Heritage Trail Martinique hough the nationality is European and the official language is French, the deep roots of the Creole culture of Martinique come directly from Africa. Birthplace of the concept of Négritude created by the island’s beloved poet and elder statesman Aimé Césaire, Martinique’s African heritage is the soul of its culture. If you’re lucky enough to be in Martinique around Christmas, and fortunate enough to eat pwa d’angole, angola peas, this ritual meal will guarantee you even more luck for the upcoming year! And if that reminds you of the African American, and Southern U.S., tradition of eating black eye peas on New Years Eve for luck, you’re on the right track! On Mardi-Gras, the day of the diables rouges, the red devils, Martinique’s Carnival lets you in on more of the island’s roots. Literary giant Aimé Césaire said, upon being surprised in southern Senegal to see red masks with horns and mirrors like those he knew from home, “Of the gods of Africa, our oppressors have made devils”. These emblematic figures, whose horns symbolize strength and whose mirrors symbolize wisdom, represent the continuation of African masking traditions. But even if you miss these escapes from northern winters holidays, pa ni pwoblèm, no problem. Martinique’s heritage is alive and well in everyday life. Delighting in the local gastronomy is a tasty way to begin your discoveries. Accras, the golden codfish fritters accompanying the Ti-punch, the rum aperitif that opens the way for these gastronomic delights, recall Martinique’s West African origins. Eaten everyplace from Chad in the center of the continent to Senegal on the Atlantic coast, accras kept their name and form but changed their contents when they crossed the ocean. Whereas in Africa they’re black eye pea fritters, creative cooks in Martinique may make the spicy treat with whatever their imaginations dictate, from traditional codfish to conch or even carrots! If your college French fails you and you don’t understand what people are saying, it may be that they’re speaking Creole. Creole is one of the languages created in the Americas by Africans. Martinican’s code switch easily between the French of their schooling and the Creole that better expresses intimacy, humor, and often profound philosophy. pwa Kassava drums blaff rum Anse Cafard Slave Memorial T cane
Transcript
Heritage TrailMartinique
hough the nationality is European and the official language is French, the deep roots of the Creole culture of Martinique come directly from Africa.Birthplace of the concept of Négritude created by the island’s beloved poet and elder statesman Aimé Césaire, Martinique’s African heritage is the soul of its culture. If you’re lucky enough to be in Martinique around Christmas, and fortunate enough to eat pwa d’angole, angola peas, this ritual meal will guarantee you even more luck for the upcoming year! And if that reminds you of the African American, and Southern U.S., tradition of eating black eye peas on New Years Eve for luck, you’re on the right track!On Mardi-Gras, the day of the diables rouges, the red devils, Martinique’s Carnival lets you in on more of the island’s roots. Literary giant Aimé Césaire said, upon being surprised in southern Senegal to see red masks with horns and mirrors like those he knew from home, “Of the gods of Africa, our oppressors have made devils”.These emblematic figures, whose horns symbolize strength and whose mirrors symbolize wisdom, represent the continuation of African masking traditions.But even if you miss these escapes from northern winters holidays, pa ni pwoblèm, no problem. Martinique’s heritage is alive and well in everyday life. Delighting in the local gastronomy is a tasty way to begin your discoveries.Accras, the golden codfish fritters accompanying the Ti-punch, the rum aperitif that opens the way for these gastronomic delights, recall Martinique’s West African origins. Eaten everyplace from Chad in the center of the continent to Senegal on the Atlantic coast, accras kept their name and form but changed their contents when they crossed the ocean. Whereas in Africa they’re black eye pea fritters, creative cooks in Martinique may make the spicy treat with whatever their imaginations dictate, from traditional codfish to conch or even carrots!If your college French fails you and you don’t understand what people are saying, it may be that they’re speaking Creole. Creole is one of the languages created in the Americas by Africans. Martinican’s code switch easily between the French of their schooling and the Creole that better expresses intimacy, humor, and often profound philosophy.
