Nevis
|
|
Nevis is paradise for nature lovers. Just listen to the monkeys chattering in the trees, the doves cooing in the distance. There is excellent snorkeling just offshore and scuba diving around wrecks and natural reefs. For those more interested in man-made exploration, try your hand at archaeology, or exploring the ruins of old sugar plantations, a lime kiln, or Amerindian sites.Inside Nevis: Explaining Nevis
Two topics recently raised about Nevis are about beaches and prices. It seems many of the reviewers did not know what to expect, or drew the wrong conclusions. There is also some misinformation out there.
The beaches on Nevis vary as to the exact color of the sand, but none of them are white sand, which is formed solely from coral, and is often found on flatter, coral islands such as the Bahamas or Anquilla. The sand on Nevis is formed from the volcanic rock of the island. Many beaches have attractive pale yellowish sand or slightly greyish-yellow sand. The iron content of the volcanic rock here sometimes results in reddish brown sand or even black sand. Local children sometimes drag magnets along the beach and watch them get "furry" with iron particles! One vision-impaired visitor told us that Nevis sand was a lot smoother than other places he had visited, and he said the sand felt hotter. This is because the darker colour absorbs the heat better, and this actually is really great for the nesting Sea Turtles that visit us. The volcanic nutrients and iron also increase life on both land and sea, so the waters may not be quite as intense a blue as in some other flatter places, but we do have a beautiful big green mountain with rain forest!
Price is another subject that many notice. One reviewer stated that there was "an 80% tax", this is certainly not true. Prices of items for sale here can be high here partly because we are a up-market destination. We do try to import the best things we can at the most reasonable prices we can, however we are a "terminal destination" for shipping, and most items have to be shipped in with little going out, which adds to the expense. Because we are only a small island, we cannot usually get the cheap rates associated with big, discount places. Something shipped from the U.S. generally passes through 3 to 5 other ports (Miami to San Juan to St. Kitts at least) and each place charges taxes and fees, usually around 10-15% per stop, then once it gets here the business that sells the item has to make some type of profit too!
So why come to Nevis? Because, while our beaches are not pure white, they are very lovely, and our shallow sea, where you swim and snorkel, is not "dead" as so many others elsewhere are: we are the living Caribbean still. Look for the hidden beaches, where the turtles nest and eat turtle grass off shore, where the tiny octopus makes his home inside the empty Queen Conch shell, and where the birds soar overhead. Our beautiful green mountain has dense rain forest that you won't find any trace of on a flat coral island. Our high slopes generate more breeze to keep you cool! Prices may be high, but you will find friendly, dignified people, and your satisfaction will be as great or greater still than the prices you will pay to discover us.
Nevis is a safe, healthy, and relaxing destination, very beautiful and with a lot to see.
|
Music and the islands go hand-in-hand, and Nevis is no exception. Since the days of slavery, folk dances and folk music have been a part of life. They played a key role, particularly at Christmas when field workers were given free time for leisure activities.
With the advent of Carnival, and later Culturama, the annual cultural festival held each summer since 1974, dances and music became part of these celebrations. There are many traditional folk dances, such as the masquerade, the Mocko-Jumbies that walk on stilts, Cowboys and Indians, and Plait the Ribbon, a May pole dance.
The musical accompaniment for these dances is the Big Drum or the String Band. Big Drum, which is African in origin, consists of a bass and kettle drums, and fife. The string band or "scratch band" as it is called, consists of about 10 musicians. The band usually has three guitars and a four-string instrument-mandolin and quatro-as accompaniment. The rest of the band plays a baho, a bass pipe made from bamboo (or in recent times, PVC pipe) that reaches to the floor, and percussion (maracas, triangle, and guiro-a hollow gourd with ridges that are "scratched" with a metal comb-like object). A fife usually carries the melody for the group.
There are currently three string bands on Nevis, which entertain regularly on the island, at hotels, and at events, like weddings. Young people are learning to play the instruments in primary school, and some of the bands have younger members to keep the tradition alive.
Steel pan and Kaiso (Calypso) music play an important role in the island culture. Largely influenced by Trinidad and Jamaica, Nevisians enjoy listening to Kaiso and composing songs. Kaiso contests are a popular event around Culturama time. The winners of the Kaiso contests, the Monarch, is well-regarded for his musical ability and rises somewhat to a celebrity status. The Kaiso show is one of the more popular events for young and old alike since the message, as presented by the lyrics, portrays various aspects of the Nevisian way of life. Kaiso is a popular art form throughout the Caribbean and has its roots in West Africa as seen by the African tradition of orature or storytelling. Like most Caribbean countries it started in Nevis during the days of slavery and has continued after emancipation into the 20th century.
Work songs occupy an important place in the account of the music of Nevis, for example, when moving a heavy object such as a house or a boat, this rhyming song would be sung, "The ram, the Ewe and the Weather goat." (symbolic of 1,2,3, go!)
Service of Songs was a special time for many Nevisians. Held annually at Easter and Whit Sunday in a tent or arbor woven from palm fronds, the music was mostly religious in nature. The songs were taken from the 'Sanky' Hymnal. It was a real social occasion and preparation for the event was part of the enjoyment. The Service of Songs, which were held in the early 20th century, now gives way to Gospel Concerts.
The sounds of childhood include Ring Games with songs particularly at evening time. This tradition now extends to the schools where during the Games or Recess session quite a lot of ring games are played.
|
| |||
|
|
|
 |
Bat Fauna Whales' Tales and Dolphins Sea Turtle Species Monkeys and Donkeys Sheep and Goats Mongooses |
Be the first to Rank
Add Feedback