During my flights of imagination, I get to daydream a Carribean spree. From its rich art and culture, to its famous resort spots due to its mild tropical climate, the Carribean is a renowned place of beauty. Of course, not to mention is its wonderful music. When it comes to Worldbeat, the genre of world popular music, Carribean has one of the most influential kinds.

From the islands of the Caribbean Sea exists a diversity of tuneful styles and customs crafting the Caribbean Music. One of which is reggae, a style only one of its kind from the Carribean scene. Reggae is actually a type of modern-day Caribbean music which arose in Jamaica in the ‘60s. Reggae means ‘ragged man’ or common person in Jamaica. Reggae is usually linked with political protests, which actually can be considered a part of its elements. Take Bob Marley’s repertoire of songs for instance, which talks about fighting for rights and similar political themes.

Reggae is rooted from Jamaican styles mento, ska, and rock steady. Mento is a traditional African-American hybrid music using guitars, banjo and rumba-box. Rhythm and blues mixed with mento and formed ska, then ska developed into a smoother version and rock steady came into being. Ska is mostly instrumental, whereas rock steady has further vocal parts. Soon, rock steady united with mento and produced reggae music. Off beats guitars and bass line patterns are descriptive of reggae.

Of course, when we talk about reggae, who wouldn’t think of Bob Marley? Marley is like the bedrock of reggae, among Jimmy Cliff who became the first famous reggae artist outside of the Carribean region. Marley is reggae’s biggest sensation indeed. Along the way, other artists mingled with reggae including my well-liked European act UB40 with their ‘Red Red Wine’ and The Police, among others.