Dominican Culture

Carmen Laura Rodríguez. 20-SPSM-7-005

1. Contributions of black African culture in our culture.
One of the greatest contributions of Africans to Dominican culture is
gastronomy. According to the book "Dominican Gastronomy: History of
Creole Flavor", authored by Hugo Tolentino Dipp and Marcio Veloz
Maggiolo, this ethnic group played a determining role in the creative
process of the cuisine of Santo Domingo.
Another inheritance that we still preserve are "The candles", "The evil
eye", "the ensalmos" "The cult to the dead", "Altar in our homes", all these
beliefs that are still preserved in most places of our island are an
inheritance of the African slaves.

2. The forced migration of black slaves.

The transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced migration in history, and
certainly one of the most inhumane. The exodus of the African population
spread to many parts of the world over 400 years and is unprecedented in the
annals of history.

As a direct result of the transatlantic slave trade, most Africans ended up in the
Americas: 96 percent of the captives from the African coasts were crammed
onto slave ships in the ports of South America and the Caribbean Islands.

From 1501 to 1830, four Africans crossed the Atlantic for each European. The
demographics of the Americas at that time seemed more an extension of the
African diaspora than European. The legacy of this migration can be seen
today: large populations of African descent continue to live in the Americas.

3. Evidence of the black presence in our Dominican culture.

The African influence in the Dominican language is not very significant,
but it is still possible to trace numerous words imported by the black
slave that have been incorporated into the popular lexicon. Many of
these words are common to other Antillean countries, such as Cuba and
Puerto Rico.
4. Influence of the pirates in the Dominican culture.