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"All ah we is one family" is a phrase made popular by calypsonian Lord Nelson in his song 'Family' which was produced in the 1980's. The song promotes the notion that the islands of the Caribbean, especially that of Trinidad and Tobago are like one family and should treat each other as such. The Caribbean consists of twenty-six countries or islands many of which share a similar history of being colonized by the Europeans during the 15th century. This colonization led to the development of diverse cultures and practices within the Caribbean. This essay seeks to critically assess the extent to which the phrase "all ah we is one" is relevant as it relates to Caribbean identity and the concepts of identity focusing on the Caricom countries.

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Impact of Language, Food and Music on Unity

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Impact of Language, Food and Music on Unity

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In the year 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean and claimed the region for Spain. However, the English, Dutch, French and other Europeans also took advantage of this opportunity. One by one the Europeans took control of all the Caribbean islands and exploited them for their own benefit. During this time period, the European colonizers made little to no effort to understand the Amerindian's own religion and culture and as a result injected their own religion and cultural traits into the Amerindians. However, because language was a tremendous obstacle between the natives and the Europeans, creole language developed. A creole language is one that has developed from a mixture of different languages and has become the main language in a particular place. With all the islands having undergone colonization, nearly every Caribbean island developed its own local creole or patois that is used primarily by the locals to this present day, to communicate with one another. Creole languages vary from island to island as it is dependent upon who conquered the specific island. For example there is French creole, Jamaican patois and Antillean creole just to name a few. Even though the language of the islands have distinctive features that set them apart it plays a major role in unifying the different cultures and national identities. They are genuine expressions of Caribbean nations' identities. The identity of a person or place refers to the characteristics they have that distinguish them from others. Just like the creole language, the food we eat and the music we listen to in this present day all developed during the colonial era.
The life of a slave was miserable. As a result, music was used for entertainment purposes by the slaves to combat the misery of their lives and as a method of escape from the harsh realities they faced on the plantations. There was diversity of the music in the region due to the different colonial influences. Three distinct music forms that became popular back then and are still growing in the music industry today are merengue(which originated in the Dominican Republic), ska(which originated in Jamaica) and calypso(which originated in Trinidad and Tobago). Merengue was sung in Spanish. Ska (reggae and dancehall) and calypso were both sung in patois but eventually developed further and was sung in English creole. These three different types of music mentioned above along with others are not only limited to the countries from which they originated. The music is played in almost all the Caribbean islands especially during festivities and gatherings. Music celebrates the tragedies and triumphs of life and has the ability to break any language barrier, bringing people together. The music unites the people of the Caribbean.
Caribbean cuisine consists of culinary influences from Spain, Africa, France and Britain to name a few. The Arawak, Carib and Taino ‘Indians’ that dwelled on the Caribbean islands first, ate diets that consisted mainly of vegetables and fruits such as maize and papaya. Then later on when Europeans brought African slaves to the Caribbean region, the Africans blended their traditional African food with the staple foods found on the island. Therefore, the majority of the food made in the different islands is based around the simple foods introduced by the slaves such as callaloo, fish cakes and ackee. Over time, food from the Caribbean has evolved due to islanders making the dishes special to their island. Some signature Caribbean dishes include flying fish and cou cou(which is made in Barbados), fungee and pepperpot(made in Antigua and Barbuda), jerk chicken (made in Jamaica) and curry crab and dumplings (made in Trinidad and Tobago). These signature dishes continue to hold a high significance in the cuisine of their respective countries.

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https://www.jamaica-land-we-love.com/images/the-skatalites-ska-music.jpg

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http://www.45cat.com/record/3177&ei=1

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http://www.bonvoyageurs.com/2014/07/15/fungee-and-pepperpot/

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https://www.caribbeanbluebook.com/blog/156/crab-and-dumplings-recipe-a-signature-dish-of-tobago/

