Meaning
The first modern Jamaican popular music genre, from the early 1960s — fast and upbeat, driven by walking bass and blaring horns, with the accent on the offbeat. It blended mento and calypso with American rhythm and blues, and led to rocksteady and reggae.
Examples
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Ska did di sound a independence Jamaica.
Ska was the sound of newly independent Jamaica.
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Di horns dem drive di ska.
The horns drive the ska.
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Dance di ska wid di choppy step.
Dance the ska with the choppy step.
Origin
Of uncertain origin, perhaps echoing the choppy 'ska' sound of the offbeat guitar; the style took shape in Kingston around 1960.
How it’s used
The grandparent of rocksteady and reggae, born as Jamaica gained independence in 1962. It later inspired ska revivals worldwide.