Culture
Trinidad and Tobago have one of the Caribbean's most
complex cultures with European, African and Asian
traditions.
Calypso is a style of music that was born among the
slaves in Trinidad in the late 18th century and was a
way of satirically criticizing the whites. Today, the
texts ironize over current issues. A modern form, soca,
mixes calypson with soul music from the USA. Among the
Indian descendants, in turn, a mixture of soca and
classical Hindu music is called chutney.
-
Countryaah:
Latest population statistics of Trinidad and Tobago, including religious profiles and major languages spoken as well as population growth rates in next three decades.
The steel bands arose in connection with the oil boom
after World War II, when they started playing with
sticks on tuned oil barrels, pans, with African drums as
a role model. The annual carnival mixes the country's
various forms of music and dance with a well-developed
artistic tradition with imaginative costumes and
scenery.
In connection with Christmas, parangs, songs in
Spanish originating in neighboring Venezuela, are often
sung to accompaniment of guitars and maracas.
The Trinidad-born writer VS Naipaul is one of the
most famous portrayals of the Caribbean today. He writes
both fiction and professional books. Naipaul was awarded
the 2001 Nobel Prize in Literature.
Mass Media
The constitution guarantees freedom of the
press and is generally respected in practice. Anyone who
is convicted of defamation, however, risks prosecution.
 The legislation regarding prosecution charges was
changed in 2014, but high fines or imprisonment for up
to two years can still be imposed. There are also
threats and harassment against journalists, both from
organized crime and from security forces.
The country has three newspapers: Trinidad Express,
Trinidad Guardian (founded as early as 1917) and
Newsday. It also publishes several weekly magazines and
magazines.
The state-run media company Caribbean New Media Group
(CNMG) operates three radio stations and one TV channel.
According to a government decision 2017, CNMG's
predecessor T&T Television will resurface and the
broadcasts will to a greater extent have local
character. The country has several commercial radio
stations as well as the privately owned TV 6, which is
the most popular TV channel.
FACTS - MASS MEDIA
Percentage of the population using the
internet
77 percent (2017)
Number of mobile subscriptions per 100
residents
140 (2018)
|