MUSIC

Caribbean islands, San Andres and Providencia, these two Colombian islands should receive the impact of black or music expressions neoafricana, ie the processing and back to the basics of African primitive music. These elements were the same, rituals, songs, drums, and musical forms have also made their own expressions. Are perhaps copies or generalizations about Caribbean music. In terms of instruments, still use the so-called keg or drum Drum and Bass tinajo it gives the bass by tying a string to a bath of zinc. Of course, there are other islands in jars or drums, instruments of great variety and elaborate, to the point of producing sounds very refined and acceptable quality. This is further evidence of the ability to turn any object based on rhythmic and even melodic. But in the case of San Andres and Providencia, one could say that is an example of the mixture of races because the music of these islands also offers very beautiful examples of assimilation or adoption because although clearly are ways and even European melodies, the island character is reflected in certain melodic inflections, some soft and even new elegance. Also accepted other Caribbean and North America, or rather, African Americans as the Calypso and Mento one hand, and the Foxtrot which once reached as many parties and dancing so much. Other instruments used in our beautiful islands are of European origin, guitar, mandolin. As we have noted the maracas that is a very ancient indigenous instrument and even the same could be said of the horse's jaw, noting though, that the horse came with the Europeans. Horse's jaw is widely used in Boyacá and child was one of my favorite instruments that played with immense pleasure in murga of my people, Villapinzón. I could not say anything about Cartagena but as I played, but very superficially, many aspects of black culture did emerge in Cartagena, in the various fences, it seemed fair to add the annotations on these islands whose history always shows their people peaceful, happy, healthy, permanent example in many respects.
 

THE JAMAICAN CULTURE

Capital (and largest city)		Kingston 17°59′N 76°48′W
Official language(s)		English
National language		Jamaican Patois
Ethnic groups		76.3% African descent, 15.1% Afro-European, 3.4% East Indian and Afro-East Indian, 3.2% Caucasian, 1.2% Chinese and 0.8% Other.
Demonym		Jamaican
Government		Parliamentary democracy and Constitutional monarchy
-	Monarch	Elizabeth II
-	Governor-General	Patrick Allen
-	Prime Minister	Bruce Golding
Independence
-	from the United Kingdom	6 August 1962
Area
-	Total	10,991 km2 (166th) 4,244 sq mi
-	Water (%)	1.5

The art, music and dance from Jamaica 

The Jamaicans take pride in their artistic style. Influenced by the island's unique culture as well as European, American, and African art forms, islanders have mastered a style all their own.

The Jamaicans are also known for their willingness to dance. Dances found on Jamaica fuse the styles of Europeans and Africans into a unique form. Some of the local dances are the "jonkonnu" a dance practiced by slaves at Christmas time. Reggae may be the most well-known style of music, but there are much more. The Jamaican folk music has come from many sources over the years. The most notable influence on many of the sounds found here is Africa, in celebrations of birth, death, and harvesting. Music has also historically been performed for work and entertainment. Work songs are an aspect of the tradition rooted in the culture of slavery, when songs were used to pass messages and gossip, though they also helped ease the work of the slaves. Songs of this type followed a traditional African call and response format. However, games are also sung, and children often gather in circles to sing and clap. Games are generally very physically demanding, so there are rarely instruments in these songs.

•  Religion:

Rastafari is the most prominent non-Christian religion on the island. It came into prominence as a grass-roots religion in the 1930s and was promoted as an alternative to white-oriented religions. Rastafarians worship the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, or Ras Tafari. Rastafarians also believe in reincarnation and that males should not cut or comb their hair or beards. The Marijuana may also be used by Rastafarians as a sacrament and a medicinal aid. It is an evolving religion and culture, and not every member believes in all of these things. Its popularity, however, has spread to many other countries in the region and around the world.

 

• Language

The official language of Jamaica is English. The Jamaicans primarily speak an English-African Creole, language known as Jamaican Patois, which has become known widely through the spread of Reggae music. Jamaican Patois was formed from a base of mainly English words with elements of re-formed grammar, together with a little vocabulary from African languages and Native American words.

• Jamaica is bigger than San Andres. 

• The San Andres most popular music is Calipso and Reggae, and in Jamaica the Rega

• The days in Jamaica are as relaxed as San Andres.

•  The people of San Andres is more Religious than Jamaica.

                             PLACES
Beaches
The Beaches of North End, Rocky Cay, Cocoplum, Sound Bay, Johnny Cay and Acuario. In Providence the beaches of Manzanillo, Fresh Water Bay and South best Bay and others. Visit the beaches of our Archipelago, enjoy with your family and friends of a sunny day at the beach, walk by the moonlight.

