SPANISH CARIBBEAN

 PUERTO RICO

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/features/what-its-like-now-on-the-ground-in-puerto-rico.html

Puerto Rico, is only 100 miles long by 35 miles wide, making it the smallest island of the Greater Antilles. It is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean. 

Puerto Rico translates to "rich port" in Spanish because of the gold found in its waters back in the day. The culture of Puerto Rico has been greatly influenced by its history. With the blend of Taino Indians, Spanish and African cultures, comes a melting pot of people and traditions, as well as the impact of the United States political and social exchange.

CREOLIZATION IN MUSIC

Bomba is a traditional style of Puerto Rican music and dance that reflects the African heritage of the island (Colon- Leon, 2021). The rhythms comprises of three instruments: the maracas, cuá (two wooden sticks), and the Bomba barrel, which is a large drum played with the hands. There is an active interaction between the dancer, the percussionists, and the singer, a wordless conversation if you may. 

The video chosen is not so much a music video but portraying, the art, the grace, the class, the movement, the culture that is Bomba. I chose this video because its also a lesson to those who may not be familiar with or need more clarity of Bomba.

The drums have a hierarchy, with one being the Lead Barrel signaling the rhythm that the dancer steps to, and the Buleador drum which follows that rhythm. The dancer provides piquet' or unchoreographed Bomba steps, using her body and skirt (or just his body if the dancer is male) to convey a message (Lorenzo,2020) which challenge the Primo Barrell to keep up with her. The singer marks the length of the song and plays the maracas. The performance is a dialogue between musicians and dancers. The picture below beautifully demonstrates this description.

latinomusiccafe.com/2015/06/27/a-piece-of-puerto-rican-bomba-music-history/

CREOLIZATION IN FOOD

Mofongo is traditionally made from deep-fried green plantain pieces mashed with garlic and either salt-cured pork, pork crackling, butter, or oil. Some recipes use a salty broth to soften the plantains while mashing.

Mofongo originated among slaves of African descent brought to Puerto Rico by the Spanish colonizers. It is said to mimic Fufu, an African dish made from pounding yams or cassava, but with Puerto Rican ingredients. 

Mofongo originated in Puerto Rico, but it has become a delicacy to other countries as well, such as Cuba and Dominica making their own island version of it.

The video depicts how to make Mofongo in small quick steps. Easy enough for us to try this weekend. Should we make it a party?

References

Colon-Leon, V. (2021, March 30). Bomba: The Sound of Puerto Rico’s African Heritage. Music in a Minuet. Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https://nafme.org/bomba-the-sound-of-puerto-ricos-african-heritage/

Estevez, A. (2018, April 18). Mofongo Recipe - How to Make Puerto Rican Mashed Plantain. Hispanic Kitchen. https://hispanickitchen.com/recipes/mofongo-puerto-rican-mashed-plantain/

Lorenzo, J. (2020, December 14). Understanding Bomba: Puerto Rican Music of Resistance. Rewire. Retrieved June 10, 2022, from https://www.rewire.org/bomba-puerto-rican-music-resistance/

Puerto Rican Bomba and Plena: Shared Traditions — Distinct Rhythms. (n.d.). Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. Retrieved June 12, 2022, from https://folkways.si.edu/puerto-rican-bomba-plena-shared-traditions-distinct-rhythms/latin-world/music/article/smithsonian