Significance of the crossroad to both africain and caribbean litterature - Essay Example

of Lecturer 20 April What is the significance of the crossroad to both African and Caribbean literature Crossroad movies are highly significant to both African and Caribbean literature and these facts shall be established in this paper in clear terms. Crossroad movies are films that help trace the roots of the Caribbean to Africa. Crossroad movies are more like a meeting point of the culture of Africans and the Caribbean. They contain scenes where certain Caribbean, that have their roots from Africa come together with their own brand of music that has its origin from Africa and this music remind viewers of the rich cultural history of Africa.

Thus, crossroad movies are highly important in teaching African and Caribbean students both African and Caribbean literature at the same time. Crossroad movies remind viewers of how African languages were brought to the Caribbean by African slaves. Thus, crossroad movies are significant to both African and Caribbean literature in the sense that they help to show how the language of some regions of the Caribbean were influenced by African languages that were brought to the region by African slaves.

Crossroad movies show the rich cultural heritage of the Africans and the Caribbean through the cultural diversity that scenes of the movies try to depict. Crossroad movies also trace the roots of most Caribbean music to Africa and this further emphasizes the significance of crossroad movies to both Caribbean and African literature. Caribbean music such as calypso, Puerto Rican bomba and the Cuban son are styles of Caribbean folk music that have their roots in West African music. Crossroad movies brings the African origin of these Caribbean music back to life and reminds viewers the extent at which the Caribbean music is related with the African music.

It should be noted that these Caribbean music are forms of oral literature that the people of the Caribbean use to tell their sons and daughters their rich folktale tradition and myths. Thus, crossroad movies are highly significant to Caribbean and African literature, especially in the area of music (Donnel & Welsh 18-21). Crossroad movies also show the relationship that exists between some Caribbean religions with practices in Africa. Caribbean religions like Vodun, Shango, Lucumi and Santeria are religions that can be traced to some African religions.

Thus, in the area of religion, crossroad movies are also relevant in showing the relationship that exists between both African and Caribbean literature. It is clear from the scenes of the crossroad movies that they try to celebrate the rich African culture and their importance to the evolvement of the Caribbean culture. Thus, it is very clear that the crossroad movies play a vital role in establishing the relationship that exists between the culture of the Africans and the Caribbean. There are even scenes in the crossroad movies that tell viewers the history of the Caribbean through the playing of instruments and this shows the extent at which the crossroad movies use music to teach the Caribbean how their roots can be traced to Africa.

Crossroad movies reinterpret African traditions as they show the hybrid of the Caribbean and African literature. Thus, crossroad movies are significant to both African and Caribbean literatures as they show Afro-Caribbean traditions. The crossroad movies also help students of literature to understand African and Caribbean literature better. Work Cited Donnell, Alison & Welsh, Sarah. The Routledge Reader in Caribbean Literature. London: Routledge, 1996. Print