Oral Traditions or Spoken Word in the Caribbean
ORAL TRADITION OR SPOKEN WORD
The oral tradition constitutes the main element of transmission and coverage of the oral literature and history, music and dancing. This tradition begins with the internal context of the group and the communication through interaction which brings fourth a folkloric process. The Afro-Caribbean folklore of the Archipelago is a mixture of the African, the British, and the Creole aspects distributed through a cultural continuum of variations. The members of the elite develop certain forms of local standardise practices of archaic British culture and the Creole people trigger-off a series Caribbean syncretism with a mixture of Amerindian and African feeling.
In ancient times, the tradition of the Spoken Word was essential in promoting effective communication, family life, togetherness of the community and conflict resolution. The telling of stories, playing of games, poetry, oratory and debating were critical for disseminating information, passing on traditions and educating a people about themselves. The telling of stories, playing of games, poetry, performance and oratory are still a large aspect of who we are. Even regionally too, we see these traditions manifested in the richness of the nation languages and the development p\of spoken word artistes. Caribbean people naturally communicate using music, song, dance and theatre. The way our men walk is in itself a symphony of dance; the lilt of our voices is indeed music to the ear, and we virtually conduct our conversations through the constant movement of our hands when we talk. Our ancestral traditions were in some measure preserved in their transition across the waters from Africa, India and other parts of the globe, through the stories told to our forbearers; whispered remembrances, passed from generation to generation, defying the laws and rules which were set up to keep us oppressed and to ensure that we always succumbed and failed. These tactics did not work, as Caribbean peoples
The oral tradition constitutes the main element of transmission and coverage of the oral literature and history, music and dancing. This tradition begins with the internal context of the group and the communication through interaction which brings fourth a folkloric process. The Afro-Caribbean folklore of the Archipelago is a mixture of the African, the British, and the Creole aspects distributed through a cultural continuum of variations. The members of the elite develop certain forms of local standardise practices of archaic British culture and the Creole people trigger-off a series Caribbean syncretism with a mixture of Amerindian and African feeling.
In ancient times, the tradition of the Spoken Word was essential in promoting effective communication, family life, togetherness of the community and conflict resolution. The telling of stories, playing of games, poetry, oratory and debating were critical for disseminating information, passing on traditions and educating a people about themselves. The telling of stories, playing of games, poetry, performance and oratory are still a large aspect of who we are. Even regionally too, we see these traditions manifested in the richness of the nation languages and the development p\of spoken word artistes. Caribbean people naturally communicate using music, song, dance and theatre. The way our men walk is in itself a symphony of dance; the lilt of our voices is indeed music to the ear, and we virtually conduct our conversations through the constant movement of our hands when we talk. Our ancestral traditions were in some measure preserved in their transition across the waters from Africa, India and other parts of the globe, through the stories told to our forbearers; whispered remembrances, passed from generation to generation, defying the laws and rules which were set up to keep us oppressed and to ensure that we always succumbed and failed. These tactics did not work, as Caribbean peoples