Creolization in St.Lucia: Dance and Language
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| Flag of St.Lucia (https://flagpedia.net/data/flags/w1600/lc.png) |
St.Lucia is one of the Caribbean's hidden gems. While it's not as globally recognized as some of its Caribbean neighbors, such as Jamaica, The Bahamas, and Haiti, it's definitely a place to visit. One fun fact that I myself surely didn't know about the location prior to reading Tour De Force: A Musical Journey of The Caribbean is that the country has its own Creole language. Créole à Sainte-Lucie is the country's own version of "Broken-French", comprised of French, English, and Spanish terminologies. Miraculously, it's quite similar to Haitian Creole, a more popularized creole in the Caribbean. Additionally, Quadrille, a traditional dance in the country's colonial history, highly resembles Square-Dancing, a popularized dance of courtship in the United States. Also, it's somewhat similar to ring-play, a more informal dance of African descent seen in Caribbean history.
Créole à Sainte-Lucie
The above video is an example of Créole à Sainte-Lucie along with a few words so that the audience can hear the similarities. As someone that parles Francais un peu, je comprends absolument what's being said. Ironically, despite being called "Broken-French", Creole French throughout the Western-World maintains great similarities to its mother tongue. Haitian Creole speakers and even native French speakers agree on such a claim, noting that the accents are pronunciations are at times almost identical.
Creolization in Barbados: Musical Icons
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| Flag of Barbados (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia) |
Barbados is another hidden Caribbean Gem. At least, this was prior to the emergence of artists that brought their musical talents to the world stage. Robin Fenty, better known by her middle name, Rihanna, is a well-establish artist and fashion designer. I'm sure all of us vividly remember the lyrics to "Umbrella", "Disturbia", "Rude Boy", and "Better Have My Money." Though before Rihanna ella-ella-elavated to the main stage, intertwining calypso rhythms with mainstream pop, she was a simple girl in Barbados with ambitious dreams. However, Barbados has other local icons who've crafted art with their country's distinct cultural sound. Roger Gittens, a national composer who's against international recognition, merges European style composition with syncopate calypso-like rhythms.
Recognizing Her Roots
The above video is an interview with Rihanna at the E! Red Carpet & Awards shows. It's short, simple, and quite sweet as the Fenty founder recognizes her Prime Minister's heartfelt words. Briefly, she dives into her music, brushing over how it relates to her country's cultural sounds and her childhood experience on the island. Of course, it's only a small touch on how much calypso and other Caribbean sounds reshape and changed mainstream music forever.
Creolization in Cusine: The Misconceptions of Curry
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| Jamaican Curry (https://i.redd.it/e61rc92c9xj11.jpg) |
Regardless of who you are, where you're from, or what you eat, you most definitely like Curry. At least, I know that I sure do. However, it's widely debated even today where Curry is from. Though, that's a debate that's mainly for Caribbean dwellers who never traced the roots of the dish. With a taste so unique, filled with mild and spicy spices that dance gleefully along with your palette, anyone at first glance would think that Curry's a Jamaican dish. It's a misconception that's stuck for ages. And while there is Jamaican Curry, which matches the seasoning style of traditional Jamaican cuisine, Curry originates from India. And yes, Indian Curry is just as tasty as the Jamaican counterpart! Sure, some people may find one better than the other. For me, however, I find no reason to have a competition. More renditions of a dish only mean more food for me. And who could be mad about that?!
Caribbean Curry Standoff!
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