Subscribe for all my updates and don't miss a thing! Sign me up!
Sharing Is Caring! Share this awesome content with your friends now.
Old-Time Jamaican Instruments
We boast, through our motto that we are, "Out of Many, One People". And our musical instruments symbolizes this well.
New! Take a piece of Jamaica with you๐!
Savour the memories! Now you can get your authentic Jamaican souvenir items, as well as traditional Jamaican herbs, spices and housewares on our popular e-store. Click Here to learn more.
And, if you ever need a trustworthy and knowledgeable local guide, consider booking a private tour with us!
If you have already read the history of Jamaica or the culture of Jamaica, then you would have learnt about the unique blend of cultures and traditions that creates the real Jamaica.
We inherited instruments dating back as far as the Arawaks, the early inhabitants.
Of course, been a predominantly black population (over 90%), the majority of our musical instruments are originated from Africa, but we have invaluable input from the Chinese, Indians, Syrians and the Europeans - all of whom played integral roles in our historical development.
Below I'll highlight some of the more popular instruments, categorized by the different ethnic groups.
The Arawaks contributed at least six (6) musical instruments. These include the:
Our African ancestors contributed quite a lot. These may be categorized into four classes:
Although also African descendants, the maroons were singled out because of their independence.
They have many musical instrument but their โnationalโ instrument is the Abeng.
It made from the cowโs horn and can safely be assumed that it did not come from the aboriginal period, as the cow was introduced in Jamaica by the Spaniards sometime after 1509.
It is made of 8 or 9 inches of the small end of the cowโs horn. A sufficient part of the tip is taken off leaving a small hole about the size of a pea.
On the concave side of the horn and close to the smaller end,an oblong opening or mouth-hole is made.
This is about ยผ of an inch wide and about an inch in length.
There is also use a drum called Toombah, a large piece of the trumpet tree, hallowed out. Three strings are then stretched across.
The vast majority of these are primitive, very primitive, but no doubt they set the stage for today's complex and elaborate musical instruments.
By the way, particularly in our traditional mento music, the Banjo, Guitar, Marimba or Rhumba box (seen above), and double bass percussion instruments such as triangles, pieces of iron, empty sardine cans, as well as forks and graters are also used - even today!
Sources:
Still, lots to share with you from Jamaica, don't miss these informative pages:
Back to Top of Jamaican Instruments
Return to Jamaica Culture from Jamaican Instruments
You asked, I've answered! You no longer need to save for months or years, to enjoy paradise! I spilled the beans! sharing my top tips on finding cozy accommodations and secret gems, only the way a native could! Click Here to pick it up on my e-store and start saving now! |
My channel reaches over 140,000 subscribers worldwide and has leveraged over 11 million views, sharing, what I call 'The Real Jamaica'. Subscribe today and join our family of viewers. |
New! Experience The REAL Jamaica!
Book Your Private Tour here and experience Jamaica the way we (locals) do!
Click Here to try our dependable and effective Site Search tool. It works!
Or, simply click here and here, to browse my library of over 500 questions and answers! Chances are someone already asked (and got an answer to) your question.
New! Comments
Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.