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Framework Conditions for Creative Industries in the Caribbean
Ramesh Chaitoo [email protected]
The CARICOM region, although tiny in terms of population, is renowned for its creativity and cultural diversity. Such cultural diversity manifests itself in a variety of creative forms, the most famous being music (reggae, dancehall, calypso, soca, chutney, zouk, meringue). Through this natural creative and cultural variety, the Caribbean is thus distinguished as a highly interesting and complex location. The range of artistic expression includes folklore, crafts, performances, to music festivals and carnivals among others. In trading terms, Caribbean cultural products and services have become marketable items for export on the international scene. At the start of the last century, well before the current emphasis in Caribbean policy circles on the creative economy, the Trinidadian musical group, Lovey s String Band, toured New York. In 1912, at least ?ve years before the ?rst Jazz recordings were made, Lovey s strings were recorded, establishing an important benchmark and precedent in the history of the region s creative economy. This trend continued in the pre-World War 2 period. In 1934 two calypsonians, the Roaring Lion and Atilla the Hun, performed live on a major US cable network, National Broadcast Corporation (NBC) during the prime time period. While in the US, they also recorded 16 songs for an album released by RCA. Meanwhile, Harry Belafonte s album entitled Calypso that featured many calypsos from Trinidad, was the ?rst LP to sell one million copies in the United States in 1956. 1 More recently, the iconic Jamaican, Bob Marley, came to the fore of the international recording industry in a previously unknown genre, reggae. Marley is still one of the best selling dead artists in the world. Reggae music and later genres have become world-renowned. Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its Carnival. Trinidad s Peter Minshall designed the opening ceremonies for the Barcelona and Los Angeles Olympics. In the last decade, Rihanna, from Barbados became an international music superstar.
1Suzanne
L-R: Lord Invader, The Mighty Growler, Attila the Hun and Roaring Lion at the Victory Calypso Tent, 1943
The creative industries in the region are a signi?cant sector with substantial economic value and an increasing source of exports. Research from the early 1990 s indicates that the Jamaican music industry employs about 15,000 people and accounts for 15-20 % of the US$300 million in reggae music sales. The contribution of carnivals and other festivals is very signi?cant in local economies. Trinidad-style carnivals have been exported to Canada, the United States and England 2. There are projections for growth of the Caribbean s music industry with increasing exports and interest in the development of a Caribbean ?lm industry. The ?lm industry not only has indigenous relevance, but can also sell in markets abroad. There is also great potential for collaborations with internationally established production, who can be invited to come to the Caribbean.
continued on page 11
Burke, Promoting Creative Industries: The Trinidad and Tobago Experience.
UNDP. August 2010, p. 9.
2
See Caribbean Export Development Agency, Trade Wins, Vol. 1, No. 7, 2001.
10
www.creativeindustriesexchange.com
Volume 5: July - September 2013