Page "Music of Barbados" Paragraph 6

Though inhabited prior to the 16th century, little is known about Barbadian music before the arrival of the Portuguese in 1536 and then the English in 1627.

The Portuguese left little influence, but English culture and music helped shape the island's heritage.

Irish and Scottish settlers emigrated in the 17th century, working in the tobacco industry, bringing still more new music to the island.

The middle of the 18th century saw the decline of the tobacco industry and the rise of sugarcane, as well as the introduction of large numbers of African slaves. Brazilian exiles however, along with sugarcane introduced Samba to the island which featured a mixture of Latin music with African influences which soon developed into Soca-Samba which is indigenous to Barbados.

Modern Barbadian music is thus largely a combination of English and African elements, with Irish, Scottish, and modern American and Caribbean ( especially Jamaican ) influences as well.