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| '''Jamaican literature''' is internationally renowned |
'''Jamaican literature''' is internationally renowned, with the island of ] being the home or birthplace of many important authors. One of the most distinctive aspects of Jamaican literature is its use of the local ] — a variation of English, the country's official language. Also known as "]", this local speech style has become an important element in Jamaican literature and other arts, particularly in poetry or in prose dialogue. | ||
| Notable writers and intellectuals from elsewhere in the Caribbean region studied at the ] in ], including ] ]-winner, ], the late ] historian and scholar ], and ] poet and short story writer ]. | |||
| ==Folk beginnings== | ==Folk beginnings== | ||
| The tradition of storytelling in Jamaica is a long one, beginning with ] told by the slaves during the colonial period. Jamaica's folk stories are most closely associated with those of the ] tribe in ], from which many of the slaves originated. |
The tradition of storytelling in Jamaica is a long one, beginning with ] told by the slaves during the colonial period. Jamaica's folk stories are most closely associated with those of the ] tribe in ], from which many of the slaves originated.<ref>Rebecca Tortello, . A ''Jamaica Gleaner'' Feature, 3 February 2004.</ref> Some ]an tales were also brought to the island by immigrants, particularly those from the ]. In folktales, the local speech style is particularly necessary. It infuses humor into the stories, and is an integral part of the retelling. | ||
| Perhaps the most popular character in Jamaican tales, ] (also spelled Anansi, 'Nancy Spida, and Brer Nansi) is an African spider-god who makes an appearance in tales throughout the Caribbean region. He is a trickster god, and often goes against other animal-god characters, like Tiger and Donkey, in his stories. These stories are thought to be ways the slaves told about outsmarting their owners as well. | Perhaps the most popular character in Jamaican tales, ] (also spelled Anansi, 'Nancy Spida, and Brer Nansi) is an African spider-god who makes an appearance in tales throughout the Caribbean region. He is a trickster god, and often goes against other animal-god characters, like Tiger and Donkey, in his stories. These stories are thought to be ways the slaves told about outsmarting their owners as well. | ||
| ==Development of the literature== | |||
| ==Literature== | |||
| Jamaican ] (1870-1933) is credited with fostering the creation of Jamaican literature (according to critic Michael Hughes, MacDermot was "probably the first Jamaican writer to assert the claim of the ] to a distinctive place within English-speaking culture"),<ref name=Hughes>Michael Hughes, ''A Companion to West Indian Literature'', Collins, 1979, p. 75.</ref> and his ''Becka's Buckra Baby''<ref> is available openly and freely online from the ].</ref> as the beginning of modern Caribbean literature. | Jamaican ] (1870-1933) is credited with fostering the creation of Jamaican literature (according to critic Michael Hughes, MacDermot was "probably the first Jamaican writer to assert the claim of the ] to a distinctive place within English-speaking culture"),<ref name=Hughes>Michael Hughes, ''A Companion to West Indian Literature'', Collins, 1979, p. 75.</ref> and his ''Becka's Buckra Baby''<ref> is available openly and freely online from the ].</ref> as the beginning of modern Caribbean literature. | ||
| Jamaican-born ] (1889–1948) is credited with inspiring ]'s ] (“Blackness”) movement, as well as being a founding father of the ]. Having established himself as a poet in Jamaica, he moved to the U.S. in his 20s and proceeded to travel to France, but never returned to his birthplace. | Jamaican-born ] (1889–1948) is credited with inspiring ]'s ] (“Blackness”) movement, as well as being a founding father of the ]. Having established himself as a poet in Jamaica, he moved to the U.S. in his 20s and proceeded to travel to France, but never returned to his birthplace. | ||
| ] was also well known for her poetry |
] (1905–1965) was also well known for her poetry, her activism as a feminist, and for her role as producer of the ] literary radio programme '']'' in the 1940s. ] (1919–2006) was a Jamaican poet and folklorist celebrated for her unique voice as "Miss Lou". Writing and performing her poems in Jamaican patois, Bennett was instrumental in having this "dialect" of the people given literary recognition in its own right ("]"). Other Jamaican writers who have gained international acclaim include Hazel Dorothy Campbell, the late ] (1954–1983) and ]. In 2014, ] was appointed Poet Laureate of Jamaica.<ref>Rowe, Marcia (2014), ", '']'', 24 May 2014.</ref> | ||
| The island's local dialect has become an important element to Jamaican literature and other arts. The speech style is particularly notable in poetry or in prose's dialogue. | |||
| ==Notable Jamaican writers== | ==Notable Jamaican writers== | ||
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Jamaican literature is internationally renowned, with the island of Jamaica being the home or birthplace of many important authors. One of the most distinctive aspects of Jamaican literature is its use of the local patois — a variation of English, the country's official language. Also known as "nation language", this local speech style has become an important element in Jamaican literature and other arts, particularly in poetry or in prose dialogue.
