Creolization in the Spanish Caribbean

 2nd April 2022

MUSI 322

Professor Chrsitine Gangelhoff


I posted that creolization was very conspicuous throughout many blogs and was analyzed according to the Caribbean region. Finally, this blog will focus on creolization in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. Professor Gangelhoff, in the Spanish one lecture video, Professor spoke on Afro-Cuban, and this was where I first took notice of creolization. According to the lecture video on Afro Cuban, unique features are:

  •       Santeria is a fusion of Yoruba and Catholicism
  •      Bata drumming and singing is conspicuous
  •       Double-headed hourglass of different sizes
  •       Voice and percussion instruments
  •      Polyrhythm and call and response texture (Gangelhoff, 2019). 

Below is an image of an ensemble group called Omo Abillona; according to the youtube description, they are four young players of bata drums coming from the Afro-Cuban community living in Marianao, a municipality in Havana, Cuba. 

The photo was taken from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYqY8x3U9MA.

Here is a video of the ensemble performing; they are playing the bata drums.


You can see the double-headed hourglass drums of different sizes in the video above. What is also noticeable is that the guy on the left is beating the tanbou, which was seen in Bele music of Martinique. 


Another example of creolization in Cuna is through some "good ole" food. One example of a food dish is Arroz Morros y Cristianos (Moors and Christian Rice). According to Chef's Pencil, The Moors and Christians are like a mix of rice and beans and are considered to be fused with African heritage. 

Here is an image of Arroz Morros y Cristianos

The photo was taken from: https://www.chefspencil.com/top-25-cuban-foods-traditional-cuban-dishes/.

Here's a video of  how to make Arroz Morros y Cristianos 

Video from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp8V1eQaNeE

In the video above, you can learn how to make this delicious meal; take note of the bell peppers, garlic, ham, and chicken, all for flavoring. The end product in 8:37 will make your mouth water. 


References

Cabrera, Y., Cabrera, Y., & Yami CabreraCurrently based in New Orleans. (2022, January 20). Top 25 Cuban foods (traditional Cuban dishes). Chef's Pencil. Retrieved April 2, 2022, from https://www.chefspencil.com/top-25-cuban-foods-traditional-cuban-dishes/

Gangelhoff, C., & LeGrand, C. (2019, December 31). Tour de Force: A Musical Journey of The Caribbean. Sound Caribbean.

 

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