The beaches of San Andres are the best.

The Hill
Native sector of the island. Its the highest place of the island (approximate 120 meters above sea level), where you can see the most spectacular views of the caribbean sea, where the contrast of blues and greens make a mixture of colors that is called the “seven colored sea”. For the adventurer and ecologist there are paths, lagoons, sidewalks, roads, horse trips, that make the island a place full of magic. For the historians we have the first church of the island, its a place that you must visit, you will enjoy the most spectacular view of the San Andres bay.

San Luis
This beautiful area is full of history and culture, in the past it was an important port where ships full of coconuts embarked, right now it is a very quiet place, away from the noise of the city, with long and beautiful beaches, typical restaurants and a beautiful environment.

Mangrooves
In the Archipelago we have 12 mangrove forests, being this very important for the reproduction and preservation of the flora and fauna, between them we find the red, black and white mangroves, also the visitors can see oysters, crabs, iguana, lizards, endemic and migratory birds, making an ideal place for education and fortifying activities of development such as eco-tourism.







The Pond
It is located in the native sector of The Hill, it’s about 400 meters long and 250 meters wide, this natural beauty takes water from the rains, it is a shelter for bio diversity of animals like white Heron, pigeon, palm trees and fruit trees. It’s possible to see a variety of little alligator, that make the place a obligatory trip to those who love nature and ecology.







The Cove
This quiet bay, it’s in the South East sector of the Island, a must visit if you enjoy beautiful sunsets. this is the place where cruises dock in the Island.

Johnny Cay
This beautiful cay was converted to a natural park in the year 2001, for it’s beauty and beautiful landscapes, and because you can find more than 30 species of fishes that live in this area, its long area has a specie called "beach cedar" that controls the erosion of the beaches because of the effects of waves and strong winds, becoming as a shelter of a lot of beaches birds.

In all around it you can see beautiful beaches and big coral forms, where easily you can observe a variety of species, being an attractive for their visitors to practice water sports, like snorkeling, diving and others.






Haynes Cay
Coral Cay full of palms, with a lot of visitors and natives that practice water sports, you can make delicious BBQ, camping and simply spend quality relaxation time, it has restaurants that offer delicious food from the island.

This beautiful sea contrast in all tones of blue, beaches and palms its an ideal scenario to make weddings, because in San Andres you can make them only with your ID or passport.

Morgan's Cave

Legend has it that the Pirate Henry Morgan, used this cave to hide his treasures. Today is one of the mostvisited tourist attractions. You can enter the cave and visit the small museum.

Near by Keys
Bolivar Cay, Albuquerque, Roncador, Quitasueño, Serrana, Serranilla, These are small Keys conformed by small islands, some of them are only sand banks, others have a lot of vegetation, they are part of our Biosphere Reserve.

Some of them have a light house that guides ships that come to the island from world destinations, other keys have a military base to defend our nation's sovereignty of the Archipelago.

Taste

San Andres food have a singular, especial and different preparations than in the rest of the world; "Snails, lobster, shrimp, red snapper, black crabs and trout are only some of the ingredients in the exquisite dishes you can try". the use of Coconut and the aromatic plants such as cloves, cinnamon and ginger makes the food a delicious taste. Many dishes are accompanied with rice or rice and coconut, ñame yuca and yams.

There are some of the Fauvorites: 

• Rondon: Some time ago the mens cooked it and eat it for mans, but now the womens can be part of both activities. This Dish is about a fish fillet with snails, yam, yucca, pork scratching, plantain and dumplings, prepared and cooked in coconut milk with pepper.
  
  

• Fish BAll: Any kind of fish can be buses to make this dish, including the parrot-fish, snapper, mojarra or even black crab. The secret is no remove the bones and season the fish thoroughly with tomato, onion, garlic and salt, with any preferred spices, and then fry it all.
   
•  Desserts: If you want something sweet, in the streets are many island womens with Cocadas, it is made with meal and coconut; they also have juices and cakes of yam, sweetcorn and bananas.

San Andres

"The Archipelago of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina (Colombia) is located in the southwestern Caribbean, off the coast of Central America. For its size (250 thousand km2) is the country's largest department (equivalent to one fifth of the Colombian mainland) and occupies about 10% of the total area of the Caribbean".


"By its natural characteristics, their biological richness and traditions of their ancestral population, UNESCO declared it a Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in November 2000".

the efforts of that have helped to the conservation of the natural patrimony and the people thing about the importance about take care wuith their environment. San Andres also is the major tourist destinations of Colombia because its Sun, Beach, Ecotourism and Etnotourism.

Welcome to Sanandres !!!

WELCOME TO SAN ANDRES