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The plantocrats kept a masquerade ball every year amongst themselves . The Africans could not participate in the balls, however, that did not stop them from transforming their compounds unto the stage where they mimicked their slave masters for entertainment. Towards the end of slavery "Canboulay riots" were introduced. According to an article by Buzz Caribbean ‘Canboulay is basically, a ceremony symbolising cane-burning that Africans of Trinidad devised to celebrate their ‘freedom from slavery’ on 1838’. This is how carnival was started with emancipation. Overtime, carnival evolved and was not only limited to one island. While there are still pieces of African tradition incorporated such as canboulay and j’ouvert, carnival has expanded to fit the modern society of today’s world. At carnival time, masqueraders decorate the streets of Port-of-Spain in their beautifully adorned costumes as they jump to the beat of soca music blaring from every direction. Carnival is not only a time for masqueraders to enjoy as onlookers also come out in their numbers to simply enjoy the music, ‘vibes’ and famous street foods known to their island. Carnival has evolved into a festival that is celebrated by people of all ages, class, creed and ethnicity as there is an activity for everyone. For example there is ole mas, j’ouvert, pretty mas and panorama. It is a time when all worries are forgotten and people of all races can come together and simply just have a good and unforgettable experience. According to an article by the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday ‘Carnival is a mark of our unique creativity as one people, pretty as a rainbow, with a diversity not despite of, but because of our difference’. This shows that carnival in all Caribbean islands promotes oneness as a people despite of all differences. Some other popular Caribbean festivities that bring people together are Jamaica’s reggae sumfest, Tobago jazz experience and pirates week that is held in the Cayman Islands.
Islanders also shared similar interests when it came to sporting events. These events were held in different Caribbean countries. Some major sporting events include the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) which originated in Antigua and Barbuda but is now held in Trinidad, the Falmoth Blue Marlin Tournament held in Jamaica, horse racing held at the Carrère Track in Martinique and the CARIFTA games which are held annually in different Caribbean countries. No matter the island, people always come together despite differences to show support to their sporting team. Sports create a feeling of pride among islanders. In sporting events, nationalism is once again reinforced. Nationalism is referred to as an ideology that emphasizes loyalty, devotion or allegiance to a nation or nation-state and holds that such obligations outweigh other individual or group interests. According to an article by the Orlando Sentinel ‘Nationalism is positive because it serves as a uniting front. This was seen in the World Cup that united each country. The fans were united in cheering for their players and equally united in recovering from defeat.’ This indicates that by having a strong sense of who we are as a people, it strikes out shame and fright. However, some may argue that the unit displayed by people at the previously mentioned festivities and sporting events is only temporary. They say this because once these events are over, people go back to be segregated from one another. This is especially seen at election time in Trinidad and Tobago where the spirit of togetherness that once existed suddenly disappears and racial tensions rise. According to an article by the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday ‘Carnival is the symbol of the capacity of the Trinidadian person to ignore the hierarchies of historically embedded ideas, especially those that lead to a merging of race and caste and class. It is that space where social differences become miraculously invisible. But of course, the wining that goes on between black, white, Indian and Chinese and all our in-between mixtures and between people of different economic backgrounds come to an end on Ash Wednesday. We then return to our compartments’.

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https://www.flickriver.com/photos/curepian_marshe/13930938284/

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http://officialcaribbeantraveller.blogspot.com/2015/07/crop-over-in-barbados.html

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https://www.visitcaymanislands.com/en-us/about-cayman/blogs/cayman-luxe/august-2018/pirates-week

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http://www.harnesslink.com/News/Titan-Pierji-Wins-at-Madinina-Martinique-docx

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https://www.flotrack.org/articles/6741381-carifta-games-postponed-due-to-covid-19

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The Caribbean was originally dominated by spiritual baptists but it is now dominated by Christianity. However many different denominations of Christianity are found throughout the islands. Beyond the Christian religion, Hinduism, Islam and Shouter Baptist is practiced in Trinidad and Tobago, Santeria is practiced by the Cuban population, Vodoo is practiced in Haiti and there is the religious movement Rastafarianism which is practiced in Jamaica. In Trinidad and Tobago, the various religious groups were each granted a religious holiday. The different holidays are observed by the people of the nation, especially at Divali time. It is a tradition for persons to either purchase or make roti, curried mango, saheena, barfi and jalebi. Families, communities, even those who are not Hindu also participate in the wearing of sarees or achkan and the lighting of deyas on this enlightening and uplifting day. Even though the majority of people come together to partake in this occasion there are still those that are of the view that if a person is not a Hindu or of east Indian descent they should not partake in the wearing of sarees and the other activities, and while some practices during this holiday are considered sacred to the Hindus and should only be performed by them, the part-taking of non-Hindus should not be shoned as long as it is done respectfully as it promotes unity among the diverse population.

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http://www.caribbeanmuslim.net/sample-page/

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https://avybonita.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/celebration-of-shouter-baptist-liberation-day/

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" We may have different religions, different languages, different coloured skin, but we all belong to one human race" is a line well quoted by former secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. This explains greatly that even though people of the Caribbean may have different beliefs, mindsets and ways of living, it is these differences that act as unique characteristics that bring us all together. This represents togetherness even with such diversity and really shows that we are really all one family.