Define “syncretism” and explain why syncretism is an important phenomena in the Caribbean. Read
Miguel Barnet, “Biography of a Runaway Slave,” Alejo Carpentier, “Journey Back to the Source,” and
Nicolás Guillen “Bongo Song” through the lens of the “repeating island” and look for syncretism. Identify
the examples of African culture and what examples of European culture appear in each piece. What
evidence do you see of
“syncretism” — or the fusing of African and European cultures in each story? (300 words)
This paper reviews Nicolás Guillen’s “Bongo Song” through the lens of the “repeating island” to study syncretism. It identifies instances of African culture and elements of European culture appear in each piece. Particular attention is paid to evidences of “syncretism” hereafter defined as the fusing of African and European cultures in each story. Leopold and Jensen (2016) delineates religious syncretism as a characteristically Caribbean phenomenon, amalgamating religious beliefs to produce a new religious tradition. Some scholars contrast the aforestated idea with “multiple religious belonging” and polytheism. This experience has many attributions, and the latter consequence is observed in settings where multiple religious persuasions exist in close proximity and are active in the culture.
Haiku Commentary
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spring breeze . . .
another religious woman shudders
in the group
© Marina Balmaceda Paredes
We start with a kigo, or occasional reference. A spring breeze could mean numerous things: how thriving
continues, how a fresh start is delayed, etc. The artist utilizes an ellipsis (. . .) properly, implying that
something is proceeding. Placing the haiku in italics shows the impact of the breeze.
From the subsequent line, we have another religious woman who is shuddering. What is she shuddering
from? The spring breeze, energy, anxiety, or something different? We are not told, yet that puzzle makes
perusers constrained to peruse further and to explore the haiku.
In the third line, we have a group, which is a secured or open walk/haven in a cloister or religious
community. In this way, it appears this haiku is depicting the initial couple of seconds another religious
recluse has outside the genuine abbey. By having “a,” the writer leaves the experience open to different
nuns as something widespread.
By and by, “shudders” sounds profound to me. It could be the inclination of the Essence of God, and the
spring breeze is likewise suggestive of the Essence of God that should course through blessed individuals.
The writer left simply sufficient space for us to consider it and to discover something momentous in its
juxtaposition.
The sound of the haiku is significant as well. “new religious recluse” has similar sounding word usage and
sounds better than “beginner pious devotee.” The “I” sound in “spring,” “shudders,” and “groups” makes
perusing it all the more affecting.
An inside and out solid haiku.