Kumina dance history books

May 01, 2018 kumina can take your life, save your life and help you to enjoy life. It was formerly done to commemorate the emancipation of slaves on august 1, 1838. Folk dances of jamaica is a detailed practical and theoretical discussion of five jamaican folk dances the kumina, dinkie minie, quadrille, bruckins, and revival. Kumina by jah levi world fusion project from the album earth. Sep 25, 2012 kumina is important to me because kumina is provided with alot of information needed how to dance it cultural activity in ancient day of kumina. Jamaican styles of music religious music afroamerican religion. The bruckins party is a stately, dippinggliding dance typified by the thrust. Bruckins, as a member of the creolised group of traditional dances, reveals. However, kumina was brought to the world stage by the efforts of the national dance theatre company and the efforts of one of its founding members rex nettelford.

The centrality of spirit possession is a core component of both myal and kongo religion. Separations, kongo, machunde, mondongo, moyenge, igbo, yoruba. By the 1970s it had become an international style that was particularly popular in britain, the united states, and africa. Feb 12, 2019 list of african history books for beginners. The kumina had began around ten, perhaps, i really do not remember the time, this was more than ten years ago, but the drumming began and the yard began filling up with people coming to enjoy tonights kumina, read here. Kumina bailo by kumina singers from the album folk music of jamaica. Heinemann educational books caribbean limited and gleaner company limited, 1983. Kumina in rural southeastern jamaica journal of pan african. Kumina is an afrojamaican religion and practices that include secular ceremonies, dance and. An ancestor cult called kumina and belief in obeah sorcery are living survivals of the african heritage.

Delving deep into the many forms of ritual, social, carnival, staged, experimental, and performance dance, the book explores some of the most mysterious and beloved, as well as. You can see how bruckins families moved over time by selecting different census years. Kumina kumina is a religion centered in jamaicas southeastern parish, st. In 1986 janet wason was asked to spend six months on the island of dominica to research, report on, and video its dances. Kumina ceremonies are held in the form of ecstatic dance. Valentina remenar is an artist from croatia who works in video games, books and digital illustration.

Later on, kumina was brought to jamaica from the africans, and ever since then, kumina has been around everywere in jamaica. Later on, kumina was brought to jamaica from the africans, and ever since then, kumina has been around. The form and content of the dance, with red and blue sets competing, is reminiscent of 19th century plantation jonkonnu and the set girls parade. Jamaica dance rex nettlefords kumina dance theater.

The practice of myal as a spirit possession originated in jamaica. We work with a cadre of seasoned teaching artists who are committed to both youth and their own artistic career. Linguistics evidence cites the kongo as a specific ethnic source for the language and possibly the music of kumina. These cultural parades are predominantly showcased in the bahamas where the music is also mainstreamed. Mar 09, 2015 the kumina had began around ten, perhaps, i really do not remember the time, this was more than ten years ago, but the drumming began and the yard began filling up with people coming to enjoy tonights kumina, read here. A powerpoint on the religion kumina free download as powerpoint presentation.

Heavy drumming, commonly associated with west african music is a popular component of jamaican music simpson, 32. The handy ebook of contemporary dance history is a practical guide of 39 pages, for people who want to have basic knowledge about this topic in an easy way. Information on jamaicas culture at the national library of. A maypole is a tall pole, historically made from the trunk of a tree, adorned with items such as flowers, garlands, ribbons and streamers and sometimes painted with stripes. Here she concentrates on two genres she studied intensively, the africandescended bele and the europeanderived quadrille, though both, she shows, have absorbed influences from the other continent. Originally published in 1988, folk dances of jamaica is a detailed practical and theoretical discussion of five jamaican folk dances the kumina, dinkie minie. Dance history is not only an academic or artistic undertaking. It is a religion, music and dance practiced by, in large part, jamaicans who reside in the eastern parish on st. During this dance ritual the spirit of the deceased person may take possession of the living in order to deliver final messages and farewells. Join our email list for the latest news from smithsonian folkways recordings. An exploration of modern contemporary dance from a.

The book proved seminal to the study of music in jamaica, as the. You can not understand history of dance without understanding how dance is the individuation of collective storytelling. It is said to have originated in the congo region of west africa. The kumina, a dance ritual, is often performed during the nine night. It was widely perceived as a voice of the oppressed. While the africans were the only people who came as. Informant a illustrates the potential uses of kuminas curative and cultural benefits. The waves of european settlers who found their fortunes in jamaica brought the familiar comfort of their own traditional dances to the tropical island. The books strength and appeal lies in the care taken to introduce, describe and illuminate in detail these dances. Jamaicas heritage in dance jamaica information service. The religion of the slaves was based on african beliefs and practices, such as ceremonial spirit possession, spiritual healing, sorcery, and drumming and dance as forms of worship. History get youtube premium get youtube tv best of youtube music sports. An evolution of cultures from emancipation 1838 to. The dance requires you to create a tapping sound and in which the dancer also becomes the musician of their very own dance routines.

