The main island of Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua is a Caribbean island and also forms part of the group called the Lesser Antilles Islands. Christopher Columbus gave it its name when he discovered it, naming it after the Santa Maria de la Antigua, which is an icon found in the Seville Cathedral, and whose name means “St. Mary of the Ancient Cathedral”. The economy of this island is almost entirely supported by tourism, while the agricultural sector does cater for the inhabitants.

One of the main reasons anyone would travel to the Caribbean is to immerse themselves in the culture, and particularly the music. There are plenty of strong examples of the cross-Caribbean genres on display in Antigua, and they have produced popular artists in calypso, soca, steeldrum, zouk and reggae. Steeldrum and calypso music, however, is the island’s forte. All of the music has distinct African feel to it due to the West African Heritage of the population of the island.

These kinds of music can be traced back to the period of French colonial rule. During that period the slaves of the island were not permitted to partake in carnival celebrations. They did so anyway, but in secret, and it is in these secret celebrations that the Afro-Caribbean style of percussion developed. It was only later that the music on Antigua became influenced by Trinidadian calypso.

The Old Time Christmas Festival, or so it used to be called, is an important tradition when talking about the history of Antiguan music. This festival was replaced by the Trinidadian Carnival in 1957 but there are many features that remain the same. There is the highland fling, to take just one example, where dancers in Scottish kilts and wire masks perform.

Even from this incredibly brief outline it should be obvious that Antigua is an important place for culture and music. Burning Flames comes from Antigua, and they are the most important and oldest soca band in the world. Add to this the fascinating carnivals, and the influential acts in the genres of steeldrum and calypso, and it becomes clear that Antigua is a centre for Afro-Caribbean culture and music.

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