The music of the Marshall Islands has a long history. The Marshall Islands

Marshall Islands

The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...

 are an independent island chain, geographically and culturally part of the Micronesia

Micronesia

Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....

n area. It was part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands

The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...

, governed by the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, until independence in 1991.

The roro

RORO

Roll-on/roll-off ships are vessels designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers or railroad cars that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels...

is a kind of traditional chant

Chant

Chant is the rhythmic speaking or singing of words or sounds, often primarily on one or two pitches called reciting tones. Chants may range from a simple melody involving a limited set of notes to highly complex musical structures Chant (from French chanter) is the rhythmic speaking or singing...

, usually about ancient legends and performed to give guidance during navigation and strength for mothers in labour. Modern bands have blended the unique songs of each island in the country with modern music.

Though drums are not generally common in Micronesian music

Micronesian music

Micronesian music is influential to those living in the Micronesian islands. The music is based around mythology and ancient Micronesian rituals...

, one-sided hourglass-shaped drums are a major part of Marshallese music http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/arts/music/musicarchive/PacificInfo.html.

The national anthem

National anthem

A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...

 of the Marshall Islands is "Forever Marshall Islands

Forever Marshall Islands

Forever Marshall Islands is the national anthem of the Marshall Islands. The lyrics were created by former President Amata Kabua, and the music was created by Korean composer Gil Ok-yon. It was adopted in 1991.It replaced the previous national anthem, ....

", by Amata Kabua

Amata Kabua

Amata Kabua was the first President of the Marshall Islands from 1979 to 1996 ....

.

Traditional dances

There is a traditional Marshallese dance called beet, which is influenced by Spanish folk dances. In it, men and women side-step in parallel lines, creating a very difficult and complex rhythm. There is a kind of stick dance performed by the Jobwa, nowadays only for very special occasions.