African Influence on Caribbean Culture

History

• About 5000 B.C the first people to lived on the Caribbean islands were the tribes of Arawaks ( Taino Indians) ,and Caribs,.

• These inhabitants occupied the present day Islands of British Virgin Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Trinidad, and Jamaica.

• The Caribbean receive its name from the ethic group known as the Caribs.

• Christopher Columbus reached the Caribbean on his first voyage of discovery for Spain in 1492.

History Cont.

• The Spanish established early settlements on the Islands of the Greater Antilles.

• When their colonies began to flourished, the other Europeans began to take an interest in the Caribbean.

• Over 300 years there was a struggle for power in the region.

• The native tribes of the islands were being annihilated.

• The native cultures were replaced with Africans brought to the region as slaves.

African Influences

• Food- Sweet potato, Okra, Yams, Etc.

• Music/Dance- Zouk and Carnival

• Language- Creole Language

African Cuisine Influence

• Caribbean Cuisine originate from Imperial and African recipes.

• The African slaves diet consisted of food their master did not want.

• The slaves blended their traditional foods with ingredients found on the islands.

• The Africans introduced cassava, yams, okra, plantains.

Caribbean Cuisine

• The present day Caribbean cuisine reflects the recipes of early Africans dishes.

• Includes sweet potato, cornmeal, and yams.

• Food is highly seasoned and spiced.

African Music Influence

• Music was one of the way slaves used to communicate important messages.

• Its highly rhythmic.

• Its characterized by drum beat.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iW2Ht2fuP2w

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VVbcFQMePo&feature=related

Caribbean Music

• Caribbean music highly rhythmic.

• Authentic African drum beat

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqP0s9MBuoo

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MO87Ze491o&feature=related

African Carnival Influence

• Carnival is the annual celebration of life found in many countries around the world.

• The ancient African traditions

of parading and moving in circles through villages in masks and costumes.

• Circling villages believe to bring good fortune.

African Carnival

• African Carnival dance were the early celebration dance.

• Constituted of African drum, puppets, and stilt dancers.

Caribbean Carnival

• Carnival are specials festival.

• People dance for days.• Dancing is considered

movement of the lower carriage, shuffle stepping, and swaying hips.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HaKO9fo9s4&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8e_Qjq6uGxo

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIEuNNlpVKQ&feature=related

African Language Influence

• Creole language is nearly two hundred years old.• The language came about during the first era of slavery.• Creole is a combination of African syntax and European

words.• Creole is a cocktail of different languages.• Ex: African words like koukou-djèdjè (hide and seek game), or zanba (devil

).

• EX: pan (bread), awa (water), kaya (street) or aki (here)

• EX: motosaikel (motorcycle).

Caribbean Creole

• Creole is spoken in 7 countries.

• Patois is spoken in English colonies.

• Creole is associated with the poor labor class.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgpkTvKQkbM&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VbeHLxJVcU

Caribbean Today

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPdrGOFXzGA&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvLEKTyprWs

Caribbean Dance

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz80KrH2X6Y

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smuuWM3rQhM&feature=related

Afro-Caribbean

The End