Bongo, Backra and Coolie: Jamaican Roots, Vol. 2

Jamaican folk music blends African, European and East Indian (in dialect: Bongo, Backra and Coolie) roots into something distinctly Jamaican. Revival Zion, an Afro-Christian religious cult influenced by the early 19th century Myal cults and American missionaries (largely Baptist), involves possession led by a body of music comprised of Christian hymns, choruses, bands choruses and blowing tunes. Possession is uniquely defined by a heavy rhythmic breathing often called “trumping”; this practice is clearly audible on this recording. Quadrille (“katreel”) music hearkens back to the colonial era when slaves learned European dance forms for the entertainment of the Europeans, but it quickly became a fully appropriated fiddle music for the entertainment of the non-Europeans following the fall of slavery. On these recordings, the instrumentation includes bamboo fife, guitars and four-string banjo. Fife and drum music is often associated with junkanoo festivities surrounding the Christmas season that involves energetic dancing intended for “jollification.” Volume One (FW04231) includes music of kumina and convince cults and “Hindustani” dance music.

RELATED LESSON PLAN
"The Sounds of an Island: Jamaican Music for the Classroom"

Track Listing

101	Zion Revival Chorus (1)	Revival Zion drummers and singers	03:52
102	Zion Revival Chorus (2)	Revival Zion singers	04:00
103	Band of Holy Angels	Jamaican singers and guitarist	03:41
104	Round Dance	St. Ann quadrille band	03:02
105	Quadrille (First Figure)	St. Ann quadrille band	00:45
106	Quadrille (Third Figure)	St. Ann quadrille band	02:13
201	Quadrille (Fourth Figure)	St. Ann quadrille band	03:36
202	Jane and Luisa	St. Ann quadrille band	03:45
203	John Canoe Music	St. Ann fife and drum band	02:46
204	Ballerina / John Canoe Music	St. Ann fife and drum band	03:29