Raga News
The Tambourine (Tambareen)
Saturday, 18 April 2009 20:17
Any listener to Ragashanti Live! will have recognized the very dominant presence of the tambourine on my show. The tambourine (or the Raga spelling version: Tambareen) is also the term used to refer to listeners of the show: the Tambareen Family. This all speaks to the importance of an object that possesses great symbolic value for many Jamaicans.
My introduction to the tambareen came about from my mother being a strong revivalist. Revivalism is a Jamaican form of Christian worship with strong African retentions. Usage of the tambareen is only one of the many African-affiliated cultural practices in the revival style of Christian worship.
In my growing up in revivalism I noticed that the tambareen was the most popular and most common musical instrument in our revival churches. While revival churches generally have a few people who were specifically musicians, the tambareen was the most popular musical instrument that anyone could posses. You were accorded great respect if you were a skilled player with the tambareen. And services had more vibes and energy when the members let loose with their tambareen playing skills.
Mix Up an Blenda, March 29, 2009
Saturday, 18 April 2009 20:16
Di March 29 Mix Up an Blenda up a Backyaad did mad...as usual. Most people a say dat sixty add years old Miss Valda (Aka Centercut) lock di show. A pere sample talk she buss. Of course di talk weh tek di place a when she say, inna har own funny style, that har favourite sort out position back in di past was "head a top and head a bottom." When she bus dat nobady neva lef inna dem seat. And of course she did also inna di Mix up an Blenda baptisms.
Di oda smaddy weh sell off was di dancer Screechy. Even though him have all a dem physical limitations deh, dat neva stop him from bus all a di latest dancehall moves. Him mek di crowd get mad wen him bus fi him version a di Gully Creepa an di No Linga. Inna him own way him show say no care wha negative ting happen to yuh can still be positive an enjoy life. Screechy to di werrll yow!!
The Connecticut and New York Tour
Saturday, 18 April 2009 20:15
As most of you are already aware, the Ragashanti Live! Team recently successfully completed a brief tour in Connecticut and New York. This was our first international tour and given that the organization and execution was done primarily by the team, we are very proud.
We got in to New York City on the 4th of April and immediately went up to Hartford, Connecticut. The next day we staged what is now referred to as the first North American comedy show that only featured Jamaican comedians. The show was a tremendous success. More than two thousand people filled the auditorium of Weaver High School in Hartford. Congratulations to the shows lead promoter, Junior Wellington. Junior did an amazing job getting all together. And big respect to other members of the production team such as Boston and Welder.
Upcoming Events
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31.05.2009
Mix Up an Blenda -
25.07.2009
Mix Up an Blenda -
09.08.2009
Mandeville Comedy Show






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