Bajan musical stories in November – Ragga Ragga

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“Ragga Ragga” is a song written by Red Plastic Bag and released in 1993. Featuring Mac Fingall and produced by Nicholas Brancker, this parody of dancehall turned into a massive hit and changed Red Plastic Bag’s life. 💥 It also went on to have a whole life of its own in Colombia and Central America. 🌎🔥

Here is a performance from 1994, Congaline.

En Español

✨ Mes de noviembre – educación musical bajana 🎶🇧🇧

“Ragga Ragga” es una canción escrita por Red Plastic Bag y lanzada en 1993. Con la participación de Mac Fingall y producida por Nicholas Brancker, esta parodia del dancehall se convirtió en un gran éxito y cambió la vida de Red Plastic Bag. 💥 También tuvo una vida propia en Colombia y Centroamérica. 🌎🔥

Aquí hay un concierto de 1994 de Congaline.

XX Bajan Folk Songs with Audio

stefanwalcottLeave a comment

Heah,

Take a look at my latest project:

XX Bajan Folk Songs with Audio.

Available now on amazon.com.

XX Bajan Folk Songs is a compilation of twenty Bajan folk songs from the now out-of-print Folk Songs of Barbados book.  The book also comes with audio as the name suggests so you can sing along.

Check it out!

 

 

More Short and Sweet Commentary from Roy Byer

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Roy Byer was a cultural activist and archivist who passed away in 2014.

He was also one of the best commentators on Caribbean and Bajan culture I have ever come across. I have posted this short clip today because it goes some way to explain two social events happening currently in Barbados. These are:

1. The xenophobic public reaction to 90 Nigerian students studying here

2. The alleged/or not so alleged desires of a headmistress to patrol black natural hair

Here Roy is speaking about music but he is really addressing how black cultural practices have historically been viewed in Barbados.

This post might appear quite local but race and identity politics are Caribbean wide issues.

Over to you Roy!

 

 

* Banja was a term used by early 19th and 20th century Barbadians to denote rhythmic, black working class music.