The Origins of Afro-Caribbean Dance
All forms of Afro-Caribbean dance have their roots in Africa. In the 15th to 18th century when the slaves were being brought over to America from Africa, they were mostly gathered from the western coast of North Senegal and South Angola. The reasons for most of them coming from this region is because the European traders thought it easier and less expensive to transport slaves from the west coast of Africa. It was impractical to take slaves from the east side of the continent because of the high mortality rates.The Goree Island, which is right off the shore of Senegal, was a holding place for the slaves, before they made their long journey to their final destinations. It was here that many of the diverse cultures seemed to have merged and later formed what would become different aspects of Afro-Caribbean dance. For example, the Woulousodong is a dance of the Wolorf people in Senegal. One of this dance's different interpretations, when learned in America, is that the movements represented those of the slaves while they walked up the gang plank. The African explanation tells us the movements signify adolescents breaking away from their parents' household and taking on new responsibilities
Haitian and Cuban dances show African origin not only in their religious foundations, but also in their rhythmic movements and patterns. The movement of African culture to the New World contributed to the cultural diversity of these new lands. This was due in part to time, distance, and the arduous circumstances of slavery imposed on the devotees. This dance was originally from the Kimbundu tradition in Angola. When brought to Brazil, it took on many different forms, but its African origins are still very distinct. However, in Cuba people have preserved more of the dance and music in these rituals than anywhere else in the Americas, maintaining knowledge of the largest number of rhythms, dances, and songs. For example, many of the slaves brought to Brazil, Haiti and Cuba were Yoruba-speaking people from southwest Nigeria. The meaning of the dance now became the experience of the people, as a whole. As these slaves began to settle in different countries, the emergence of a more cultural specific dance for started to form. This fusion of religions resulted in Voodooism in Haiti, Santeria in Cuba and Condomble in Brazil. The main religion of the Spanish, who occupied Brazil and Cuba, and the French, who occupied Haiti, was Catholicism, which was taught to the Africans. While they belonged to various ethnic groups, a majority were Yoruba, from the region that is now called Nigeria. Yet these new forms of dance still had strong African roots. This is one instance where the interpretation of African dance has changed oversea. They worshipped more than 400 gods, which are still worshipped today.
Common topics in this essay:
Goree Island,
West Africa,
Brazil Jamaica,
Arawak French,
Africa Cuba,
Spanish-ruled Cuba,
South Angola,
Cuba Yoruba-speaking,
Africa Americas,
Haitian Cuban,
west africa,
brought brazil,
afro-caribbean dance,
slaves brought,
brazil jamaica,
haiti cuba,
18th century,
french occupied,
social dance,
dances songs,
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Acceptance Essays
