult that likely originated among the Maroons of the Blue Mountains, differs from kumina on two basic accounts: ghosts called “duppies” rather than gods do the possessing and convince music never uses drums. Yet, kumina and convince share similar lineage from African cultural practices. Also sampled here are examples of “Hindustani” music intended for dancing. These selections use the tabla drum, the “Indian fiddle” (a bowed three-stringed instrument) and a nasal vocal tone. Volume Two (FW04232) continues with Zion Revival, quadrille bands and fife and drum music.

Track Listing

101	King Zombie	Kumina musicians	03:04
102	Asosowata	Kumina musicians	02:50
103	Since Me Dead and Gone	Kumina musicians	04:59
104	Bembalay	Kumina musicians	04:36
105	Do Do	Kumina musicians	03:39
201	King Zya / John Fraser	Kumina musicians	05:23
202	Country Song	Kumina musicians	03:02
203	Dance Music (1)	Indo-Jamaican musicians	03:27
204	Dance Music (2)	Indo-Jamaican musicians	03:44
205	Dance Music (3)	Indo-Jamaican musicians	02:06
206	Dance Music (4)	Indo-Jamaican musicians	02:56