Jamaican literature

From Jamaica Wiki

Jamaica is a country known for its culture. There is a rich mixture of cultural elements and a great literature inspiration. The island has been birthplace and home of many important authors.

One of the most important aspects of Jamaican literature is the local patois, the language spoken in Jamaica.

Jamaican literature has its roots in the Jamaican folklore. There were many tales told by the slaves during the colonial period. These stories were mostly associated with those of the Ashanti tribe in Africa, from which many of the slaves originated. There were European tales also brought by immigrants from the United Kingdom and other parts of the world.

The speech type is an essential element of the folk telling. Humor is the basic element and it should persist in the retelling of the stories.

The most popular character in Jamaican tales is the Anancy. Anancy is an African spider-god who persists in the tales of the Caribbean region. Anancy usually goes against other animal-god characters, like Tiger and Donkey. The hidden meaning of these stories is in fact how slaves outsmart their owners.

Jamaican literature has many authors. The most famous ones are Claude McKay, Louise Bennett-Coverley, Derek Walcott, Dorothy Campbell and Michael Smith. McKay is known to be the founder of the Harlem Renaissance. Derek Walcott won the Nobel prize.