''Benna'' (alternatively spelled ''bennah'', or called ''ditti'') is a genre of
Antiguan and Barbudan music.
Benna is a
calypso-like genre, characterized by scandalous
gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others; the act is also known as dishing or tattling.
Gossip is a topic of research in evolutionary psychology, which has found gossip to be an important means ...
and a
call-and-response
Call and response is a form of interaction between a speaker and an audience in which the speaker's statements ("calls") are punctuated by responses from the listeners. This form is also used in music, where it falls under the general category of ...
format. It first appeared after the prohibition of
slavery
Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
, and became a form of folk communication in the early 20th century, and it spread local news across the islands.Famous singer in the genre was John Quarkoo, who used the genre to criticized oppressors of black people.It was the main genre of non religious music in the region until the 1950s, after which was replaced by the popularity of trinidad calypso.
References
Antigua and Barbuda music
Calypso music
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