Allyssa Koki Dance & Culture Due Oct.

11 Diversity: Caribbean Culture In knowing the Caribbean culture one has to realize that there is unique cultural identity that varies from island to island. European colonialist, African slaves, and legacies of Native Indian tribes could have influenced that. Most of the natives are farmers, traders, or artists. The cultural music is a mixture of Indians and Africans customs. I am interviewing a current Salt Lake Community College Mens Basketball player. I first met him a few weeks ago and I realized he has a very strong accent. I wanted to learn more about where he was from and how he was adapting to living in Utah. I was able to meet with him multiple times within a week and every time we met, I was able to get more detailed information about his daily lifestyle. I felt very confident with the interviews because he was very friendly and he was open when describing daily activities and his favorite holidays and events. The Caribbean is a very exotic and interesting place, with its clear waters and rich culture, many tourist find the Caribbean islands a tropical destination. The capital is Nassau, and they are under a constitutional parliamentary democracy. Most people have good humor and respect others who are modest and humble displaying sensibility. He would describe himself as a very humble and tolerable person. Some people are really cocky and big headed. I watch from the side laughing to myself, shaking my head, and I walk away. He said laughing slightly. When it comes to family parties or dinners everyone thats there has to show mutual respect to the hosting family. If you dont dress properly, some people make

take it as being very disrespectful. To show respect, dress accordingly if you plan to attend religious ceremonies. Most commonly when meeting someone for the first time, a handshake and a smile is nessaccery. Most refer to others by their surnames, and rarely on a first name basis. I feel that these types of greetings and respect are very interesting, not many people now days have that type of respect for others. I was surprised but it was a type of reassurance there is still cultures and people who have good moral foundation. Most people do not like drunkenness, or disrespectful manners. Public Displays of Affection is not to be shown there, even though their dances may seem very sexual. With a lot of pelvis-to-pelvis movements. Caribbean dance and music complement each other well. This is the case when new dance styles emerge. In fact, dance styles are frequently named after the music that inspired them. Music played in dance clubs throughout Jamaica frequently serves as the impetus for new styles. He says. These new styles often quickly change after their inception. Sometimes, new styles are named after songs. As for the artwork, music and dance: Its very colorful, bold and strong. Personally my family traditionally uses feathers and bright colors when making outfits for big holidays or occasions. African rhythms, English folk songs, and goombay goatskin drums echo the air. Modern type of Bahaman music now includes saxophones; electric guitars are used to enhance the sounds of the goombay music. The costumes designed and inspired by a lot of color, bring both men and women together from all parts of the world.

I would be involved with many of these annual dances, because I love my culture and the dances. The holidays they celebrate are Good Friday (Friday before Easter), Easter Monday, Whit Monday, Discovery Day, Christmas, Boxing Day. Most of these holidays are religious bases and if any of these holidays fell on a Saturday or Sunday it would be celebrated that Monday. Any holiday that fell on a Tuesday would have been celebrated on Monday before, and any holiday on a Wednesday or Thursday is celebrated on Friday. Our dialect was influenced by African slaves, Puritans and other settlers. Because of this combination, you will hear a unique language found only on The Islands Of The Bahamas he says. The Caribbean foods include seafood, chicken and steak, all your favorites! My favorite food is my mamas Ceviche. Its a Seafood dish cooked by the acids of citrus juices, seasoned with onions and fresh herbs. And also curry that is mixed spices with many different spices. He says in delight. It seemed to me he enjoyed their cooking, in his tone of voice and the way he was so excited to tell me different recipes he learned from his parents and family members. He also explained to me that cooking was something very important in his culture. Women and men both learn how to cook different types of foods with recipes passes down from generation, to generation. I find joy in cooking and preparing my own foods, here in America the food is way different, I dont really like it as much and would like to eat my own foods but I get too lazy. He said smiling and laughing to himself. Food is something I really love! I

remember coming home after playing basketball with my friends on the weekends my mama would have food ready for us to eat. I was the best ever, well except when I was on the court of course. Another one of my favorite dishes is Plantains, or cooking bananas, is very popular across the Caribbean. They must be cooked to be edible; however, they do not have to be ripe. Green plantains and ripe plantains are often sliced, cooked in a seasoned batter and deep fried for fritters. Ripe plantains taste like a cross between a sweet potato and a banana. Tostones are green plantains sliced and fried, pounded flat and refried to form crispy chips. They are so good, and I wish I could have some right now actually. He is such an amazing person inside and out. Doing this interview on him made me realize that his culture is so beautiful and respected. He has good moral values and respects everyone who deserves it. I have learned so much personally and culturally about this young man. I am glad I was able to meet with him to learn more about the Caribbean culture. I learned that he comes from a very respectable culture and community. He doesnt tolerate stupidity and rude actions made by anyone. Also this made me realize there is so many different types of people in this world. Their views and priorities could be completely different from you or I. A lot of things did surprise, for example. The type of food they cooked is very similar to what we eat here in the US, but also have their cultural dishes the still pass down from generation to generation. In the Bahamas, its a very tropical place where a lot of tourist go to vacation or go to experience the culture. Many do not realize that these people are very respectful and mindful people.