Culture of the Caribbean
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The term Caribbean culture summarizes the artistic, musical,
people all over the world.As a collection of settler nations, the contemporary Caribbean has been shaped by waves of migration that have combined to form a unique blend of customs, cuisine, and traditions that have marked the socio-cultural development of the area.
History
The two ethnic cultures which are dominant in the music cultures of the English speaking Caribbean
Caribbean
Although not without conflict, the Caribbean's early interactions between incoming settlers and the indigenous populations were relatively short-lived, compared to the experience of native peoples in (say) the United States or Brazil. Combined with relatively late economic development in many regions, this difficult history has disallowed Caribbean native peoples from having any strong influence on emergent national cultures, even destroying their remaining identity.[dubious ][2]
Multicultural heritage is enshrined in many islands. In parts of the Caribbean, multiculturalism itself is the cultural norm and diversity is the force that unites the community.[citation needed] Although officially a quarter of the Caribbean population is English-speaking, the largest linguistic group comprises Spanish speakers (due to the inclusion of mainland Caribbean states), some 22% speak French while only 1% speak Dutch. Though the Caribbean today features 59 living languages[3] these are not spoken in the "insular Caribbean", but on what is referred to as the "continental Caribbean".
In the French islands,
While
Caribbean identity
Major influences on Caribbean identity trace back to the arrival of
Along with the gradual loosening of the Caribbean's political and cultural ties to colonial metropoles, in the 20th century immigrants from European, African, Caribbean and Asian nationalities have shaped Caribbean identity, a process that continues today with the arrival of significant numbers of immigrants from non-British or non-French backgrounds, adding to multiculturalism. As of 2019[update] the Caribbean had a diverse makeup of nationalities and cultures and constitutional protection for policies that promote multiculturalism - rather than any single national myth.[citation needed]
Symbols
Official symbols of the Caribbean include the parrot, palm, and the shell. Many official symbols of the country such as the flags of the Caribbean have been changed or modified over the past years in order to "Caribbeanize" them and de-emphasize or remove references to the United Kingdom. For example, The Cayman Islands now uses National Symbols that include their indigenous Parrot, Silver Thatch, Palm and the Wild Banana Orchid.[10]
Arts
The works of most early Caribbean painters followed European trends. During the mid-1800s, Caribbean painters have developed a wide range of highly individual styles. The arts have flourished in Caribbean since the 1900s, and especially since the end of World War II in 1945.
The Washington Organization of American States (inaugurated in 1976) houses one of the oldest
Literature
Caribbean authors have won numerous awards.
A selection of poetry and fiction produced in the Caribbean during the 19th and 20th centuries and be searched at "Caribbean Literature".[11][12][13][14][15][16]
Carnival
The annual celebration of carnival is an important part of Caribbean culture. Traditionally, most
Music
The
The Caribbean has produced a variety of internationally successful performers and artists. These individuals are honoured at The Awards, recognizing Caribbean achievement in popular music. In addition, the Caribbean is home to a number of popular summertime folk festivals. The Caribbean has also produced many notable composers, who have contributed in a variety of ways to the history of Western classical music.
The Caribbean is home to the Indo-Caribbean musical form of Chutney. It was created in Trinidad and Tobago by Sundar Popo. The Caribbean is also home to the Indo-Caribbean musical form of Baithak Gana that originated in Suriname.
