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We are also different in what we eat, as different countries have different delicacies which they enjoy. Practices like eating wild meat such as iguana and agouti in Trinidad & Tobago, to eating frog legs or "mountain chicken" in Dominica, all the way to eating sea urchins or "sea eggs" in Barbados and everything else in between. One is sure to experience a variety of dishes which are a synonymous with the culture of that specific country.

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Now as one travels from one Caribbean country to another, the first glaring difference would be in the way we speak. Although the Caribbean is English speaking for the most part, each individual country has a different dialect or in some cases patois. In addition to not sounding the same, you may find that the same word has different meanings throughout the region, or that completely different words or phrases have the same meaning. For example, what is called an ackee in Jamaica and an ackee in Barbados are two completely different things, and what is called an ackee in Barbados is called a ginep in Trinidad & Tobago. We also have the pommecythere in Trinidad & Tobago, and the golden apple in Barbados, which are the same fruit just to name a few.

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Although we are alike, we are not the same. These minor differences are felt and seen as you travel across the different islands and experience the different cultures and identities. Culture is a body of beliefs and practices in terms of which a group of people understand themselves and the world and organize their individual and collective lives. Culture is learnt through socialization and is shared by members of a society. Meanwhile, identity is the individual characteristics, style or manner that is fundamental to a person or thing, and by which that person is recognized. Neither culture nor identity is fixed, and both are transmissible and always evolving. The different types of culture include high culture, popular culture, subculture and counterculture. However, some of the factors and institutions that form identity are religion, politics, education, race, history, gender, sexual orientation, geography, linguistics and economic activities.

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During a relative down period for West Indian cricket, Trinidadian calypsonian David Rudder released the song Rally Round The West Indies which encapsulates regional togetherness, camaraderie and uplifting through cricket, and this song is now the anthem for the West Indies cricket team.

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RALLY ROUND THE WEST INDIES ~ DAVID RUDDER.

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RALLY ROUND THE WEST INDIES ~ DAVID RUDDER.

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In addition to cricket, the Caribbean is also home to some of the fastest people in the world. Caribbean countries have been excellent in Track & Field, and on the island of Jamaica is where you will find the fastest man the world has ever seen, and the greatest sprinter of all time, none other than the legendary figure of Usain Bolt. However, Caribbean success in a Track & Field is not a recent occurrence. Arthur Wint became the first gold medallist from Jamaica, when he was victorious in the men’s 400m dash in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.

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One of the sports that immediately comes to mind when you think Caribbean, is the sport of cricket, and the West Indies Cricket Team. Cricket was originally introduced to the region from England and was another tool for socializing, just like religion and education. Cricket encapsulates the issues like racism, class and politics, in addition to high and low culture. West Indians began to transform cricket from a mode of social control to a mode of social protest, and what could not be done off the field was done on the field. It was helpful that we were very good at cricket and the team’s success was reflective of the region’s right to self-determination and cultural legitimization. Similarly, as with music cricket reflected the spirit of Caribbean people in a highly effective non-verbal manner. West Indians have been the face of cricket for over fifty years, with the team seeing a change from being dominated by whites, to being primarily black players in the 1960s. One of these black players was the great Sir Garfield Sobers who is arguably the greatest cricketer of all time in eyes of many who follow the sport. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the West Indies were unquestionably the best team in the history of cricket, and from 1980 to 1995 they never loss a test series. Even to this day, West Indians are now the face of the more popular T20 cricket format, with names like Chris Gayle and Dwayne Bravo leading the way.

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Another important area to unifies Caribbean people is sport. Sport is not only important to regional integration, but, it is also important socially, politically and financially. Socially, sport promotes self-esteem and achievement which may not have been to gain otherwise. Politically, in addition to promoting island and regional integration, it can also reflect the collective political perspectives throughout the Caribbean. And financially, it encourages economic growth not only through sold out stadiums, but via the exportation of professional athletes.

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Buju Banton

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Shabba Ranks

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Sizzla Kalonji

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Now one cannot talk about Caribbean music without mentioning the genre of Reggae. The rhythms of Reggae emerged from Ska and Rock steady in the 1960s, and it is recognized to be different from its predecessors because of the spiritual emphasis it carries. Reggae music is heavily influenced by the concept of Rastafari, and typically deals with love, poverty and politics. Reggae carries different forms which include Roots Reggae, Lovers Rock, Dub and Dancehall. Reggae music was pioneered by the legendary Robert Nesta Marley who typified Roots Reggae and was a worldwide phenomenon in the 1970s. Incredibly, Marley’s music is still relevant to this day almost forty years later after his passing in 1981, at only thirty-six years of age. In 1972, the film “The Harder They Come” did a lot to highlight Jamaican culture and brought reggae music to international audiences. Reggae music continued to grow and diversify over the years and in the 1980s Dancehall music exploded onto the scene and excelled even further in the 1990s through the likes of Super Cat and Shabba Ranks and has been carried into the 21st century with names like Beenie Man and Vybz Kartel leading the way. Nevertheless, Roots Reggae remains the standard and new levels of consciousness have been brought to the genre through artistes like Buju Banton and Sizzla Kalonji.

