Afro-Saint Lucian

Afro-Saint Lucians

Total population
(Approx. 134,294)
Regions with significant populations
Saint Lucia (Approx. 134,294[1])
Languages
English
Religion
Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Afro-Caribbean

Afro-Saint Lucians or African Saint Lucians are Saint Lucians whose ancestry lies within the continent of Africa, most notably West Africa.

As of 2013, people of African descent are the majority ethnic group in Saint Lucia, accounting for 82.5% of the country's population. An additional 11.9% of the country is multiracial, predominantly of Afro-European descent and Afro-Indian descent.^[1]

Origins

H.H. Breen, one of the earliest writers to write a detailed study of St Lucia, noted during his period little was known about the Island^[2] In its early French colonial period, the African slave population were imported from Martinique, or, during bouts of British rule, supplemented by slaves from Barbados.^[3] This dominance of Martinique merchants in monopolising the slave imports into the Island has raised the reasonable inference, supported statistically, that most slaves shared a common origin from the Senegambian coast. According to Dalphinis, the majority of slaves from 1695 onwards were indisputably from the Senegambia,comprising mainly Wolof and Mandingo ethnic groups.^[3] As a British possession, however, at the end of the eighteenth century, St Lucia increasingly imported large numbers of slaves from Akan and Igbo groups. ^[4]

Consequently, the slave population, diverse but distinct, is shaped over the course of two centuries by Senegambian slaves (including slaves from the Malian hinterland, Fulani, Dyula, Bambara etc.) and Akan (Gold Coast slaves) and Igbo slaves (Bight of Biafra: roughly 3,000 slaves, or 53% of the slaves enter St Lucia before the end of Slavery). As to Yoruba, they constitute a strong cultural influence on the Island. In many areas, their cultural impact has left the strongest legacy since many Yoruba came as 'indentured servants' after slavery, introducing the Kele and Ogun ritual rites.^[5] Also present in big numbers were the Ambundus Central Africans slaves (more of 1,000 slaves, or 22%).^[6]

Between 1600-1700, most of the slaves, as noted, came from Senegambia. These slaves were mainly used as servants. Meanwhile, Ewe and Fon slaves, from the Slave Coast, exerted as rural slaves^[3]

The ethno-linguistic dominance of specific groups in certain areas of work, had a great importance in the origin of Creole identity ^[3]

History

In 1763, when the British acquired the island by the Treaty of Paris, they imported enslaved Africans as workers. Caribbean conditions were harsh, and many African slaves, like the Caribs (also used as slaves in the island), died, requiring continued importation of new captives. The British continued to import slaves until they abolished the trade in 1808. By that time, people of ethnic African and less so Carib descent greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background.

On 21 February 1795, an army of French and African freedom fighters led by Goyrand defeated a battalion of British troops. For the next four months, a united front of recently freed slaves and freedom fighters known as the Brigands (also ex-slaves, who instigated revolt across the region) forced out not only the British army, but many of the slaveholders who had been loyal to the British. Just under a year later, the British Army returned, with many more troops than the freedom fighters could manage, and eventually re-imposed slavery until 1807, when the African slave trade was abolished (although it was not until 1834 that they abolished the institution of slavery).

In 1814, the British regained control of the island, many of those freed had escaped into the thick rain forests.^[7]

Even after abolition, all former slaves had to serve a four-year "apprenticeship" which forced them to work for free for their former masters for at least three-quarters of the work week. They achieved full freedom in 1838.

Demography and culture

The culture of Saint Lucia has been influenced by African, East Indian, French and English heritage. One of the secondary languages is a Creole, a form of French patois.^[8][9]

Languages

The official language is English;^[8][9] The official language spoken in Saint Lucia is English although many Saint Lucians also speak a French dialect, Creole (Kwéyòl). The Saint Lucian Creole French (Kwéyòl), which is a French-based Creole colloquially referred to as "Patwah" (Patois), is spoken by 95% of the population. This Antillean Creole is used in literature and music, and is gaining official acknowledgement.^[10] It is derived chiefly from French and West African languages, with some vocabulary from Carib and other sources.^[11]

Music

The Bèlè music type, characteristic of Saint Lucia, Dominica and Martinique is probably of Dahomeyan origin.^[12]

Cuisine

The island's cuisine is a unique blend of West African, European (mainly British and French) and East Indian cuisine; this creates dynamic meal dishes such as Bouillon hearty soups packed full with fresh locally produced vegetables, hearty fish broths or fish water, pelau, green fig and salt fish, breadfruit and saltfish and other combinations. St Lucian cuisine is similar to that in many other commonwealth Caribbean nations such as Dominica, neighboring St Vincent and Trinidad. Typical essential food stuff are potatoes, onions, celery, thyme, coconut milk, cassava, flour and cornmeal. All mainstream meat and poultry are eaten in St Lucia; meat and seafood are normally stewed and browned to create a rich gravy sometimes served over ground provisions or rice. Due to St Lucia's small Indo-Caribbean population curry is very popular, however due to the blend of between cooking styles curry dishes have a distant Caribbean twist to it. Roti, a flatbread of Indian origin, has become very popular and is typically served in households or as a quick meal to go.

See also

• Indo-Saint Lucian

References and footnotes