The culture of Caribbeans in Britain has been far from simple and has continued to evolve. The way that culture exists in this country today came out of two main factors. Firstly, migrants needed to acclimatise to a new environment and culture and second but not least was their need to remain as close to their own identity as possible.
The cultures within the British Caribbean community over the last few generations have been been influenced somewhat by the culture of their ancestors but modified by their life over here and with the people they interact with and events within Britain which they have been involved with by the mere fact of living here.
Caribbeans have had an influence on British culture too, it hasn't purely been the other way around. It isn't just an effect of years gone by either, they still have quite an impact today. Music and the arts are two fields which have been particularly influenced.
The success of Caribbean art and music not just in Britain but throughout Europe started many many years ago, way back into the 20th century, in fact, when conductor Rudolph Dunbar became a star in Europe. The Tate Gallery recognises Ronald Moody, a sculptor who impressed upon his visit to the British Museum in London in 1935. We have seen further influences throughout the years such as the likes of Eddy Grant who have continued to exemplify the success that Caribbeans have here in the UK.
We saw the first big Caribbean carnival take place in the 60s. Although a carnival is typically a celebration, the reason it began was as a demonstration to a Jamaican who was killed in Notting Hill, Kelso Cochrane. It touched a nerve in particular as there were a large number of Jamaica migrants in Notting Hill. It gradually became more of a traditional carnival, however with more and more of a trace of Jamaica gradually making its mark on the carnival.
The cultures within the British Caribbean community over the last few generations have been been influenced somewhat by the culture of their ancestors but modified by their life over here and with the people they interact with and events within Britain which they have been involved with by the mere fact of living here.
Caribbeans have had an influence on British culture too, it hasn't purely been the other way around. It isn't just an effect of years gone by either, they still have quite an impact today. Music and the arts are two fields which have been particularly influenced.
The success of Caribbean art and music not just in Britain but throughout Europe started many many years ago, way back into the 20th century, in fact, when conductor Rudolph Dunbar became a star in Europe. The Tate Gallery recognises Ronald Moody, a sculptor who impressed upon his visit to the British Museum in London in 1935. We have seen further influences throughout the years such as the likes of Eddy Grant who have continued to exemplify the success that Caribbeans have here in the UK.
We saw the first big Caribbean carnival take place in the 60s. Although a carnival is typically a celebration, the reason it began was as a demonstration to a Jamaican who was killed in Notting Hill, Kelso Cochrane. It touched a nerve in particular as there were a large number of Jamaica migrants in Notting Hill. It gradually became more of a traditional carnival, however with more and more of a trace of Jamaica gradually making its mark on the carnival.
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What better way to experience true Caribbean culture than by going on a Caribbean all inclusive holiday.
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