Introduction to Creolization in Caribbean Music

 Hey guys! Welcome to my music blog. It's Ches, your favorite blogger and today we are talking about creolization in Caribbean music. 

According to the book 'Tour de Force, creolization is the process of exchanging culture that results in multiple cultures coming together and mixing. The resulting cultural products are unique, combining elements of the original cultures with new and distinct ones. This means elements of different cultures are blended together to create new ones. This is shown across the Caribbean in our food, language, religion and music. 

Merengue is an example of creolization. According to 'Tour de Force, it is both a type of music and dance style that originated from the Dominican Republic and has become popular throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. 


Picture of Merengue Dancers

Retrieved from: https://www.boardingpasstv.com/index.php/2020/11/21/el-merengue-ritmo-y-baile-de-resistencia-que-vencio-el-pensamiento-retrograda-de-la-intelectualidad-y-burguesia-conservadora-dentro-y-fuera-del-pais-a-finales-del-siglo-xix/ 


Video of dancers performing a new merengue routine.
 
Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emiSgXee2TY





Have you guys ever seen "The Princess and the Frog"? Do you remember the gumbo that Princess Tiana's father taught her to make? That is another perfect example of creolization. Gumbo is a combination of African, European and Native American cultures that is closely identified with South Louisiana. 



Picture of Louisiana Creole Gumbo

Retrieved from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thespruceeats.com%2Flouisiana-creole-gumbo-5210060&psig=AOvVaw1HvFXow5JeMLPE5Bngi8iu&ust=1674678972766000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCODQmr2H4fwCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE




Here's a detailed recipe on how to make this dish:




Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrCHZ86kOH4



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