Tag Archives: Jamaica

The Ultimate Trickster God Faces Death

How African folklore dealt with slavery and hardship

By far the most iconic character in traditional African folktales is Anansi, the trickster spider god. His wit and charm got him out of thousands of seemingly impossible situations, which earned him a place in nearly every story told by … Continue reading

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The Jamaican Tradition of Nine Nights

A glimpse at this interesting funeral rite

Similar to the concept of a wake, in Jamaica (and other parts of the Caribbean), there is a funerary tradition known as the “Nine Nights,” or “Nine-Night,” in which the family and friends of a person who has died gather … Continue reading

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