During the 17th and 18th Centuries, the slave trade assumed the coming of millions of Africans to the West Indies countries, many of which now have either black or brown populations, and that have preserved many cultural elements hailing from the native African Mainland.Jamaica is popular thanks to its music, mainly because of one musical style that has succeeded all over the world: reggae. Bob Marley was reggae’s top maestro. His songs helped expand the rafta movement worldwide. For his massive musical success, Marley was bestowed with the Order of Merit, the nation’s highest award.Marley’s musical influence is noticeable, even among a new breed of Jamaican musicians that play such reggae-derived styles as dancehall and raga.As far as arts movements are concerned, most of the Caribbean islands have handed down traditional handicraft skills, mostly in tin metalworking (discarded tin barrels are used for this purpose), creek weaving (especially with coconut and banana leaves), and colorful hand-painted pottery. Leather, amber and wood are also carved and wrought.
