“Limón no es solo ‘patty’ y ‘rice and beans’”: Elementos que componen la cultura afrocostarricense
Fecha
2020-05-09
Autores
Hutchinson Miller, Carmen
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Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica
Resumen
Dentro de la sociedad costarricense existe una visión reducida de la cultura Afro-costarricense limitada a la culinaria del rice and beans, el patty, y la músi-ca del llamado calypso. Esta cultura afro en Limón, Costa Rica, constituye una herencia de los inmigrantes afrocaribeños de finales del siglo XIX. La cultura afrocostarricense del siglo XXI ha heredado elementos de estos inmigrantes, particularmente de los jamaicanos. Se pretende con este artículo un acercamiento histórico para alcanzar dos objetivos. El primero es verificar cuántos de estos elementos de la cultura inmigrante se ha mantenido y segundo, contribuir con la declaración de las Naciones Unidas del Decenio de los Afrodescendientes (2015-2024), al realizar investigaciones enfocadas en la comunidad afro. Para ello se utilizan fuentes primarias por medio de la historia oral de dos afro-costarricenses nacidos a mitad del siglo XX, además de información general que brindó un jamaicano mediante el correo electrónico, para una visión más con-temporánea de la cultura de ese país. También se revisaron algunos periódicos del siglo XX, además de otras publicaciones relacionadas con el tema. Entre las principales conclusiones que surgen del estudio, se pueden destacar la persistencia de elementos propios de la cultura de grupos inmigrantes afrocaribeños de finales del siglo XX. Además, queda en evidencia la modificación del aspecto culinario versionado a la sociedad actual y otros elementos culturales heredados, los cuales en la actualidad merecen el reconocimiento de esta cultura afrocostarricense que reviste de importantes elementos culturales que deben ser valorados y preservados
Within Costa Rican society, a reduced vision of Afro-Costa Rican culture limited it to the culinary of rice and beans, patí (an empanada filled with spiced meat), and the so-called Calypso music. This Afro culture in Limón, Costa Rica, is a heritage of Afro-Caribbean immigrants from the late 19th century. The Afro-Costa Rican culture of the 21st century has inherited elements from these immigrants, particularly the Jamaicans. This article aims to provide a historical approach to achieve two objectives: first, to verify how many of these elements of immigrant culture have been preserved; and second, to contribute to the United Nations declaration of the Decade of Afro-descendants (2015-2024) by con-ducting research focused on the Afro community. For this purpose, primary sources used were the oral history of two Afro-Costa Ricans born in the mid-20 century, and general information a Jamaican provided through e-mails for a more contemporary view of Ja-maica’s culture. Some 20th-century newspapers were also reviewed, as well as other pub-lications related to the subject. Among the principal conclusions drawn, the study high-lighted the persistence of elements typical of Afro-Caribbean immigrant groups’ culture in the 20th century’s turn. Besides, it is evident the modification of the culinary traditions adapted to the current society, as well as other inherited cultural elements, which cur-rently deserve recognition from this Afro-Costa Rican culture that has important cultural elements that should be appreciated and preserved
Within Costa Rican society, a reduced vision of Afro-Costa Rican culture limited it to the culinary of rice and beans, patí (an empanada filled with spiced meat), and the so-called Calypso music. This Afro culture in Limón, Costa Rica, is a heritage of Afro-Caribbean immigrants from the late 19th century. The Afro-Costa Rican culture of the 21st century has inherited elements from these immigrants, particularly the Jamaicans. This article aims to provide a historical approach to achieve two objectives: first, to verify how many of these elements of immigrant culture have been preserved; and second, to contribute to the United Nations declaration of the Decade of Afro-descendants (2015-2024) by con-ducting research focused on the Afro community. For this purpose, primary sources used were the oral history of two Afro-Costa Ricans born in the mid-20 century, and general information a Jamaican provided through e-mails for a more contemporary view of Ja-maica’s culture. Some 20th-century newspapers were also reviewed, as well as other pub-lications related to the subject. Among the principal conclusions drawn, the study high-lighted the persistence of elements typical of Afro-Caribbean immigrant groups’ culture in the 20th century’s turn. Besides, it is evident the modification of the culinary traditions adapted to the current society, as well as other inherited cultural elements, which cur-rently deserve recognition from this Afro-Costa Rican culture that has important cultural elements that should be appreciated and preserved
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COSTA RICA, CULTURA, AFRODESCENDIENTES, ASPECTOS CULTURALES, CARIBE, IDENTIDAD CULTURAL, COSTA RICAN, CULTURE, AFRO, CULTURAL ASPECTS, CARIBBEAN, CULTURAL IDENTITY