It is almost a ritual in itself that every year around the time of the anniversary of emancipation from slavery in the Caribbean, the people of the region turn their minds to a commemoration of African culture. For most members of the society it is a tremendous effort. The reasons for this include the fact that over time, Caribbean societies have changed. Several factors of cultural change and social attitudes have eroded from African heritage: the traditions, the beliefs and the values that survived after emancipation and used to be daily practice in the Caribbean. The factors are many – modernisation, technology, education, entertainment, normal cultural change, and difference in values; but also acculturation, cultural diffusion, a long history of socialisation, imperialism, racism, imitation and self contempt.
The Caribbean endured a long period of colonialism, which cannot be totally blamed for, but certainly contributed to the remaking of the societies in such a way that African heritage was almost eradicated. Most of the traditions and practices faded or disappeared so long ago that they have not been part of many people’s experience or memory, so they have to be taught and learnt. Moreover, the force and the importance of the African heritage has diminished because most people only remember it at emancipation celebration time, and as the Guyanese sayings go, “wa rain no full, dew cyan full” and you are trying to “tek firestick a night” to search for what was right there during the bright daylight.
