by Eugene Gittens
Today’s popular Caribbean music includes Jamaica’s reggae, Trinidad’s Soca, Dominica’s Bouyon, St Lucia’s Dennery and one of the most popular at this time of the year — Grenada’s Jab Jab Music!
While the Jab Jab masquerade is not 100% unique to Grenada (it exists in some of the French islands and parts of Africa), Grenada’s Jab Jab Music certainly is.
Thanks to innovators Moss International and others who have contributed to the development of this music by incorporating traditional Jab Jab musical elements (like the drums, chants, shell, etc.) into a modern musical form.
Similarly, many years ago, Jamaica’s music was inspired by the Nyabinghi drumming of the Rastafarians and evolved in reggae, rocksteady, lovers-rock, roots-reggae, dancehall, and even went on to influence American Hip Hop/Rap music and Africa’s Afrobeats music.
Innovation and change are nothing new to music or life. How we embrace these influences is what’s interesting. The purists often want to hold on to the status quo, the “real” thing, the traditional way of doing things, the way things were. They want no deviation from what existed. The innovators want to push the boundaries and create something new by incorporating new ideas, opportunities and technologies to what already exists. The reformists usually want to make sure things don’t get out of hand. And of course, the “get-on-ers” don’t give a damn about anything and just want to have fun!
The reality is: “There is room at the table for everyone!” No one owns or is entitled to any artform. It belongs to the people to choose how they would like (or not like) to respond to it!
Eugene Gittens is a sociologist and musician, and Adjunct Lecturer in Music History Appreciation at the T A Marryshow Community College (TAMCC). He is also the creator of the Jab Symphony Riddim for Spicemas 2025 featuring Shortpree, Slatta, Temptress and others.
This is indeed a very insightful piece. After all is said and done, Eugene’s ideas could only be regarded as an “in-your-face” example of speaking truth to power. It may not make sense to fix the roof if it is not leaking. But while trying to reinvent the wheel might be a bit delusional, trying to build a better mousetrap might not be a bad idea, after all. The moral of the story is that people should not be too determined to sacrifice change on the altar of tradition.