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Caribbean Civilisation has truly been an eye-opening as well as a mind-opening experience. There is history that has been hidden from society mainly Caribbean history and FOUN 1101 has brought that to the light for many of us who have taken the course. Throughtout the plenaries and lectures there is information of what occurred in the caribbean from other persons of significance perspective and not the true real caribbean perspective and it is something that must be taught to caribbean people so they can become enlightened and freed from mental slavery. The culture that exist may vary but throughout the caribbean we are one people. One people that must stand in unity amongst diversity to show peace and humanity. I now understand why Caribbean Civilisation is a foundation course and must be taken. It is very important to heed the information taught in this course by Dr.Campbell and other lecturers. The information gained will be passed on to others as well to make known the true history of our caribbean.
While the course teaches about varuious aspects and characteristics of the caribbean people it went on to examine what the indigienous people went through and how people are different races came to be on the islands through slavery and indentureship etc. Caribbean Civilisation produced answers to questions that i had longed to know but went on to further explain there is no real difference in the caribbean and we all belong to one race the human race.

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CULTURAL EXPRESSION THOUGH CARIBBEAN SONG

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CULTURAL EXPRESSION THOUGH CARIBBEAN SONG

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Video of myself, Elijah Nancoo singing a Soca-calypso song and doing a commentary. Song: Watch out my Children by Ras Shorty I Feat Love Circle.
This song speaks volumes throughout the Caribbean against the problem of Drug abuse.
Video link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lco3kqyq9gzv68c/20170421_014850.mp4?dl=0

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Carnival Cultural Expression in the Caribbean

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Carnival Cultural Expression in the Caribbean

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Trinidad Carnival, also known as the greatest show on earth is of great regional importance to Trinidad as it is a deep form of cultural expression which dates back to times of slavery. The year 1783 the French developed Carnival which originally ran from a period of after Christmas to Ash Wednesday. It was only after 1833 when the Emancipation bill was passed that Africans began to participate in Carnival and brought their own form of festivity such as Canboulay. Carnival is also celebrated by other countries in the Caribbean such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados and even St. Lucia. There are various events that take place during Carnival time that allow for the expression of the Caribbean people to impact the world in such a major way. For instance, there is J’ouvert which is a mud mass party that takes place early in the morning from 4am followed by the Carnival Monday and Tuesday session. There are also various competitions such as Road march, Calypso monarch and Groovy soca monarch where soca the music of Trinidad is sung by various artistes who also display a form of cultural expression whether it is reminiscent of the past or patriotism. However, Carnival in the present time has become very commercialized and fetes are hosted for profit. There is great inter-island movement around this time as well international movement to the Caribbean. People come from all over the world to participate in the celebrations especially celebrities for e.g. Usian Bolt. The various forms of art also speak loudly through the costumes by celebrated designers such as Brian Mac Farlane and Peter Minshall who captivate the true essence of the Caribbean people through artistic designs of costumes. The course FOUN1101 Caribbean Civilization has made the statement the Caribbean as one people become clear. Whilst there is racial divide which is still a problem in the world today, cultural expressions such as Carnival help to bring unity amongst diversity putting away discrimination and bringing the Caribbean people closer together which promotes peace.

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Pic of Usain Bolt Jamaican national and celebrated sportsman enjoying Trinidad Carinival Road March.
pic taken from https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/2973077/usain-bolt-trinidad-carnival-fiancee/

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Divali Cultural expression In the Caribbean

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Divali Cultural expression In the Caribbean

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Divali or Diwali, also known as the festival of lights is celebrated in Trinidad as well as other Caribbean countries and throughout the world by predominantly those of the Hindu religion. Divali has a deep cultural aspect that transcends from earlier times in the Caribbean from the East Indian indentured labourers up to this present time. Whilst it is a religious festival which is celebrated by mostly Hindus in Trinidad, there are a lot of practices that many people which include both Hindu and non-Hindus indulge in around the auspicious time. There are events and practices such as visiting the Divali Nagar site which is a large area located in Central Trinidad where thousands of people would flock to buy gifts at the flea market, visit the temple and discover traditional aspects of the Hindu society and mingle and socialize with friends and family. The sharing of East Indian delicacies such as parsad and ladoos. There are also performances of traditional bhajans and Hindi songs as well the display of deyas which are clay type vessels symbolizing light overcoming darkness. Some of these practices represent a culture that has been shaped and carved into society today and resonates throughout the Caribbean and the rest of the world. In gaining more knowledge about the Caribbean from the FOUN1101 Caribbean Civilization course, I learned that diversity and unity are very important as it represents each unique tradition and belief in society whilst maintaining the level of respect for different cultures and expressions as one people in the Caribbean.

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Deyas at the  Divali Nagar site

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Christmas Cultural expression in the Caribbean

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Christmas Cultural expression in the Caribbean

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As we know the Caribbean is a very diverse place full of lore, history and mystery but there comes a time when a universal festival such as Christmas is celebrated and it is done so uniquely in Trinidad as oppose to other Caribbean countries. This celebration allows for a cultural expression to take place especially in the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago. The unique quality about Trinidad and Tobago is that the diversity in which the Christmas festival is celebrated by different cultures and people. Christmas is predominantly filled with joy, cheer and parang music and Spanish foods. Inadvertently, this holiday has the intervention of European culture in it as well as religion such as Christianity which were followed by mainly the Spanish and the French. Parang is of Spanish origin and has also come from indiginous backgrounds as the word parranda means to fete or spree in spanish and it is also a word for parang. There is a lot of movement in the Caribbean from other islands to Trinidad around this time as families from different countries come across to Trinidad to experience the Caribbean Christmas of Lights, Pastelles, Parang and Ponche de Crème. Some practices such as exchanging gifts are followed from European customs but they have changed over time to represent the Caribbean aspect of things but the concept remains. However, learning from the Caribbean Civilization course FOUN1101 about the Caribbean as one people has opened my eyes to see there is not much difference and we share vast similarities and are connected in some way historically to our Caribbean brothers and sisters.

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Los Alumnos de San Juan
Pic taken from http://www.trinigourmet.com/index.php/in-trinidad-christmas-is-parang/