Chanting down the new Jerusalem
Book Description
In the vibrant Caribbean setting of Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, radio waves carry more than music—they transmit a powerful message of unity and spiritual resilience. Francio Guadeloupe takes readers into the heart of this binational island community, where disc jockeys serve as unexpected spiritual guides, weaving together threads of Christian faith, musical expression, and economic survival.
Through careful observation and deep cultural analysis, Guadeloupe reveals how local radio personalities have become catalysts for social harmony in a diverse society where tourism shapes daily life. These DJs navigate the complex intersection of religious devotion, creative artistry, and practical necessity, speaking directly to the hopes and anxieties of ordinary islanders across ethnic and religious boundaries.
The author demonstrates how music, particularly calypso, becomes a vehicle for spiritual and social transformation. Rather than allowing differences to divide, the island's residents have discovered ways to honor their varied backgrounds while building bridges of understanding and acceptance. The radio booth emerges as a sacred space where Christian values, cultural celebration, and economic realities converge.
This ethnographic exploration offers profound insights into how communities can foster tolerance and transcendence amid diversity. Guadeloupe's work illuminates the unexpected ways that popular culture and spiritual practice intersect, creating pathways for collective healing and growth in our interconnected world.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
🕉️ Tradition: Anthropology & Spirituality
📄 Length: 255 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore SOCIAL SCIENCE
- ✓ Explore General
- ✓ Explore Cultural
- ✓ Explore Social aspects of Music
- ✓ Explore RELIGION
- ✓ Explore Music
- ✓ Explore Race relations
- ✓ Explore West indies, social conditions
