Caribbean art forms in the diaspora

OBJECTIVE

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to define art forms and state their economic significance to the Caribbean and its diaspora.

KEY TERMS

■ Art forms – This is a piece of work that is an expression of creative imagination.

■ Diaspora – This is the spread of people from their original homeland. The cultural practices of the home country are, nevertheless, continued in the region/territory outside of the place of origin.

The Caribbean has a kaleidoscopic collage of art forms ranging from dance, music and sculpting to literature. Suffice it to say that such expressions have had tremendous effect on the world, including the Caribbean diaspora. In a blog about art history, Archer (1999) deduced that many stylistic influences overlap within Caribbean art, so its history often requires social and cultural references to contextualise its diversity. The mainly Spanish-, French- and English-speaking island populations colonised by Europeans from the 16th century still reflect the cultural mix that the Atlantic trade in sugar, spice and slaves provoked. Most Caribbean people are of African descent but have some Asian, Middle Eastern or European heritage. Caribbean art of this century is similarly hybrid. Importantly, it may be argued that art forms are used to unite Caribbean people in the diaspora and to establish their identity. For example, in 2003, CubaCaribe was formed to preserve, promote and present the vibrant cultural and artistic traditions of the Caribbean and its diaspora. It was founded on the principle that dance, music, and visual art have the power to unite people of diverse perspectives. Additionally, CubaCaribe fosters greater understanding and appreciation of Caribbean arts and culture.

The Labor Day Parade (or West Indian Carnival) is an annual celebration held on American Labor Day in Brooklyn, New York City. The main event is the West Indian Day Parade, which attracts between one and three million participants. The spectators and participators watch and follow the parade on its route along Eastern Parkway. Some of the Caribbean islands represented in the parade include Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Barbados, Dominica, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and Grenada, along with some AfroPanamanians. Mainland Caribbean countries such as Guyana, Suriname, and Belize participate as well. Jessie Waddell was the pioneer for the commencement of the carnival in Harlem in the 1930s by staging costume parties in large, enclosed places. This was the usual time for the pre-Lenten celebrations of the Trinidad and Tobago Carnival and other related celebrations around the world. However, because of the very nature of carnival, and the need to parade in costume to music, indoor confinement did not work well.

The earliest known carnival street parade was held on September 1, 1947. The Caribana Festival, known to the locals as Toronto’s celebration of Caribbean culture and traditions, is one of the largest cultural festivals in North America, bringing in over two million people each year. What once started as a three-day festival under the name Canadian Centennial, is now a massive party that lasts three weeks in the summer (Culture Trip, 2016). This carnival was first orchestrated in 1967 and it represents the culture of the 10 main Caribbean islands, in addition to Bermuda and Guyana, with performances by steel bands and a parade – much of the music associated with the event showcased soca, steel pan and calypso. Other events would include dancing, films, stage acts, drama, kids’ and adults’ carnivals, and nightclub events, as well as things like ferry cruises, fashion shows, and fruit and vegetable markets showcasing Caribbean produce. It is imperative to note that both parades have made significant economic contributions to both the Caribbean and its diaspora.

Assessment activity: What is the significance of art forms to Caribbean society and culture? (20 marks).