There are the Anthony N Sabga Caribbean Awards for Excellence (ANSCAFE) launched in October 2005 to awards in the Arts (and other areas). Up to 2010, they were made biennially, but as of 2011, the awards will be made yearly in ceremonies in Trinidad. Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham (late President of Guyana) facilitated the first Caribbean Festival of the Arts (
Caribbean theatre
The Caribbean has a thriving stage theatre scene. Judy Stone writes: "In addition to the conventional drama of social realism and the yard theatre, the range includes popular farce and roots theatre, musical folk theatre, pantomime, community theatre, Jamaica's Gun Court theatre, political theatre, church theatre, children's theatre, storytelling, the street theatre of Carnival and carnival theatre, calypso theatre, theatre of ritual, and the poetic theatre of St Lucia's Derek Walcott. There is also a considerable body of dramatic work written for film, television and radio. Cuba, in particular, has a comparatively vibrant film industry."[17] Theatre festivals draw many tourists in the tourist months. As an example - Ruprecht[18] argues that Creole Theatre would take one on a tour to a chain of islands in the Caribbean, and he offers an analysis of the contemporary Creole theatre of the Caribbean and of the work of some of the playwrights associated with Creole theatre, such as Frankétienne and Cavé in Haiti, José Exélis and Arthur Lérus in Guadeloupe, as well as Boukman and Placoly of Martinique.[19][20] The Trinidad Theatre Workshop (established in 1959).[21]
Film and television
The Caribbean film market was dominated by the American film industry for decades, although that film industry has since inception seen a prominent role for actors, directors, producers and technicians of Caribbean origin. Filmmakers from the Caribbean began to challenge Hollywood by making innovative and relevant documentary, dramas and feature films.
Some Caribbean islands have developed a small but vigorous film industry that has produced a variety of well-known films, actors, and auteurs. Also, the distinct French-Caribbean and Spanish-Caribbean society permits the work of directors to contribute very different film-forms. Some have become the Caribbean's first films to win the Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Many Caribbean people are employed in the film industry, and celebrity-spotting is frequent throughout many Caribbean cities.
Caribbean television, especially supported by the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation, is the home of a variety of locally produced shows. French- and Spanish-language television, is buffered from excessive American influence by the fact of language, and likewise supports a host of home-grown productions. The success of French and Spanish-language domestic television and movies in Caribbean often exceeds that of its English-language counterpart. Caribbean Media Awards honor the best feature broadcast placements, print and photography from Caribbean-based media outlets.
Caribbean humor
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Caribbean humor is an integral part of the Caribbean identity. There are several traditions in Caribbean humor in
In 1957, mento artist Lord Flea stated that: "West Indians have the best sense of humor in the world. Even the most solemn song, like 'Las Kean Fine' ('Lost and Can Not Be Found'), which tells of a boiler explosion on a sugar plantation that killed several of the workers, their natural wit and humor shine though."[22]
Sport
Cricket is a very popular sport in the countries and dependencies that formed the
The regional football governing body is the Caribbean Football Union. National teams have competed in the CFU Championship from 1978 to 1988 and the Caribbean Cup since 1989. The top 4 teams in the tournament qualify for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Cuba qualified to the FIFA World Cup in 1938, Haiti in 1974, Jamaica in 1998 and Trinidad and Tobago in 2006.
The
However, the most popular sport in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Aruba and Curaçao is baseball. The Caribbean Series, held since 1949, features the national champions from the top Caribbean leagues. The Cuba national team has claimed the Baseball World Cup 25 times, whereas the Dominican Republic won the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In the Pan American Games, Cuba has won 12 editions and Dominican Republic once, whereas Puerto Rico earned the silver medal twice. In the Central American and Caribbean Games, Cuba has won 15 gold medals, whereas Dominican Republic has won three and Puerto Rico two. Several Caribbean players have joined the Major League Baseball: in the 2014 there were 82 Dominicans, 19 Cubans and 11 Puerto Ricans. Notable Caribbean players are Juan Marichal, Pedro Martínez, Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda and Roberto Alomar.
The Puerto Rico men's national basketball team finished fourth in the 1990 FIBA World Championship and won three FIBA Americas Championships and two Pan American Games. Meanwhile, the Cuba women's national basketball team finished third in the 1990 FIBA World Championship for Women and won three FIBA Americas Championships and three Pan American Games.
Other popular team sports in the Caribbean include rugby union and softball. Popular individual sports include auto racing, boxing, cycling, golf, hiking, horse racing, skateboarding, swimming, tennis, triathlon, track and field, water sports, and wrestling.
Cuba ranks second in Olympic boxing and fifth in judo, whereas Jamaica has been a power in Olympic
The 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games were held in Kingston, Jamaica.
