The African diaspora is the worldwide collection of communities
descended from native Africans or people from Africa, predominantly in
the Americas. The
term describes the process of dispersal and the dispersed ethnic
population. The African Diaspora has been formed by the movements of
Africans and their descendants. Their varied ethnic groups found common
ground in the Americas. Their traditions mixed with other diasporic
influences from Indigenous America, Europe and Asia. Carnival is an
example of how carnival is performed in different areas if the Americas
as an eclectic transformation of other cultures.
II
Learning Objectives
Understand carnival as an expression of African diasporic history
Explain the meaning of the terms circum-Atlantic memory and socio-cultural density
Gain an awareness of the meaning of the society of the spectacle
Experience carnival dance choreography
III
Main Lesson
Carnival, the merrymaking and festivity that takes place in many Roman Catholic countries in the last days and hours before the Lenten season. The derivation of the word is uncertain, though it possibly can be traced to the medieval Latin carnem levare or carnelevarium,
which means to take away or remove meat. This coincides with the fact
that Carnival is the final festivity before the commencement of the
austere 40 days of Lent, during which Roman Catholics in earlier times
fasted, abstained from eating meat, and followed other ascetic
practices. The historical origin of Carnival is also obscure. It
possibly has its roots in a primitive festival honouring the beginning
of the new year and the rebirth of nature,
though it is also possible that the beginnings of Carnival in Italy may
be linked to the pagan Saturnalian festival of ancient Rome.
1
Haiti 1977
Question 1
What is your impression of Haiti's carnival?
2
Bahia
Question 2
Why is Bahia's carnival important for Afro-Caribbean culture?
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3
New Orleans
https://youtu.be/8v4GM67KxhU
Question 3
Compare and contrast the experience of mardi grass between the people in the two videos above.
4
Trinidad and Tobago
Question 4
Compare and contrast Trinidad and Tobago's carnival with the rest seen in class.
5
Bahamas
Question 5
How is the celebration of Junkanoo different from the rest of Afro-Caribbean celebrations?
6
Guadalupe
Question 6
How has carnival in Guadalupe changed throughout decades?
7
Bonair
Question 7
In which way is Bonair's carnival appealing to your world view?
8
Colombia
Question 8
What cultures have influenced the Barranquilla carnival?
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IV
a)
Philosophical Frames to Understand the Afro-Diaspora
1. Acording to Benitez Rojo, carnivals are above all "concentrations of
paradoxical dynamics by virtue of which the world becomes a travestying
mirror." Using the video and the reading, explain in one paragraph what
you think Benitez Rojo meant.
3. What do you think about the concept of socio-cultural density posed by Benitez Rojo?
After reading this summary on Moore's ideas about racial relations in Latin and North America, what did you learn?
IV
A Note to Remember
The
African diaspora has left traces of their
religious, cultural and social practices all over the continent. Carnival is one of the events
that illustrates the impact that African cultures have had on Westernized
culture since its insertion.
V
Case Study
Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham (1909 - 2006) was a world famous dancer,
choreographer, author, anthropologist, social activist, and
humanitarian. Born in 1909 during the turn of the century Victorian era
in the small town of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, she became one of the first
dance anthropologists, started the first internationally-touring
predominantly black dance company with its own codified dance
technique, became one of Hollywood’s first African-American
choreographers, and authored many scholarly books and journalistic
articles on dance and in the Caribbean.
Katherine Dunham On Dance Anthropology
Question 13
Why is Dunham and important example of a dancer who saw dance as a subject of study.
VI
Activity 1
Students choose an Afro-diasporic carnival dance to study and turn into a movement phrase.
The origins of samba can be traced to West African people who were brought to Brazil by Portuguese traders as enslaved persons beginning in the 16th century. Samba emerged as a musical genre after its birth in the region of Bahia
known as “Little Africa”. Terreiros da Candomble (religious houses) were
founded by Bahian priestesses also known as Tias (Aunts) or Baianas
(Bahian Aunts), to invoke the gods through song and dance.
Learn the following samba steps from the videos below:
basic cross steps & 2
Question 14
Reflect on your overall experience learning the samba steps.
VII
Journaling
VIII
Glossary
ascetic: characterized by or suggesting the practice of severe self-discipline and abstention from all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons.
Escola de Danca: Samba schools are dance schools that participate in Brazil's Carnival, a festival that celebrates the country's culture and history.The schools are a vital part of Carnival, and spend the year preparing for the festival.
Lent: Lent is the solemn Christian religious observance in the
liturgical year commemorating the 40 days Jesus Christ spent fasting in
the desert and enduring temptation by Satan, according to the Gospels of
Matthew, Mark and Luke, before beginning his public ministry.
Saturnalia: Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in
honour of the god Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and
later expanded with festivities through 19 December. By the 1st century
B.C., the celebration had been extended through 23 December, for a
total of seven days of festivities.
Diaspora: A diaspora is a population that is scattered across regions
which are separate from its geographic place of origin. The word is used
in reference to people who identify with a specific geographic
location, but currently reside elsewhere.
Mardi Gras: It is also known as Fat Tuesday, the final day of Carnival before
Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the
practice of the last night of consuming rich, fatty foods in preparation
for the fasting season of Lent.
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