The Yoruba people were involved in the slave trade most often as captive slaves taken aboard ships bound toward North America (Smith, 1988). Author Ellis (2008) expands on this history of Yoruba involvement in the slave trade as he helps tell his account of the trade itself during the middle of the nineteenth century. The Yoruba played a key role in the trade triangle which occurred between Africa, the Caribbean, and what was to become the United States. Traders would secure slaves in Africa and trade them for sugar in the Caribbean states. This sugar was then bound for the New World (United States) and then was traded for rum. The rum was shipped back to Africa, completing the trade triangle (Ellis, 2008). It is interesting to note that many of the Yoruba who were sold into slavery are the ancestors of modern-day Caribbean citizens as well as African-Americans. The Yoruba culture is very roust, and many of the slaves held onto their own religious beliefs throughout their journeys. This helped to contribute to the diverse religious and cultural beliefs that many of the Caribbean nations share today.
Politically speaking, many of the African cultures regard politics and culture as one and the same entity. The Yoruba are traditionally no different than many other cultures in that their political structure mimics their cultural and societal values and norms. It is therefore easier to understand how a culture like the Yoruba's does not blend very well with competing political or cultural ideals, and how there have been many wars involving the Yoruba (Apter, 1992). These wars are most commonly centered on political or governmental power, and the Yoruba people themselves are no strangers to the idea that they have to fight for the survival of their own culture. Author Laitin (1986) points out that for most African cultures, politics and culture are a Janus-faced entity (pp.ix).
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Essay Topic Examples 1. The Role of Yoruba Traditional Religion in Modern Society: This essay could explore the significance and the role that traditional Yoruba religion plays in contemporary times, arguing for its relevance or irrelevance in modern society. It might include how traditional beliefs and practices are being integrated or replaced by other religious systems. 2. Preserving Yoruba Language: A Necessity or Anachronism? This topic invites a discussion on the importance of preserving
The Influence of Afro-Cuban Cultural Forms on Cuba’s Music from Slavery to Present Introduction Both Spain and Africa have played an important part in establishing the cultural forms of Cuban customs and heritage, and as such each has impacted and influenced Cuban music in a big way. However, because no culture is static, changes to Cuban customs and culture have occurred and these too can be reflected in Cuba’s music. Examining Cuba’s
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Some Chinese researchers assert that Chinese flutes may have evolved from of Indian provenance. In fact, the kind of side-blown, or transverse, flutes musicians play in Southeast Asia have also been discovered in Africa, India, Saudi Arabia, and Central Asia, as well as throughout the Europe of the Roman Empire. This suggests that rather than originating in China or even in India, the transverse flute might have been adopted through the
Europe and Africa Understanding the Emergence of 'Ethnicity' and the Nation-State The historical emergence of ethnicities and nation-states in Europe and in Africa is continually questioned and re-interpreted by historians, sociologists, anthropologists, and mass media. Depending on the perspective of the author and the intention of the narrative, ethnicity can be seen as a colonial construct or as an inherent cultural identity through which more similarities with other ethnicities may be noted
Exploring their visual arts and artifacts helps improve understanding about Myanmar, Iran, Central African Republic, and Cuba. The ancient art and artifacts from these countries predate their modern statehood, making it challenging to find, for example, art that can be definitively located within what is now the Central African Republic. However, Iran has remained relatively contiguous since its heyday as the Persian Empire, and Cuba has boasted a vibrant modern
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