Chutney Music – Its History and Origin

Chutney Music is a mixed genre of music incorporating local calypso Caribbean music and
Indian folk music. The music also includes a mix of soca music as well. The music includes
instruments like the dholak, dhantal and the harmonium. This type of music was developed
in Trinidad and Tobago and is popular among many countries in the Caribbean such as
Guyana, Jamaica, etc.
Chutney music was established in 1940 within temples and wedding houses, however
there were no recordings of the music until 1968, when Ramdew Chaitoe of Suriname
recorded an early performance of chutney music. The album was entitled King Of Suriname.

Picture of Ramdew Chaitoe

However, Ramdew wasn’t the only known singer for Chutney Music. The music exploded
again with a female singer by the name of Dropati in 1968. The singer released an album
comprised of traditional wedding songs which became huge hits within the Indo-Caribbean
community. The name of the album was entitled, Lets Sing and Dance.

Picture of Dropati
In 1969, Chutney Music was later modified by a singer by the name of Sundar Popo,
accompanied by his record producer, Moean Mohammed and Harry Mahabir's BWIA
Orchestra. Popo modernized the music by incorporating western guitars and early
electronics into his music. Although Popo was later on known as the King of Chutney, the
style of singing in chutney was introduced by a singer named Lakhan Kariya. Many other
singers followed in his footsteps modernizing the music to their style.

Picture of Sundar Popo