Afro-Dominicans (Dominica)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Afro-Dominican (Dominica)
)
This article is about inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Dominica of African descent. For inhabitants of the Dominican Republic of African descent, see Afro-Dominicans.
Afro-Dominicans
Total population
61,838
86.8% of the Dominican population (2001)
Regions with significant populations
 Dominica
Languages
English · Dominican Creole French
Religion
Predominantly Roman Catholicism,
minority Protestantism
Related ethnic groups
African people · Other Afro-Caribbeans · English people · French people
A Dominican woman

Afro-Dominicans are Dominicans of African descent and the majority of the Commonwealth of Dominica's population.

Origins

Africans were initially brought to Dominica through the slave trade. Colonial records indicate multiple countries of origin for the slaves. The records contain data on slave ship ports of embarkation, often the ethnic group of the slaves, the date of arrival in Dominica, the number of enslaved people on board and survival rates, and the boat's name.[1] Based on these records, the majority of African slaves came from the Bight of Biafra,[2] of present-day south-eastern Nigeria (Igbo, Ibibio) and coastal Cameroon,[1] comprising 62% of the 57,000 slaves imported to Dominica.[2]

Other slaves were from

Loango Kingdom (82 individuals), Angola (Ambundu)[1] and Southeast of Africa (670 individuals), the Congo and Angola (6.7%). Other slaves in Dominica belonged to the Yoruba, Ewe, Fula, Kongo and Wolof ethnic groups.[4]

The word "Kwéyòl" designates that Creole dialect of Dominica.[3]

History

During British rule of Dominica, at least 100,000 slaves were brought to the island,

St. Lucia.[5] With the French reoccupation of the island between 1778 and mid-May 1783, only one slave ship in late 1781 arrived in Dominica. After the British reoccupation between May 1783 and late 1789, the slave trade resumed and 38,328 new slaves were brought to Dominica. In the 1790s, 11,776 more slaves arrived.[1] The large number of slaves in Dominica in 1795 prompted a slave rebellion, influenced by the Haitian Revolution, called Colihault Uprising.[6] The revolt was not successful and in the first eight years of the 19th century, 7,734 more African slaves arrived in Dominica.[1]

Slaves, freed slaves, and African property owners were forbidden to participate in political and economic discussions or decision-making.[citation needed]

Because of their large quantity and poor treatment, the number of

Maroons and runaway slaves increased through time. These ex-slaves were armed and led a rebellion against the British in 1785 and 1786. The rebellion was not successful and the leaders were imprisoned or executed. The conflicts between the Maroons and the British reoccurred several times, persisting until 1815.[citation needed
]

In 1831, though slavery continued, the

Kalinago people, rebelled against their former owners.[5]

In 1865, the British colonial authority replaced the elected assembly, composed of half elected and half appointed members. In 1871, Dominica became part of the Leeward Islands and the power of the African population declined. In 1896, the colonial government was restored and restricted the political rights of the African population. Development aid, offered as compensation for disenfranchisement, proved to have negligible effects.[citation needed]

Demography

According to Dominica's 2001 Census, people of African descent make up 86.8% of the population, while people of mixed race make up 8.9%. In total, the Afro-Dominicans are 95.7% of the population.

Catholic with a Protestant
minority.

Genetics

This section is an excerpt from Genetic history of the African diaspora § Dominica.[edit]
Autosomal DNA

In addition to being found to have 16.2% (±10.4%) Native American and 28.1% (±12.3%) European ancestry, Afro-Dominicans, who were sampled in 2013, were found to be 55.6% (±16.1%) West African.[9]

Medical DNA

Risk allele variants G1 and G2 are associated with

Sub-Saharan African ancestry; the G2 variant occurs at a 3%-8% rate among populations of western Central African ancestry and origin.[10]

Some
erythrocyte.[10] Populations with West African ancestry, including among the African diaspora brought via the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, tend to have occurrences of sickle cell anemia and thalassemia.[10]

Cultural contributions

African contributions to Dominican language and culture are reflected in the dance, music, food, clothing, religion and the use of herbs and medicinal plants, including:[4]

  • Language: The African influence is recorded in words, syntax, and sentence construction. Many words incorporated into French Creole from Dominica are of African origin, and useful in tracing some slave origins. These words are of
    Akan, Fula, Kongo and Wolof origin.[4]
  • Dance: Several types of Dominican dance derive from West Africa such as the Bele.
  • Music: Influence in the musical folklore of Dominica are noteworthy such as the frequent use of drums and African rhythms in dances and music. For example, the Creole "Lavway" is a type of music based on call and response. The "Lavway" were sung on ships that brought the enslaved Africans to Dominica. Today, Lavway are used in Bele, Carnival songs, work, and in Wood constructions.
  • Food: Among the African foods of the island are yams, accras, and "one pot hold all".
  • Dress: Dress reflecting African origin includes the use of gold chains, jewelry, and in the case of men, ornaments made with massif gold. The Douillette, an ornamented garment that conveys social status has a clear African origin.
  • Spiritualism: Animism is common in Dominica. This religious practice was adapted to Christianity and important in funerals, "nine night" wakes, and the annual Fete La Toussaint when the souls of the dead are remembered.
  • Plants and herbal medicines: Dominican Africans use tropical plants in many different ways including for tea, bath and poultices and as amulets to ward off evil.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Campbell, Susan. "AFRICANS TO DOMINICA: 100,000 MIDDLE PASSAGES FROM 'GUINEA' TO THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN, 1764-1808" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-04-18. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Photobucket". Photobucket.com, Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  3. ^ a b c "Dominica Languages| dominica-guide.info". Archived from the original on 2014-02-13. Retrieved 2013-04-29.
  4. ^ a b c d "African - Dominican". Archived from the original on June 25, 2013.
  5. ^ a b "History of Dominica". Archived from the original on April 15, 2013..
  6. ^ Curtis Jacobs. "THE FÉDONS OF GRENADA, 1763-1814". Archived from the original on August 31, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  7. ^ "Dominica - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-01-24. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  8. ^ Schreier, D; et al. (2010). Lesser-known varieties of English. Cambridge University Press. Archived from the original on 2021-03-09. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  9. S2CID 5211235
    .
  10. ^
    S2CID 132835585
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Afro-Dominicans_(Dominica)&oldid=1211554798"