Is Mento Music Studied in Ethnomusicology Courses?
Is Mento Music Studied in Ethnomusicology Courses? Mento music is a vital subject within ethnomusicology courses globally and in Jamaica, where it is studied not only for its musical structure but also for its role in oral tradition, postcolonial identity, and the evolution of Caribbean cultural expression.
Introduction
Ethnomusicology—the study of music in its cultural context—has become an important academic platform for the critical reexamination of mento. As Jamaica’s first commercial music form, mento encapsulates the complexity of African retention, colonial influence, and resistance through humor and storytelling. Both Jamaican and international institutions now engage mento as a significant case study in courses on Caribbean music, performance culture, and intangible heritage.
1. Ethnomusicology in Jamaican Universities
a. University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona
- Courses:
- Music and Identity in the Caribbean,
- Intangible Cultural Heritage,
- Music and Nationalism.
- Mento is studied as:
- A pre-reggae formation,
- A reflection of working-class resistance,
- An oral storytelling tradition using musical devices.
b. Edna Manley College – School of Music
- Students engage mento through:
- Caribbean Ensemble Practicum,
- Folk Music Analysis,
- Ethnographic Methods in Music.
- Offers hands-on exploration using mento songs in:
- Lyrical transcription,
- Performance anthropology,
- Cultural fieldwork.
2. International Academic Programs Studying Mento
a. Wesleyan University (USA) – World Music Program
- Features mento in its Caribbean music unit.
- Uses recordings from Olive Lewin, Smithsonian Folkways, and local fieldwork.
- Students explore:
- Mento’s instrumentation,
- Diasporic rhythm comparisons,
- Postcolonial music production.
b. University of London – SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies)
- Course: Music in the Caribbean and Latin America
- Studies mento as a case of folk-creole fusion.
- Emphasizes:
- Political and social commentary in lyrics,
- Mento’s role in pre-tourism performance economies,
- Comparison with Trinidadian calypso.
c. Columbia University and UCLA (USA)
- Offer advanced ethnomusicology seminars:
- Use mento in broader Caribbean diaspora research,
- Discuss gender, class, and race through mento performance styles.
3. Research Themes and Academic Interest Areas
| Theme | Focus |
|---|---|
| Orality and Memory | Transmission of songs without notation |
| Resistance and Satire | Use of humor to critique colonial and social conditions |
| Creole Identity | Mento as a sonic expression of post-slavery Jamaica |
| Diaspora Studies | Mento’s transformation and echoes in UK and US contexts |
| Performance Practice | Analysis of rhumba box rhythms, banjo technique, patois use |
4. Core Materials Used in Ethnomusicology Courses
- Books:
- Lewin, O. (2000). Rock It Come Over – Foundational fieldwork text.
- Bilby, K. (2016). Words of Our Mouth – Deep focus on oral traditions and lyrics.
- Manuel, P., & Bilby, K. (2006). Caribbean Currents – Regional comparisons and evolution.
- Recordings:
- Smithsonian Folkways Archive,
- Alan Lomax Caribbean fieldwork,
- Jolly Boys and Blue Glaze discographies.
- Research Methods:
- Participant observation at mento events,
- Song transcription exercises,
- Interviews with elder musicians.
5. Student Engagement and Project Work
Students are typically asked to:
- Conduct fieldwork in local Jamaican communities,
- Create performance reconstructions of vintage mento songs,
- Analyze how mento rhythms differ from those in reggae or ska,
- Explore cross-cultural sampling of mento in modern genres.
6. Why Mento Matters in Ethnomusicology
- Mento represents a living tradition, not just a historical artifact.
- It bridges the gap between rural life and national identity.
- Offers a lens into how music operates as resistance, celebration, and social commentary.
- Helps reframe Jamaican music history beyond the dominance of reggae and dancehall.
Conclusion
Mento is increasingly recognized in ethnomusicology for what it truly is—a cultural archive encoded in rhythm and language. Through its study, students gain insight into how music operates as a mirror of society, a tool of expression, and a keeper of memory. From the hills of St. Mary to the seminar rooms of London and Los Angeles, mento continues to echo across time and space, affirming its place in the academic and cultural record.
References
- Lewin, O. (2000). Rock It Come Over: The Folk Music of Jamaica. University of the West Indies Press.
- Bilby, K. (2016). Words of Our Mouth, Meditations of Our Heart. Wesleyan University Press.
- Manuel, P., & Bilby, K. (2006). Caribbean Currents: Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae. Temple University Press.
- UWI Mona. (2023). Course Guide: Institute of Caribbean Studies.
- SOAS University of London. (2022). Music and Development Course Descriptions.
- Wesleyan University. (2023). World Music Curriculum Archive.
- Smithsonian Folkways. (n.d.). Field Recordings: Caribbean Traditions.