Early Globalization and The Roots of Dancehall

By Canace Morgan, Mount Holyoke College

Introduction

The pulsating digital sounds of dancehall music permeate Jamaican life, sometimes to the point of intrusiveness. Its tracks, played in an empty bar, keep community members hearts dancing at nights, and create a steady pulse that leads them into the mornings. This was my first experience of dancehall; [...]