pwaKassava drumsblaff rum
Anse Cafard Slave Memorial
T
Sugarcane
Martinique’s folktales also speak of their origins. Compè Lapin, cousin to Br’er Rabbit in the U.S.—who gave the world Bugs Bunny—comes from the stories of West Africa’s trickster hare known in Senegal as Leuk.African technological expertise in ironworking and woodcarving, put to new uses in the Americas, is evident in Fort-de-France’ decorative forged iron balconies that recall those of New Orleans, and in intricately carved colonial furnitures found all over the island. These skills are also evident in the elegant bijoux creoles, Martinique’s elaborate 18 carats gold jewelry so reminiscent of the gold cultures of West Africa.
Laghia, Martinique’s martial art form, similar in gesture and rhythm to Brazil’s capoeira de angola, also hails from the African country that names the Brazilian style. It should come as no surprise that Martinique’s music and dance, even those with European names like Biguine, Creole Waltz and Mazurka, continue to reveal their African roots. And the House of Bélé in St. Marie is an ideal venue for experiencing Martinique’s many drum beats and traditional dances.If after becoming immersed in the island’s heritage you find it terribly hard to leave, and if upon arriving home you feel irresistibly compelled to return, there is no antidote, and only one treatment: You must return to experience more of Martinique Magnifique!
Martinique‘Ti punchaccrasbélè
“It is no use painting the foot ofthe tree white, the strength of
the bark cries out from beneath”Aimé Césaire
ispersed to a thousand corners of the New World, across its islands and continents, we have followed parallel paths for too long. Time has passed, and inscribed our history into our souls. Or perhaps that should be “histories.” For our histories resemble each other, and so we resemble each other in our common memories.
We brought seeds to the New World, which we have planted, cultivated and harvested. We have recognized herbs, trees, flowers, and roots, as well as animals, which had been familiar to us in lands far away. We have patched up our wounds, mended our hearts, and faced the world with a thundering defiance. Here and there, north and south, in a thousand corners of the New World, we have survived.
Today we draw sustenance from our common heritage. You will rediscover that heritage in our landscapes, our towns, our monuments, our cuisine, our literature, our music, our dances, and in our expressions.In rediscovering us, you will rediscover yourselves.
Martinique, a multi-faceted island, the “Flower of the Caribbean,” awaits you.
Madeleine de GrandmaisonVice President of the Regional CouncilPresident of the Martinican Tourism Authority
The Schœlcher Library
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Americasblack eye peaBehanzin
soulFanon
LuminaEuzhan Palcy
Comité Martiniquais du Tourisme Immeuble « Le Beaupré » - Pointe De Jaham97233 SchoelcherPhone: (596) 596 61 61 77Fax: (596) 596 61 22 72E.Mail: [email protected]: www.martiniquetourisme.com
Tourist Authorities
Martinique Tourist Office1981 Mc Gill College, Suite 490Montreal Quebec H3A 2W9Phone: (514) 844.8566Fax: (514) 844.8901E.mail: [email protected]: www.lamartinique.ca
Comité Martiniquais du Tourisme Europe2 Rue Des Moulins75001 ParisPhone: (331) 44 77 86 00Fax: (331) 49 26 03 63E.Mail: [email protected]
Published by the Martinique Tourism Authority under the presidency of Honorable Madeleine de Grandmaison.Editorial direction: Muriel Wiltord & Christel Coita, Texts: Sheila Walker.
LocationMartinique lies in the heart of the Caribbean Archipelago and is one of the many islands which make up the group of Lesser Antilles, or "Breezy Islands."
CitizenshipFrench
CurrencyLegal tender is the Euro.U.S dollars are accepted almost everywhere.
ClimateThe mean temperature averages 79°F. Two regular, alternating wind currents (east and northeast) cool the atmosphere. These are the tradewinds, called les alizés. There is only about a 5° difference between summer and winter temperatures.
Population436,131. The local population in Martinique is made up of various types of people. Their diversity is the result of the mixing of different ethnic groups that, at one time or another, have settled on the island.
