The Caribbean Islands are internationally known for hosting some of the most diverse people and cultures on the globe. However, the rich heritage of the Caribbean Islands is the result of a long and complex history of colonization, which gave the region its unique identity. However, a notable attribute of the Caribbean population is that a majority of individuals are dominantly black and do not hesitate to identify with the African continent. It is reasonable to conclude that most individuals in the Caribbean associate with Africa and its cultures since they cherish and acknowledge their forefathers, shipped from the continent to the Caribbean by Europeans as slaves.
From 1662 to 1807, Britain brought more than three million Africans to the Caribbean Islands to work for White settlers in plantations. The settlement of Africans in the Caribbean caused a significant shift in population demographics and adopted cultures. Since the slaves hardly interacted with the natives at first, they created songs, dances, and chants to express their struggles and experiences in the plantations. However, these communities grew into extensive populations who helped shape the unique culture of individuals in the Caribbean Island (Terrell, 2017). Thus, the Caribbean consciousness should resonate and identify with Africa even after the 20th century because many people on the islands trace their roots back to Africa.
Before the Europeans set foot in the Caribbean, native communities, comprised of about 750,000 people, occupied its vast lands. Unfortunately, explorers exposed the area’s rich and promising land to colonizers, who established territories and divided the region into nations that grew to become dominated by slaves and black communities. Consequently, the material and tangible link between individuals in the Caribbean Islands and African origins encourages their eccentric associations with Africa, since they perceive the continent as their Motherland.
Reference
Terrell, A. M. (2017). Themes of Blackness: Commonality and Unity in Selected African Heritage Literature. Drew University.