Find all the books, read about the author, and more. A powerpoint on the religion kumina deities cultural. Writing from the cultural perspective of his native ghana and gaadangme roots, isaac nii akrong looks into complex connections between aspects of ghanaian culture and that of jamaica. Jamaica gleaner africa live in kumina sunday october 9. The gerreh is a dance of african origin that is performed the night after the death. Sage reference kumina sage knowledge sage publications. In 1840 there was 1 bruckins family living in ohio. The bruckins family name was found in the usa in 1840. Kumina news newspapers books scholar jstor august 2008 learn how and when to remove. Whatever or wherever the first dance was on earth, it since has come a long way.

List of books and articles about dance history online. The author, jack anderson, is a dance critic for the new york times, correspondent for the dancing times of london, coeditor of dance chronicle, author the the nutcracker ballet and the one and only. Kumina meaning and origin of the name kumina nameaning. The dance and music are two of the kumina s strong features the drum. Studien zur traditionellen afrojamaikanischen musik beitrage zur ethnomusikologie 26 german edition by grupe, gerd and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Kumina, otherwise known as kalunga or kaduunga, features flatfooted inching of the feet or the kongo step, a steady, but often subtle, forwardthrusting of the hip with the rib cage and arms moving against the hip, followed by wild spins and sudden breaks, signalled by the lead drum. Whether purely instrumental or with a chorus, each of these recordings manages to capture the spirit of the english, spanish, and french speaking caribbean. It incorporates ritualistic magic, spiritual possession and dancing. The kumina being held was a celebration of sorts for the person who was keeping it.

Olive lewin in her book rock it come over, kumina expresses the strongest african retention of jamaican folk culture, and provides powerful clues about the religious and social customs of the african ancestry. Mar 07, 2006 the dominant elements of kumina are dance, music, spirit possession, healing and the use of herbs. The drums used in the dance are the kbandu, which provides the basic rhythms, and playing cast, the lead drum. Mento typically features acoustic instruments, such as acoustic guitar, banjo, hand drums, and the rhumba box which is a large mbira in the shape of a box that can be sat on while played. Dance as a theatre art provides an overall view of the history of theatrical dance in europe and america during the last four centuries. However, its beliefs and rituals are not unrelated to those of maroons runaway slaves in. Kumina is an african jamaican religion and practices that include secular ceremonies, dance and music that developed from the beliefs and traditions brought to the island by bakongo enslaved people and indentured labourers, from the congo region of west central africa, during the post emancipation era. The origins of dance the earliest history of human dance is a continuing mystery. Jamaica dance rex nettlefords kumina theater broadway stage famous dancers upcoming concerts dance world stage play folk dance beautiful islands jamaica. Kumina kumina, also spelt cumina, is a dancemusic ritual flickr. Dancing developed as a natural expression of united feeling and action. Kumina provides a perfect example of what intra african syncretism.

With other contributions on social dance, ballet, early european modern dance and feminist perspectives on dance history this book offers a multitude of starting points for studying dance history as well as presenting examples of dance writing at its very best. Kumina,where is it from and how did it get to jamaica. Unlike obeah, its practices focus more on the connection of spirits with humans. It developed via the creolization of african religions during the slave era in jamaica. They have been worshiped for thousands of years as a reminder of the sacred act of sex and also represent the phallus of the kings who rule the world. The history of dance through the years everyday minerals.

Kumina is important to me because kumina is provided with alot of information needed how to dance it cultural activity in ancient day of kumina. Kumina is a religious group, which originated in congo, west africa, and was brought to jamaica by the free africans who arrived between the 1840s and 1860s. The dance and music are two of the kuminas strong features the drum playing an integral part in this dance ritual. An interactive arts approachprovides an indepth look at dance from the dawn of time through the 20th century. This book looks a the africanderived and africancentered religious traditions that are found in jamaicia. Caribbean dance is a broad category that can include everything from nightclubs to sacred ritual. It is a religion, music and dance practiced by in large part jamaicans who reside in the eastern parish on st. Kumina or cumina kumina is the most african of jamaican cults. In this fieldworkbased study stewart shows that african people have been agents of their own religious, ritual, and theological formation. Culture of jamaica history, people, clothing, women. But they also brought people with a vivid, ineradicable african culture that expressed its history and feelings in music and dance. Bilby and bunseki 18 reiterate this by saying kumina is indeed an african form of dance, but it is a great deal more than this. An evolution of cultures from emancipation 1838 to independence 1962 home economics. Mento is a style of jamaican folk music that predates and has greatly influenced ska and reggae music.

