An Ontological Review of the Construction of So-Called Afro-Cuban Folklore
Living Folklore or Fabricated Folklore? An Ontological Review of the Construction of So-Called Afro-Cuban Folklore There is a question that must be formulated without hesitation and without concessions: to what extent does what is currently presented as “Afro-Cuban folklore” correspond to a living and continuous popular tradition, and to what extent does it result from a later process of construction, selection, reorganization, and institutionalization? This is not a minor issue. The answer determines not only how Cuban culture is interpreted, but also how the cultures of the New World have been shaped under the influence of ruling classes, ideological frameworks, and institutional systems of cultural legitimization. For decades, it has been assumed that Cuba represents an exceptional case in the preservation of African-derived religions, chants, and dances. However, the problem cannot be approached in a naïve or simplistic way. It is not accurate to claim that Cuba is the only t...