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| photo by BTMI |
Some of the elements of the plantation alluded to in this
series may have made plantation life sound almost idyllic. Lest we forget
plantation life was synonymous with brutality, degradation of a people, stripping
of persons of African descent of their identity and if it were possible their
very souls. In the harsh reality of being an uprooted, beaten and disfigured
people, slaves and subsequent workers on plantations in Barbados develop some
means of virtual escape as a coping mechanism. One of the coping tools is
deeply rooted in folklore. This one thing could not be taken from the soul of
the African and it was the call of the drum.
The drum that resonated within his very being had survived the treacherous
journey of the Middle Passage and burst it way out into the pulsing sounds of folklore
music from the Bajan tuk band.
The Tuk Band
Although the enslaved people were oppressed by their
masters. They found a way to make life more palatable for themselves. How was
this possible? The African Slaves returned to their roots using a tool to communicate
and entertain and they sometimes they managed to do this through the unwitting
help of the plantation owner.
The drums are synonymous with Africa and slaves used their
drums to communicate with each other. Slaves were able to use the drums to send
messages to each other from one plantation to another. The British colonizers
believed that music was a motivator and surely it was used to strengthen and
motivate rebellions. It was through this belief that slave masters banned the
beating of drum and ultimately the use of the instrument. It was in 1675 that
the instrument was banned and it seems the British felt so threatened by its
power that in 1688 drums and loud instruments were burnt.
Despite this attempt to suppress the drum the Tuk music was
born in the 17th century on the plantation. It is thought that the
enslaved were forced to march and play military music. This was how the sound of tuk was created a
mixture of British and African influences. The sounds of the British military
and African beats can be heard emanating from the tuk band. Slaves used
colonial instruments and made their own drums of animal skin. Initially the
primary instruments were inclusive of a penny whistle and two snare drums.
However the tuk band has evolved and the instruments used today are a penny
whistle, a snare drum, a bass drum and sometimes a triangle. The Tuk Band today
consists of several musicians. Musicians are generally wearing vivid colours
and the sound of the music is sure to invigorate persons and thrust them into
movement and dance.
According to History
of Tuk Music in Barbados “tuk is derived from the old Scottish word ‘touk’:
the beat or tap of a drum.” Surely the African roots were preserved through
this traditional form of folklore. The resilience of the African people can be
felt through this rhythmic sound. The African influences run deeper than we may
think with the introduction to characters which accompany the band. These
characters include the green monkey, the donkey man, the stiltmen, the shaggy
bear and the mother sally. Each character houses its own identity much of which
is derived from African culture.
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The Shaggy Bear’s
identity certainly showcases its origins. According to the History of Tuk Music in Barbados the Shaggy Bear character symbolizes
‘bush doctors or traditional healers from African villages’. The Mother Sally
symbolizes fertility and it thought to share some African roots. The Mother
Sally is a voluptuous character who was originally played by a man. The
character is stuffed to make certain body parts more prominent. The Stiltmen
are thought to be symbolic of the enslaved surviving perilous times. The green
monkey is pretty self-explanatory represents the native green monkey that can
be found in Barbados today. The donkey man acts as a reminder of the type of
transportation on the island during the era.
The African influences in the music and characters depicts
the strength and resilience of our ancestors. This “tuk” beat can still be
heard today at local festivals and shows. Our history cannot evade us once we
look closely enough visions of our identity are on display in our culture and
society still to this day.
References
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