Cultural Diversity

The term refers to different ethnic traditions based on race, language, religion, customs and family practices found in one society or region (Mohammed 2007).

The vast differences in the characteristics and attributes of social groups in the Caribbean stem from the traditions and activities of the different European powers that colonized the region.

Cultural diversity results mainly from historical factors.

The plantation system caused the influx of Europeans,

Africans, East Indians and Chinese. Each group brought

its cultural traits and values to the region.

Periods of Arrival: Europeans 1492 – 1600 (Spaniards, French, British, Dutch, Germans)

Africans 1517 – 1807, the Slave Trade

Indentured labourers 1834 – 1917: Europeans, Portuguese (Madeirans) and Maltese, Free Africans, Chinese, East Indians

Some areas of Caribbean life that reflect

Cultural diversity:

Festivals Music Political systems

Crop Over In BarbadosAntigua Carnival

Divali Hindu Festival of Lights

Music forms: Calypso – all islands Reggae – Jamaica Punta rock – Belize Zouk – Martinique, Dominica Salsa – Cuba Merinque – Haiti

The steelpan – the only musical instrument

created in the Caribbean

The political systems of the Caribbean vary from independent countries to colonies. All Caribbean countries are stable democracies that observe the rule of law and governments are changed through the electoral process.

However, colonial relationships persist : many independent countries retain Queen Elizabeth as Head of State. Britain, France, the Netherlands and the United States control the external affairs of some countries e.g. Montserrat, Guadeloupe, St.Maarten, US Virgin Islands, respectively.

Puerto Rico is an Associated State of the United States

Hybridization refers to processes of cultural and ethnic mixing to produce a new entity with elements of each of the parent influences (Mohammed, 2007).

Key terms:

Trans-culturation is the process whereby two cultures meet and mix and something with new elements and forms emerge.

Acculturation is the process whereby one culture is absorbed into another.

Creolization is the meeting and mixing of cultures to produce something new out of the fusion. This term tends to be specifically used to refer to Caribbean processes of mixing.

Inter-culturation refers to the cultural mixing that occurs in a plural society where elements of the ethnic groups’ cultures may be incorporated into each other’s way of life though there may be limited interaction between the groups.

During the period of conquest and slavery new groups of people were

created from the sexual unions between Europeans, Amerindians and

Africans. Miscegenation was the term used describe such unions. Persons were assigned to social positions of power and status according to the colour of their skin. Persons of mixed race formed another ethnic group within the society:

Mestizos – offspring of Amerindians and EuropeansMulattoes - offspring of Africans and EuropeansSambo – offspring of mulattoes and AfricansQuadroon – offspring of mulattoes and whitesOctoroon – offspring of quadroon and whitesDougla – offspring of East Indians and Africans; Trini-dougla are offspring of Chineses, Africans and E. Indians born in Trinidad.

‘Coloured’ is the more general term since all mixtures do not carry specific names.

A pigmentocracy evolved and it became the norm to describe someone using their colour as a major descriptor. Persons of fairer complexion had more power and prestige in society than others.

Some countries have more ‘coloureds’ than others (Trinidad, St. Lucia, the French Caribbean). Some countries have two major races, black and white producing their coloured populations (Antigua, Barbados, Jamaica); others have many groups (Africans, Europeans, Amerindians, Chinese, East Indians) such that here are many varieties and combinations.

Syncretism refers to the mixing of cultural practices from different ethnic groups to create a different entity that fused aspects of the original practices e.g. religion, language, culinary arts, etc.

Religion:Shango, Voodoo, Kumina, Myal, Rastafarianism are some syncretic

religions with Christian traditions and a heavy African input. Christian elements – recognition of the Holy Spirit, use of the Bible, communion ceremony,

feast days of saints.

African elements - use of drums and other percussion instruments in worship, dancing in worship, spirit possession and falling into trance-like states, wearing of head-ties by female members.

Language: Caribbean languages are based on the ‘master’ languages of Europe.

They are referred to as creole languages because aspects of the master languages

were incorporated into language forms that emerged from experiences during slavery and colonialism. There are in the English- speaking Caribbean: English-based patios and French-based patois. However, there are similarities and variations in each type as spoken between countries.

