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December 15, 2024
Caribbean literary tradition features a fusion of African, European, and indigenous folkloric influences, much like Greek mythology’s absorption of other cultural influences. The formal Caribbean education system is a common experience that privileges Western literary traditions over our local culture, including Caribbean folklore. Our schools hardly teach Caribbean mythology; few writers incorporate it into their stories or characters.
Although Greek and other Western myths share striking similarities with our indigenous Caribbean myths, more attempts are needed to draw parallels or demonstrate the shared human experiences and storytelling motifs across European and Caribbean civilizations and cultures. This deficit is particularly unfortunate, considering that many in our school system are already familiar with the ‘classics’ of Western literary tradition.
Let’s turn our attention to a young Trinbagonian writer, Amy Baksh, who is a product of both literary traditions. In her work, “Retelling of the Greek Myth of Eros and Psyche [Parts I & II]“ she crafts a compelling narrative that compares the shared human experiences and storytelling motifs deeply rooted in the Caribbean and Greek cultures. We now alert you to the release of “Retelling of the Greek Myth of Eros and Psyche [Part II]”.
Our series on uncelebrated aspects of Caribbean Indigenous Knowledge — Caribbean Mythology and Caribbean Philosophy — continues next week as we introduce the final in our feature, Winthrop R. Holder’s “The Allegory of the Dungeon: Not Black Socrates, But Shadow (Winston Bailey) Learning Under an Oak Tree.”
We encourage you to join the conversation with Amy and the wider BDN readership…