CARIBBEAN CULTURE DIVERSITY

The Caribbean is a group of islands and mainland territories that is located south of North America, north of South America and east of Central America. This arrangement of beautiful islands and mainland territories is known worldwide because of its vibrant and colorful culture which is as a result of cultural diversity. This, therefore, highlights the fact that Caribbean societies are influenced by cultural diversity, and it is this fact, that gives the Caribbean its unique identity. Cultural diversity refers to the variety of ethnic groups, such as Indians, Africans, Chinese and Europeans that exist within the Caribbean society and the particular ways of life manifested by each group. The cultural diversity of this region has resulted from colonization by Europeans in the fifteenth century, the forced migration of the Africans between the mid- seventeenth to nineteenth century, and the voluntary migration of the Asians in the nineteenth century. These diverse ethnic groups brought with them traditional practices, for example Southeast Asian immigrants, from India brought their traditional foods such as curry and other spices, and Africans brought religious practices such as voodoo. These varied ethnicities and their traditions have all melded through the years to create what is known as “Caribbean Culture”, a unique identity associated only with the Caribbean resulting from the extraordinary cultural diversity of the region. Traditional medicines, terminology used to refer to different herbs and other substances used for healing purposes, widely used throughout the Caribbean, are also a result of this unique cultural diversity. This cultural tradition has had a major influence on, especially the rural areas, of each Caribbean territory. For example, ‘busy’ is a herbaceous plant which is widely used by Jamaicans for the ailment, ptomaine poison. In St.Lucia, “eddoes” or cocoa, which is an edible root, is used as a blood thickener when it is crushed and boiled in soup. Traditional Caribbean music, such as ‘Mento’ in Jamaica, was brought by the Africans and ‘Hindi music’ and ‘chutney’ in Trinidad and Guyana was brought by immigrants from India. The rhythms and beats from these traditional musical genres have been remodeled to create uniquely Caribbean music such as Reggae in Jamaica and Soca in Trinidad. These musical traditions are now an integral part of Caribbean life, where native Caribbeans strive on music and where Caribbean music also helps to boost tourism economy, a major part of the Caribbean economy. Religion also plays a major role in Caribbean life, and these religions are too, a result of the region’s unique cultural diversity. Hinduism and Islam are prevalent religions which are practiced in Trinidad and Guyana, brought to the Caribbean from India. Christianity, which is the most prevalent religion, was introduced by the Europeans and Voodoo and Pocomania, brought by Africans, are also widely practiced in Jamaica and Haiti. This cultural diversity has also helped to boost the tourism industry and the Caribbean economy, attracting foreigners to the dress, music and foods and enticing them to the region to experience the Caribbean culture.