DESCRIPTION:
Ophie Webb, leader of Ophie & Da Websites, shares the history of the social dance music that was influenced by European and African cultures. After almost disappearing entirely with tourist marketing in the 1940s, a gradual resurgence of rake-n-scrape began in 1969 along with the push for national independence. The revival continues today, strengthening the cultural heritage that was nearly lost. Hear it on their Smithsonian Folkways album 'Bahamian Rake-n-Scrape.'

Images and music courtesy of:
Dr. Timothy Rommen (University of Pennsylvania)
Eric Rose
Fred Ferguson
Library of Congress (Lomax Collection)

'Bahamian Rake-n-Scrape' is available on CD and Digital.

Stream/download/purchase:
Smithsonian Folkways: https://folkways.si.edu/ophie-and-da-websites/da-river-round-dance/caribbean-world/track/smithsonian
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2j2ZPHL0CRlpmCuYngpvi5?si=DPKPQLKKRvKEMwp92FiDoQ

Rake-n-scrape is the deep sound of Bahamian goombay musical tradition, a marker of Bahamian national identity, and a source of joy and community celebration. On 'Bahamian Rake-n-Scrape,' two groups from Cat Island—Ophie & Da Websites and Bo Hog & Da Rooters—take the basic sonorous ingredients of accordion, scraped saw, and goatskin drum to interpret some of the most popular rake-n-scrape melodies in circulation today.

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