Jamaica's performing art scene includes a large diversity of theater groups that perform interesting original plays about Jamaican culture. Jamaica's National Pantomime (JNP), for example, is a theater group that specializes in humorous folk theater that uses West African characters to tell adapted versions of Jamaican folk tales. JPN promotes theater in Jamaica by involving the youth in engaging theater that proudly represents Jamaican culture. People all over the world come to see JNP performances. Notable actors who have performed in JNP productions include Charles Hyatt, Carl Bradshaw, Reggie Carter and Sheila Hill.
The music of Jamaica has made a world wide impact and influences musicians to this day. Reggae music, most commonly associated with Jamaica, became an international sensation with the success of Bob Marley in the 1970s. It wasn't too long after his success that reggae became a standalone genre of music. But before reggae became popular, the island had long since established its musical independence through the invention of ska. This style of music was born in the early 1960s, pioneered by its father, Prince Buster. The ska sound quickly swept through Jamaica, giving it the reputation as the loudest island in the Caribbean. Music makes up a major part of the Jamaican art scene and can be heard in every corner of the island almost constantly.
Visual art in Jamaica takes many forms, but the two most common are pottery and painting. The Wassi Art Factory, for example, creates pottery in the "wassi" wasp, also known as pottery wasp, style. The pottery wasp creates tiny mud pots for each of its eggs. It then stuffs each pot with a bit of caterpillar to feed the larvae. Like the wasps, the Wassi potters are not formally trained; instead, they rely on their raw talent to create beautiful, colorful pottery that uses bold African patterns and the color plate of the local flora and fauna. Early Jamaican painting was heavily influenced by the island's 18th- and 19th-century plantation history. In the 1920s, the Jamaican School of Art was established and young self-taught artists began developing an painting style that captured modern renditions of island life and Jamaican culture. From, this style Yard art, named after Kingston ghettos, developed. Yard art is a humorous political mural style that uses bright, bold colors and lines that make an instant impression. Art here is constantly evolving, and the youth are constantly encouraged to participate.
Dance has remained a prevalent art form in Jamaica since its earliest days. Jamaican dance blends African and European styles to create unique traditional forms. The island has more than 40 types of dance styles. Jonkonnu, typically performed at celebrations, is the island's oldest dance style. In a Jonkonnu dance, the dancers enact a mime style play that's highly organized with bright flashy colors. The dance includes multiple characters that include devil alternatives, a cow head, Babu and belly woman to name a few. Although many people infer religious motifs, the Jamaican people do not deem the Jonkonnu dance a religious ritual in the slightest.