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

Main factors that influence cultural diversity:

Geography
History
Language
Festivals
Race and ethnicity
Religions
Food and culinary traditions
Political systems

Antigua Carnival

Crop Over In Barbados

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

Positive Effects of Cultural Diversity:

It encourages cultural retention
It facilitates adapting to and accommodating cultural
differences. Living in such societies enables one to reflect
on the values and customs of others. One can learn to
appreciate other cultures.
Members enjoy a variety of foods, festivals and
celebrations, etc.

It enables the development of craft, agricultural

industries as well as, the creation of different
forms of music, art, literature, etc, which speak to
the experiences of more than one ethnic group.
Cultural variations attract tourists

Negative Effects of Cultural diversity:

It may foment discontent in society. This may arise from
feelings of ethnic superiority aided by perceptions that
one group is getting more out of the national pie than
ones own group.
Certain groups (minorities) may experience discrimination
and exploitation which may lead to social unrest.
The offspring of mixed unions can experience an identity
crisis.
Ethnic politics develops, with political parties support
divided along racial lines.
Ethnic prejudices are preserved through socialization and
this is further reinforced in interaction with friends and
relatives.

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 others 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 Europeans
Mulattoes - offspring of Africans and Europeans
Sambo offspring of mulattoes and Africans
Quadroon offspring of mulattoes and whites
Octoroon offspring of quadroon and whites
Dougla 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:

Jamaicas bammy and Antiguas 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 Caribss 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 or
escoveitched fish, gizzada (coconut tart) and their
custom of
soaking fruits in wine.
British Heritage:
The use of diary products, Christmas pudding, fruit salads
and
Sweet bread (bun) are part of the British heritage.
The British soldiers and sailors brought breadfruit, blood
Pudding (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, the
slaves themselves brought many of their foods to include, okra,
callaloo (spinach), taro (eddo or coco), their one-pot method of
preparing most dishes and traditional cooking utensils including the
three-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 fine
in a mortar and mixed with sugar, known as asham or Brown George
in Jamaica, ashum in Antigua.
Bush teas and the use of bush as remedy for ailments and diseases.

Top: Jamaicas National Dish - Ackee and

Saltfish
Left: Antiguas 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, deep
fried or steamed. Roast suckling pig, braised chicken feet and
vegetarian foods made mainly of bean products are all part of the
Chinese 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 and
garlic are Jewish contributions.
The Americans:
The N. American influences are reflected in various items of
pastry
and gourmet dishes. Fast foods (hamburger, hot dog etc.)
have
become staples in Caribbean cuisine.

Oral traditions

Savings organization: (box, susu, partner

hand, meeting turn)

Game: warri

One of the clearest link the Caribbean has to

Africa is in its oral tradition. The role of the
Griot/Jellis who passed down stories and
accounts of events of one generation to another
survived slavery and the plantation system. This
tradition 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 so

that each member may benefit by obtaining in turn and at
one time all the money paid in by the entire group on a
given time (day, week, month).
In Africa the box is most commonly called esusu. It is
called nanamei akpee (mutual help) in Ghana;
mahodisana or stokfel (pays back to each other) in South
Africa; sanduk (putting down) in Sudan. In China the box
is called hui.

Warri which means house is of the mancala

game family and was brought to Antigua from
Ghana with the slaves. The game is played with a
board into which hollows are carved. The counters
are seeds called nickars.
Playing warri is said to develop planning, analytical
and mathematical skills as well as foster discipline.
Antiguan proverb: If you play warri with God you
go get no seed.
Antiguan Movie: No Seed

Cultural erasure this refers to practices that have died out or

are dying out (Mohammed, 2007).

Reasons for cultural erasure include modernization and progress.

Modernization refers to the adaptation in the present time to
conditions and needs, while progress refers to the advance of
something better or higher in development. Cultural erasure
stems from a tension between the traditional ways of doing
things and the seeming benefits of doing things the modern way.
Modern ways are seen to be cost effective and efficient.

Examples of lost cultural traditions: story-telling, wake, singround, singing meetings and courtship traditions (in Antigua).

Manifestation of Modernization and Progress: use of

refrigeration for food preservation, use of over the counter
medicines, change in speech patterns (Americanization),
communication technologies.

Implications of modernization for society and culture: increase in

lifestyle diseases, increased cost of health care, loss of cultural
identity as result of the adoption of foreign cultural practices, e.g.
Halloween, Kwanzaa, Thanksgiving, etc.
Question. Can a culture be erased?

Cultural retention refers to practices that have survived

even when most other forms and symbols of a culture are
no longer evident (Mohammed, 2007).
Purposes of cultural retention: to bond society, revitalise
cultural norms and values, reinforce a sense of identity.
Manifestations of cultural retention: Carib basketry
designs and technologies, Garifuna culture in Belize.
Traditions that have survived include box (susu, partner hand,
meeting turn) family land.
Cultural renewal refers to conscious efforts by a group to
return to some elements of its culture which it believes
have been ignored or suppressed (Mohammed, 2007) .
Cultural renewal is likely to result from historical forces of
change. Examples of such forces were Garveyism 1930s,
and the Black Power movement 1970s.