Caribbean music in Canada

A vocalist performs in Calgary at Carifest, a festival which showcases Caribbean culture in Canada (June 2007)

Caribbean music in Canada has existed since the early 1920s,[1] becoming increasingly prominent after the 1960s as Caribbean immigration to Canada increased.[1] Anglo-Caribbean genres such as reggae, soca and calypso are especially prominent in English Canada, while French Caribbean genres such as cadence-lypso, zouk and konpa are more prominent in Quebec.[1]

Caribbean music has also been incorporated as an influence by numerous Canadian pop, rock and hip hop artists.

Recent changes in Canada's immigration laws have seen several prominent musicians from the Commonwealth Caribbean, like David Rudder and Anslem Douglas, resettle in Canada and help to develop the Caribbean music industry based there.[2]

The role of music in the Caribbean Canadian community is reinforced by cultural festivals such as Toronto's Caribana.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Caribbean Music at The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  2. ^ Anslem Douglas makes comeback. Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday, October 6, 2006.