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Mighty Chalkdust

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Red Plastic Bag

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Calypso Rose

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Mighty Sparrow

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Now during the colonial era, the art faced censorship as calypsonians would often have been heavily critical of colonial mismanagement and corruption. Calypso can be described as a combination of joyful rhythms and melodies, in combination with of often subtle commentary on a wide range of penetrating topics including, the cold war, racism, and the cost of living. As was the norm, for many years men dominated the calypso world as it was called the “Calypso King Competition”. However, in 1978 came along this lady known as Calypso Rose who won the competition and completely changed the calypso landscape. As a result of this, the name was ultimately changed to the “Calypso Monarch Competition”. Calypso has come a long way over the years. From 1914 when the first calypso was recorded, to the late 1920s where we saw the emergence of calypso tents. In the late 1930s, we saw calypso begin to be exported through the likes of Atilla the Hun, Roaring Lion and Lord Invader, then in 1956, Harry Belafonte recorded his famous Banana Boat classic, and the Mighty Sparrow also released his classic song Jean and Dinah during this year. This is a tradition carried on to this day with prominent calypsonians like The Mighty Chalkdust and Barbadian Red Plastic Bag.

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One of the most traditional genres of Caribbean music is that of Calypso. The genre of calypso can be traced as far back as to the arrival of the enslaved from West Africa. This is where many of the enslaved used their own kind of music and songs as a form of communication and self-expression, as well as using it to mock their plantation owners and slave masters. As a result of this, calypso can be described almost as oral tradition, containing keen observation and fuelled by social commentary and sarcasm. Many of the early calypsos were sung in French-creole patois, and singer was called a griot, and over time became known as a calypsonian. As slavery was abolished, the calypsonian became someone who acted as an advocate for the poor and disfranchised class. It was known as a poor man’s newspaper for the lack of a better term, in the times when literacy was not widespread. The role of the calypsonian was to ridicule and reprimand the powers at be for their inadequacies and negligence in social policies, and those in authority were not found of calypsonians and disapproved of them.

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Scores of patrons at Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival

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Beenie Man at Reggae Sumfest

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Crop Over in Barbados

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Jab Jab in Grenada

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Trinidad Carnival

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Through our love for music, and it being such an integral part of Caribbean culture, comes our love to celebrate our music through festival and dance. As you go throughout the Caribbean region at all different times of the year, you are sure to experience one of our Caribbean festivals. Some of the most popular Caribbean festivals include Trinidad Carnival, Crop Over Festival in Barbados, Grenada Spicemas, the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, and Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica.

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Throughout the Caribbean, there are many different genres of music to choose from. One can choose to listen to music from the Hispanic Caribbean, where in Cuba we have Rumba, Son, Pachonga, Mambo and Salsa music. In the Dominican Republic there is Merengue and Bachata music. And in Puerto Rico they have Plena, Salsa, Bomba and Nueva Cancion music, as well as Reggaeton.

In the Francophone Caribbean, over in Haiti we have Rara, Twoubadou and Kompass or Kompa music. In Guadeloupe and Martinique one can experience Zouk, Kadans and Bele music, while over in St Lucia and Dominica we have Bouyon music.

Meanwhile in the Anglophone Caribbean, over in the country of Jamaica we have the very popular Reggae and Dancehall music, in addition to Kumina and Mento. As we head down south to Trinidad and Tobago, we find Calypso, Soca and Chutney music, as well as many other East Indian subgenres.

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Vybz Kartel

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Robyn Rihanna Fenty

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Robert Nesta Marley

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Machel Montano

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It’s safe to say that music is one of the major calling cards for the Caribbean region, with West Indian artiste becoming global superstars through, reggae, dancehall, soca, calypso and even R&B just to name a few. Some of the big names to come out of the Caribbean to excel in these genres are, Bob Marley and Vybz Kartel out of Jamaica, Machel Montano and Mighty Sparrow from Trinidad & Tobago, and one of the most successful female artistes of all time, hailing from Barbados, the one and only Rihanna. Some of the benefits of this music include stress relief, physical exercise, both pleasurable and spiritual emotions, as well as playing a pivotal role in socializing throughout the region, especially its importance to several Caribbean festivals.

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Music is an integral part of life in the Caribbean. It holds a special place in our hearts for several reasons. Music has the power to heal, inspire and motivate those who lend a listening ear. In the Caribbean, music has been a voice against systematic oppression, in addition to the marginalization and negation of our people. The power of music explains the trials and tribulations Caribbean people experience while also articulating their victories to the entire world.

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Caribbean Unity

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Map of the Caribbean

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In the year 2015, Barbadian soca artiste Peter Ram completely destroyed the Party Monarch competition with his hit song 'All Ah We' which encapsulated regional togetherness and camaraderie through music, festival and celebration.

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Peter Ram - All Ah We "2016 Soca" (Red Boyz Music)

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For many years people from all over the world have flocked to the Caribbean for a plethora of reasons. These range from family vacations and weddings, to those who visit the Caribbean on business trips. But what is it about the Caribbean that makes people from far and wide gravitate here? Is it our beautiful beaches? Is it our family atmosphere and hospitality? Or could it even be our food and music festivals? The answer is likely to be some combination of all the above, but the real question is, what is the Caribbean? No one knows for sure what classifies as the Caribbean because there is no specific measurement of being Caribbean. Whether one argues based on geography, politics, history or culture, there will always be controversy surrounding what makes up the Caribbean. Nevertheless, whatever metric is used to determine what is the Caribbean, one thing remains the same, all ah we is one.