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Naipaul’s statement “history is built around achievement and creation, and nothing was created in the West Indies” was an insult not only to Cubans but also to the Caribbean Island culture and its people. Naipaul along with other Eurocentric men were definitely blinded by their narrow conception of art, music and culture of the Caribbean’s, they feared what they did not understand. Only one word can describe the Caribbean; syncretism, people bringing fundamental patterns or styles into their way of life as they are put together. The relationship between the music of Puerto Rico, Cuba and salsa are that they are all globally connected, they all share a sociamusical characteristic and common dominator; Africa.
Their music is of a collective participation with cross pattern rhythms, drums and percussion’s, a feature typical of many classless societies lacking occupational distinctions between performers and consumers. It is common amongst all groups for all of most members of a rural community participate actively in musical events by singing, clapping, dancing or playing instruments as well as the lead vocalist singing lines in a call-and-response “mutuno”.
In traditional rumba, clave sticks are hit together in three-two and two-three beats. In conjunto, mambo, and salsa bands, the clave sticks are often absent, so the pattern is not sounded but present in the minds of the musicians. Bomba is a style of music and dance imported from West Africa in which slaves would play during the festival of St. James. It was later developed as it was adopted by others changing it form but keeping its basic beat. The lead vocalist sings the lines in a call-and-response as in the “mutuno”.
Salsa music originated from Afro-Caribbean rhythms brought to the United States by immigrants from Cuba and Puerto Rico. In the 1960s, it came to be known for its blending of different musical genres. America had its eyes on these “southern neighbors” for much of the nineteenth century. It is said that Jefferson saw them as Spanish daggers and the South saw them as potential slave states although slavery was abolished in Spain in 1870. Americans, concerned over their investments involving sugar eventually went to war with Spain defeating them, marking the beginning of U.S. intervention in the islands. Cuba was granted independence under U.S. supervision. Puerto Rico became a possession of the U.S. which explains why much of urban Puerto Rico not only looks like the United States but its heritage of folk music and dance is thought of as being influenced by traditional forms of Cuban culture as both were under Spanish Rule.
It is through music that all Caribbean’s interacted and relayed their messages of revolution, politics, colonialism, ethnic and geographical barriers by citing such outcries through lyrics of song and dance. The U.S. embargo against Cuba, North America and Puerto Ricans cut off musical activities for the islands. Cuban groups and their records were no longer allowed in the states, however Che Guevara, Cuba’s revolutionary leader kept the music as a high priority, as such, the music and culture became even more popular. It is also why Lucille Ball’s marriage to Desi Arnaz was a revolution to mainstream television viewers. It was a way of introducing social trends and made a contribution to putting an end to myths about race mixing. Its show helped make TV watching not only a habit but also an art. Desidario Alberto Arnaz ye de Acha the Third was born in Santiago, Cuba on March 2, 1917. His father was the mayor of Santiago. The 1933 Batista revolution had landed his father in jail and as well stripped Desi's family of wealth, property and power. His father was released mostly because the U.S. officials believed him to be neutral during the revolt. The family fled to Miami, Florida as such Desi’s legendary history as the king of Latin music begins as he later forms his own band and launches the Congo craze in America.
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