Dance history will be an essential purchase for all students of dance. These go together with candles, graters, shakas and catta sticks, played on the back of the drum. Kuminas music, dance and other recreational practices expressed the. Using an investigative approach, this book presents the who, what, when, where, why, and how of dance history in relation to other arts and to historical, political, and social events. We are unique amongst new york citys many excellent arts education programs in that we specialize in placing traditional and folk artists in schools to share their expertise with students and teachers. Musicmento jamaicas first original popular music form which is a combination of african and british musical elements. Kumina can take your life, save your life and help you to enjoy life. Source readings, consisting of theoretical essays, librottos, and excerpts from technical manuals, combine with dr. Dances history is surely more than what ancient books or cave walls can depict. Nettleford, in 1971, exposed the entire company of dancers, singers and drummers to the ceremony in seaforth. Wason gives a brief history of 19th century european social dance. Imported by english aristocrats in 1815 from elite parisian ballrooms, it consisted of four, or sometimes five, contredanses.

Kumina ceremonies are usually associated with wakes and entombments, but can also be performed at births, anniversaries and thanksgivings. Dances include the bailo, mainly used for entertainment purposes and the country, used during the private religious ceremonies. The popularity of dancehall has spawned dance moves that help to make parties and stage performances more energetic. Informant a illustrates the potential uses of kumina s curative and cultural benefits. Over time, myal began to meld with christian practices and created the religious tradition known as revivalism. Many of the recordings are of dance music as music and dance are commonly linked in caribbean cultures. The maypole is a modernday portable ancient phallic symbol that is meant to represent the male generative powers in the phallus, which is really just an idol or image of an erect penis. Making caribbean dance connects the dance of the islands with their rich multicultural histories and complex identities. It was once theorized to be of akan origin, because of its popularity with akan slaves. Its presence was first noted only in the 1950s, but it was likely formulated by west central african indentured laborers introduced by the british colonial government and british plantation owners between 1845 and 1865.

Studies of africanderived religious traditions have generally focused on their retention of african elements. Kumina is a dance which was formed by africans who were slaves that were brought to jamaica. Apr 29, 2001 kumina is the most african of the cultural expressions to be found in jamaica, with negligible european or christian influence. It is a religion, music and dance practiced by, in large part, jamaicans who reside. Jul 25, 2016 we say the best poems on the tongue contain the spiritual sounds of a culture, and here, the poetry in monica minotts kumina queen carries forward personal and ancestral memories line by line, song after song. The maypole is a major focus of may day, a spring celebration that falls on the first of may, providing a centerpiece for. During a kumina ceremony the exponents call upon their ancestral spirits. The dance and music are two of the kuminas strong features the drum. Everything name meaning, origin, pronunciation, numerology, popularity and more information about kumina at nameaning. Feb 09, 2011 kumina is a afrojamaican religion influenced mainly by the bantu peoples from the congoangola area. Reggae, style of popular music that originated in jamaica in the late 1960s and quickly emerged as the countrys dominant music. Traditional jamaican dances 10 popular jamaican folk dances. Kumina nations are led by a king and queen central in kumina s religious beliefs and practices is the possession by and communication with the spirits in order to connect with the spirit they use drumming, singing, corporal worlds, language, dance, and ritual paraphernalia these open the channels of communication. Kumina or cumina is a cultural form indigenous to jamaica 1.

Dance history explores the intersection of the collective narrative with the human body. Brathwaite reveals that kumina is the living fragment of an african mainly kongo religion in the caribbeanjamaica 46. Kumina is an afrojamaican religion influenced mainly by the bantu peoples from the congoangola area. Kumina, also spelt cumina, is a dancemusic ritual centred on communication with the ancestors.

I feel that this article, being an important part of the jamaican history, should be updated periodically. Kumina is an afrojamaican religion and practices that include secular ceremonies, dance and music that developed from the beliefs and traditions brought to the island by kongo enslaved people and indentured labourers, from the congo region of west central africa, during the postemancipation era. Cohens introductions and headnotes to cover every major trend and personality of the period. I have a brother who reads a lot and when he speaks, he sometimes talks about situations in the past and talk as if they still. Kumina by colombiafrica the mystic orchestra from the album voodoo love inna champeta land. The bruckins party is a stately, dippinggliding dance typified by the thrust and recovery action of the hip and leg. Kumina or cumina is a cultural form indigenous to jamaica. He discusses the gome drum and dance of ghana and its links through sierra leone and central africa to jamaican maroon square drums, as well as the jamaican danced religion kumina, with congolese origins, but. Bruckins, also spelled brukins, is a jamaican dance performed primarily to celebrate. This emphasis, says dianne stewart, slights the ways in which communities in the african diaspora have created and formed new religious meaning.