Caribbean culinary arts/food roots reflects its hybridized culture.

Amerindian Heritage: Jamaica’s bammy and Antigua’s bamboola are based on the

Amerindians use of cassava The Caribs made ‘pepperpot’ which is still cooked in Guyana and some of the islands.

The Caribs’s custom of cooking over an open fire has led to the word barbeque. Another Amerindian method of cooking, i.e. baking meat or fish in a charcoal pit , was combined with the barbeque to give rise to ‘jerking’ in Jamaica.

Other contributions – the use of dried coconut and corn (grated, boiled, roasted), our love of coconut water; spices such as hot pepper, sweet basil, allspice (pimento in Jamaica).

Spanish Heritage:The Spanish contributed hot chocolate, avocado,

marinated orescoveitched fish, gizzada (coconut tart) and their

custom ofsoaking fruits in wine.

British Heritage:The use of diary products, Christmas pudding, fruit

salads andSweet bread (bun) are part of the British heritage.

The British soldiers and sailors brought breadfruit, bloodPudding (black or rice pudding) or white pudding from

which blood is left out and souse.

African Heritage:

Though planters imported food from Africa to feed their slaves, theslaves themselves brought many of their foods to include, okra,callaloo (spinach), taro (eddo or coco), their one-pot method ofpreparing most dishes and traditional cooking utensils including thethree-legged iron pot, grater and mortar and pestle.

Seasonings such as ‘sive’, or chives, escallion, ginger, nutmeg,pimento, and hot pepper, also came from Africa.

Dishes such as, akkra (seasoned black eye peas, pounded and fried),foo-foo (pounded starchy root or fruit), funchi (fungee) and duckunoo(a), (blue drawers in Jamaica, paimee in St. Lucia, konkie in Barbados,St. Kitts and the Virgin Islands), ackee, parched dried corn beaten finein a mortar and mixed with sugar, known as asham or Brown Georgein Jamaica, ashum in Antigua.

Bush teas and the use of ‘bush’ as remedy for ailments and diseases.

Top: Jamaica’s National Dish - Ackee and Saltfish

Left: Antigua’s National Dish – Fungee and Saltfish

Right: A popular Antiguan Dish – Ducuna and Saltfish

East Indian and Chinese Heritage:

The East Indians contributed curry, rice, roti, dahl and pelau.

The Chinese also brought heavily spiced food distinguished by being

salty, sweet, sour, gingered and hot. They introduced lettuce, cabbage,

cucumber and green beans. Foods were mainly quick fried, deepfried or steamed. Roast suckling pig, braised chicken feet andvegetarian foods made mainly of bean products are all part of theChinese heritage.

Emphasis on vegetable cookery was strengthened by the East Indians and

Chinese.

Jewish and Americans Heritage:

The Jews:Potato pancakes and cheese cake as well as the heavy use of

salt andgarlic are Jewish contributions.

The Americans:The N. American influences are reflected in various items of

pastryand gourmet dishes. Fast foods (hamburger, hot dog etc.)

havebecome staples in Caribbean cuisine.

Oral traditions

Savings organization: (box, susu, partner hand, meeting turn)

Game: warri

One of the clearest link the Caribbean has toAfrica is in its oral tradition. The role of theGriot/Jellis who passed down stories andaccounts of events of one generation to anothersurvived slavery and the plantation system. Thistradition is kept alive in:

Music: calypso, reggae and dancehall Storytelling Folktales Similes and proverbs

The ‘box’ is a form of a cooperative pooling of earnings sothat each member may benefit by obtaining in turn and atone time all the money paid in by the entire group on agiven time (day, week, month).

In Africa the box is most commonly called esusu. It iscalled nanamei akpee (mutual help) in Ghana;mahodisana or stokfel (pays back to each other) in SouthAfrica; sanduk (putting down) in Sudan. In China the boxis called hui.

Warri which means ‘house’ is of the mancalagame family and was brought to Antigua fromGhana with the slaves. The game is played with aboard into which hollows are carved. The countersare seeds called nickars.

Playing warri is said to develop planning, analyticaland mathematical skills as well as foster discipline.

Antiguan proverb: “If you play warri with God yougo get no seed”.

Antiguan Movie: “No Seed “