Afro-Creole: Power, Opposition, and Play in the Caribbean

by Richard D.E. Burton

This wide-ranging book explores the origins, development, and character of Afro-Caribbean cultures from the slave period to the present day. Richard D. E. Burton focuses on ways in which African traditions―including those in religion, music, food, dress, and family structure―were transformed by interaction with European and indigenous forces to create the particular cultures of Jamaica, Trinidad, and Haiti. He demonstrates how the resulting Afro-Creole cultures have both challenged and reinforced the social, political, and economic status quo in these countries. Jamaican slaves opposed slavery in many ways and one of the most important, Burton suggests, was the development of Afro-Christianity. He pays particular attention to the African-derived Christmas celebration of Jonkonnu as an expression of opposition and then documents religion in the post-slavery period, with an emphasis on Rastafarianism in Jamaica and Vodou in Haiti. The element of play has always figured importantly in Afro-Caribbean life. Burton examines the evolution of carnival and calypso in Trinidad and describes the significance of cricket in defining Caribbean national identity. Based on ten years of research, Afro-Creole draws on historical, anthropological, sociological, and literary sources. Burton characterizes the emergence of Caribbean identity with three different national flavors and demonstrates how culture both reflects and impacts people's changing sense of their own political power.

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1997

About the author

Richard D. E. Burton (d.2008) was Professor of French and Francophone Studies at the University of Sussex, UK.

Reviews

[Jherane Patmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this years ago and it's been the grounding for my understanding of political opposition, political mischief, and carnival (and my queerness though not referenced in the text).
I can't wait to re-read it now that I've see what queer Jamaicans have been doing with Moko Jumbies.