Notable writers and intellectuals from elsewhere in the Caribbean region studied at the University College of the West Indies in Kingston, including St. Lucian Nobel prize-winner, Derek Walcott, the late Guyanese historian and scholar Walter Rodney, and Grenadian poet and short story writer Merle Collins.
Folk beginnings
The tradition of storytelling in Jamaica is a long one, beginning with folktales told by the slaves during the colonial period. Jamaica's folk stories are most closely associated with those of the Ashanti tribe in West Africa, from which many of the slaves originated. Some European tales were also brought to the island by immigrants, particularly those from the United Kingdom. In folktales, the local speech style is particularly necessary. It infuses humor into the stories, and is an integral part of the retelling.
Perhaps the most popular character in Jamaican tales, Anancy (also spelled Anansi, 'Nancy Spida, and Brer Nansi) is an African spider-god who makes an appearance in tales throughout the Caribbean region. He is a trickster god, and often goes against other animal-god characters, like Tiger and Donkey, in his stories. These stories are thought to be ways the slaves told about outsmarting their owners as well.
Development of the literature
Jamaican Thomas MacDermot (1870-1933) is credited with fostering the creation of Jamaican literature (according to critic Michael Hughes, MacDermot was "probably the first Jamaican writer to assert the claim of the West Indies to a distinctive place within English-speaking culture"), and his Becka's Buckra Baby as the beginning of modern Caribbean literature.
Jamaican-born Claude McKay (1889–1948) is credited with inspiring France's Negritude (“Blackness”) movement, as well as being a founding father of the Harlem Renaissance. Having established himself as a poet in Jamaica, he moved to the U.S. in his 20s and proceeded to travel to France, but never returned to his birthplace.
Una Marson (1905–1965) was also well known for her poetry, her activism as a feminist, and for her role as producer of the BBC literary radio programme Caribbean Voices in the 1940s. Louise Bennett-Coverly (1919–2006) was a Jamaican poet and folklorist celebrated for her unique voice as "Miss Lou". Writing and performing her poems in Jamaican patois, Bennett was instrumental in having this "dialect" of the people given literary recognition in its own right ("nation language"). Other Jamaican writers who have gained international acclaim include Hazel Dorothy Campbell, the late Mikey Smith (1954–1983) and Linton Kwesi Johnson. In 2014, Mervyn Morris was appointed Poet Laureate of Jamaica.
Notable Jamaican writers
30emSee also
References
- Rebecca Tortello, "Pieces of the Past: The Arrival Of The Africans". A Jamaica Gleaner Feature, 3 February 2004.
- Michael Hughes, A Companion to West Indian Literature, Collins, 1979, p. 75.
- Becka’s Buckra Baby is available openly and freely online from the Digital Library of the Caribbean.
- Rowe, Marcia (2014), "Poet Laureate Morris Honoured At King's House", Jamaica Gleaner, 24 May 2014.
External links
- Becka’s Buckra Baby from the Digital Library of the Caribbean (1904)
- One Brown Girl and - a Jamaica Story from the Digital Library of the Caribbean (1909)
- Also in the All Jamaica Library, but not written by Thomas MacDermot, Maroon Medicine, by E. A. Dodd (listed as E. Snod) from the Digital Library of the Caribbean
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