Photo: August de Richellieu/Pexels
Our cultural/family heritage is our identity and encompasses the many facets of our life. Mothers, the classic matriarchs and consummate guardians provide the family with its social, emotional and moral stability foundation. In addition, ensuring the younger generations know and appreciate their family history, along with fathers and other family members.
A pertinent quote by Marcus Garvey is:
A people without the knowledge of their history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”
Some families are fortunate to know the region in Africa their ancestors came from; others have made a concerted effort to find this out, while others are oblivious. However, knowledgeable of the fact our ancestors brought their customs with them during the European colonisation, distinguishes who we are as a people by way of ideologies; religion; values; cuisine; language; social behaviours; art and music.
Food plays an important part in family life and common Caribbean dishes include rice and peas, fried fish; stewed chicken, pelau; curry; fish broth and bakes. Food staples include yam, sweet potatoes, cassava, dasheen, eddoes (referred to as provision) and green bananas (though fusion cuisine is equally now a norm). However, though the islands have similar foods, some are named and prepared differently, each having its national dish. For example, Jamaica is known for its jerk chicken/pork and ackee & salt fish. Trinidad & Tobago for callaloo and pelau; Montserrat for goat stew and Guyana for, pepperpot. Christmas is a big traditional time, who can fail to remember as children the joy of licking the bowl of the renowned Christmas fruit cake, after it has been put in the oven and the delicious aroma permeating the house or the baking of ham?
Religion is an integral part of life, faith being a deep-seated factor and going to church on Sundays. Families dress in their very best, enjoying not only the sermons and ambience, but in some instances, dependent on the denomination, the singing and dancing. History and immigration accounting for its multiple denominations of Christianity, Catholicism, Anglicans, Methodist, Presbyterian and Pentecostal, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism.
Of the many festivals, Carnival is the most popular and viewed as a celebration of freedom enjoyed throughout the islands at different times of the year. This street party of colourful elaborate costumed masqueraders and bands parading and dancing along the streets to soca/calypso music. Enticing audience participation makes it an enjoyable exuberant event for all. Equally enjoyed throughout the diaspora, well-known are the Trinidad & Tobago; Rio de Janeiro; London Notting Hill and Mardi Gras in New Orleans, carnivals.
Afro-Caribbean households habitually play music for pleasure and form part of upbringing, listening to our parent’s preferences. Characterised by its combination of African, European and indigenous Caribbean cultures, it has varying genres such as soca, calypso; extempo; reggae, merengue; rocksteady; ska; dancehall; steelpan; chutney; chutney soca; parang to name but a few.
Of the many cultural practices, who can fail to remember the weekly Friday evening detox, disliked by children, enduring the bitter-tasting Cerasee or Sennapod tea (no longer the norm amongst the millennial generation), or the preparation of combing hair, sitting between mother’s knees in readiness for braids. Braids; Bantu knots; Cornrows; Twists; Dreadlocks and Afros are common hairstyles. Also notable, is the common usage of nicknames which often supersedes the given birth name. Or the unforgettable confident swaggering gait of young men, seemingly considered ‘cool’.
We are our culture, as well as being products of nature/nurture. As proud 50+ black women what aspect of our culture do you appreciate or admire?
2 thoughts on “Cultural/Family Heritage”
Hello Ros, I enjoyed reading your latest blog: Cultural/Family Heritage. The part that particularly resonated with me as it totally propelled me down memory lane was the Friday evening detox, it bought a smile to my face…I can do so now! ? I recall my mother stating that I wasn’t to leave the dinner table until I drank it all… long tears flowed down my face. Another aspect of your blog that rang true to me was sitting between my mother’s knees having my hair combed out, after it was dowsed with a fresh brew of warm coconut oil, coupled with a Stanley made comb. Well done, I look forward to your next blog.
Hi Anne-Marie. Glad you enjoyed the post. Nostalgia is bittersweet, but good sometimes when it gladdens the heart.