As an area with a generally warm climate, the Caribbean countries have enjoyed greater success at the Summer Olympics than at the Winter Olympics. However, the Jamaica national bobsleigh team has qualified to the Winter Olympic Games since 1988. Other notable Caribbean competitors at the Winter Games are Erroll Fraser, Dow Travers, George Tucker and Anne Abernathy.
The Caribbean Awards Sports Icons (CASI) are based on accomplishments made over the last 60 years (1948–2008), for those who have made their mark in the various fields of sports. Great achievements in Caribbean sport are recognized by Caribbean's Sports Hall of Fame, while trophies are awarded annually to top athletes by a panel of journalists.
Food
Popular dishes in the Caribbean reflect the cultures that have influenced the region - Indigenous, African, European, Indian, Afghan and Chinese. One dish common to many Caribbean countries is pelau, a mixture of saltfish, beef, rice and peas, pigeon peas, and other vegetables. A prominent African-influenced Caribbean dish, callaloo, combines leafy greens with okra.
References
- ^
For example:
Childs, Becky; ISBN 9783110208405. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
After the American Revolutionary War in the 1780s, many British loyalists fled the newly formed United States for both the major islands and the out islands of The Bahamas.
- ^
Compare for example:
Castanha, Tony (14 December 2010). The Myth of Indigenous Caribbean Extinction: Continuity and Reclamation in Borikén (Puerto Rico). New York: Springer (published 2010). ISBN 9780230116405. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- ^ Paul, L. M. (ed.), Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 16th edn, Dallas, Texas (2009).
- ^ Aceto, Michael, and Jeffrey P. Williams (eds), Contact Englishes of the Eastern Caribbean, Varieties of English around the World, Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 2003.
- ^ Solomon, Denis, The Speech of Trinidad: A Reference Grammar, St. Augustine: School of Continuing Studies, University of the West Indies (1993).
- ^ Corne, C., From French to Creole: The Development of New Vernaculars in the French Colonial World, London: University of Westminster Press (1999).
- ^ McWhorter, J. H., The Missing Spanish Creoles: Recovering the Birth of Plantation Contact, Los Angeles: University of California Press (2000).
- ^ Allsopp, R., Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage, with a French and Spanish Supplement, Oxford: Oxford University Press (1996).
- ^
Griffith, Glyne A., ed. (2001). Caribbean Cultural Identities. Bucknell review, ISSN 0007-2869: G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series. Vol. 44. Cranbury, New Jersey: Bucknell University Press. ISBN 9780838754757. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "The National Symbols: Flora and Fauna of the Cayman Islands Study Guide" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2010-08-04.
- ^ Arnold, J. A. (ed.), A History of Literature in the Caribbean vol. I & II, Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publ. Co. (2001).
- ^ Fenwick, M. J., Writers of the Caribbean and Central American vol. I & II, London: Garland Publ. (1992).
- ^ Lanham, M. G., Caribbean Literature: A bibliography, London: Scarecrow Press (1998).
- ^ Dance, D. C., Fifty Caribbean Writers, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press (1986).
- ^ Allan, E., Anglophone Caribbean Poetry, 1970-2001: an annotated bibliography, Westport, CT: Greenwood Press (2002).
- ^ Airia, Cesar, Diccionáirio de Autores Latinoamericanos, Buenos Aires: Emece (2001).
- ^ Judy S. J. Stone, "Caribbean drama", in Colin Chambers (ed.), The Continuum Companion to Twentieth Century Theatre (London, 2002). Retrieved from Drama Online.
- ^ Ruprecht, Alvina, Les Theatres Francophones et Creolophones de la Caraibe. Paris: L’Harmattan (2003).
- ^ Corsbie, Ken, Theatre in the Caribbean, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 60 pp. (1984).
- ^ Banham, M., E. Hill, and G. W. Woodward, The Cambridge Guide to African and Caribbean Theatre, Cambridge: University Press, 261 pp. (1994).
- ^ Omotoso, Kole, The Theatrical into Theatre: A Study of the Drama and Theatre in the English-speaking Caribbean, London (1982).
- ^ Michael Garnice (11 March 2012). "Mento Music Lord Flea". Retrieved 14 April 2013.