Ripsaw Music

Let It Rip. Juke And Jivin’ In Turks And Caicos

With the rich varied cultural heritage of Turks and Caicos, which locals like to call TCI, one should not be surprised to find that TCI has their own flavorful music sound. This sound has become the national music of the Turks and Caicos Islands called ripsaw music. Another name given for ripsaw music is rake n scrape. The fundamental instruments used for ripsaw are: Saws, goatskin drums, hand accordions, also called ‘constentinas’ by the locals, maracas and acoustic or box guitars. Any old handsaw or carpenter’s saw from the local hardware store can make up the primary point of sound for ripsaw music. A metal scraper, which can be anything from a household fork and knife to a roofing nail, is raked over the teeth of the saw, hence the alias, “rake n scrape”. Add to this unique raking sound the bending of the saw blade which distorts the tonal vibrations and you get the full wobbly effect of TCI’s musical treasure. The two names most associated with TCI’s ripsaw culture are Lovey Forbes and his son Corry.

Lovey and Corry are reminiscent of Bob and Ziggy Marley. In fact Lovey and his son implemented traditional island tropics music like reggae along with calypso and Trinidad and Tobogan soca to produce this indigenous Turks and Caicos audio pleasure.

The dances most associated with ripsaw music are the hyper hip gyro winin or wine-up and the local dance appropriately termed, conch style. Tourists often find great amusement trying to learn these dances at friendly neighborhood pubs throughout the islands, particularly in Providenciales and Grand Turks.