The influence of religion in art has been abundantly documented throughout history. In the same way, all art is open to the audience's perspective, the paintings and other projects created here are also. It is hardly unexpected that art and religion have a close relationship, given how influential religion is in so many civilizations. This is especially evident when examining artwork created by or about Caribbean-based artists and artwork created by Caribbean artists themselves. Indigenous populations across the Caribbean were mistreated by colonialism and the African Slave Trade, Indian and Chinese Indentureships, and other forms of slavery. European powers also had an influence on the Caribbean's complicated history. These colonial powers and Indigenous tribes and communities imported to the Caribbean through enslavement and involuntary servitude have had a significant impact on the religious customs and beliefs that are exercised there today (De La Cruz, 2019).
During and after the liberation, religion had an important role in the Caribbean's white and black civilizations. Several European missionary organizations, including Baptists, Moravians, Quakers, and Catholics, spread Christianity to the islands. Several of these organizations were initially met with opposition, but their beliefs were gradually accepted and spread across the islands. Slavery was a major factor in the mingling of Catholicism and African religions. Santeria and Vodûn, two 'creolized' faiths, helped define the transition from slavery to emancipation in places such as Cuba and Haiti.
Thesis Statement
Popular religions of the Afro-Caribbean region, such as Haitian Vodou and Cuban Santeria, connect it to its African roots and have been stigmatized in modern society. Other examples include Jamaican Rastafari and Trinidadian Orisha-Shango. Therefore, in this paper, I will discuss the contemporary Afro-Caribbean culture. Additionally, the research will discuss the impact of religious belief on Caribbean culture and how that has impacted local communities and the underrepresentation of some of the region's more prevalent religions. There are a lot of different religions that have been embraced in the Caribbean throughout its history, but I am only going to focus on the ones that are widely referred to as Caribbean religions and the ones that are most popular in the region now.
Afro-Caribbean Religions
The introduction of Christianity and other religions and traditional African mysticism, magic, and religious beliefs and practices have all become contentious issues in the last century. Scientists are becoming interested in African-derived religions that were spread across the Americas during the Atlantic slave trade, which have not been identified in contemporary Africans. In the last five hundred years, the African Diaspora has spread across North and South America, the Caribbean, Latin America, and a tiny portion of Northern Europe.
A significant portion of the cultural heritage of several Africans who were transported to the New World as slaves were lost (Hödl, 2021). As a result, certain Africans in the New World, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean, held stubbornly to their gods, considering them a source of serenity in an unfamiliar world. Individuals from throughout Africa carried with them a wide range of religious traditions. Those religions emphasized possession by mythical creatures that gained the most appeal in the New World (De La Cruz, 2019). It became an item of religion that' whenever the drums spoke, and the correct hymns were chanted, the gods in Africa would hear their children throughout the seas. In other Afro-Caribbean tribes, such drums were a signal to their forefathers in their newly adopted homeland. The gods and ancestors were quickly summoned by the sound of the drums and joined in their rituals.
Before colonialization, the use of Zema was a religious practice throughout the Caribbean. Zems are revered as sacramental artifacts. There is a strong connection between the practice of Zems and honoring one's forefathers and mothers. It indicated one's closeness to the supernatural world if one had studied Zems in depth. According to folklore, some Zems were capable of making it rain, growing plants, and even conversing with their owners. In the Greater Antilles, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Cuba had substantial Zems-based religious traditions. Since these Zems have been discovered in so many Caribbean countries, they have been thoroughly recorded and are now prized artifacts, some of which may be found in museums. The spiritual practice of Zems' is well-known in the Caribbean as a distinct form of religious devotion. Numerous religious customs spread throughout the Caribbean throughout colonialism. Obeah and its relatives, Vodou, Palo, and Santera, which are derivations of African religion and variances perhaps due to the nature of imperialism, are one of the religions noted for their relationship and correlation with the Caribbean (Stevens-Arroyo, 2002). There is a strong connection between these two practices when it comes to sorcery and dark magic. It is still prevalent in the Caribbean today because Obeah has both a positive and a negative reputation because of the many diverse variations in practice.
Santeria in Cuba
As a religion, Santeria is founded on Yoruba rituals and customs, with some Roman Catholic elements thrown in. The Rule of Osha and La Regla Lucumi are two more names for this religion. The slave trade in Cuba led to the creation of the Santeria religion, a mashup of other religions. There is a strong belief in Santeria in Cuba (Brown, 2021). They can be encountered on buses, in barbershops performing musical acts, in houses, and in Havana's forests, where they execute rituals. Enslaved peoples in the Spanish Caribbean founded Santeria as a religion. Nigerian Yoruba traditions are its foundations, but the impact of Catholicism has made it one of the world's most diverse religions. The orishas' wisdom is crucial to Santeria. Orishas, like saints, are spirits who guide the faithful. Every individual possesses an orisha, if not several. Engaging with orishas can provide new perspectives and insights into one's sense of self, community, and mission.
It is a religious practice that recognizes the intimate connection between humans and the powers of nature and their ancestors. Ache and ebbs are the two core ideas. The power of Ache is heavenly. Anything that is possible via Ache is mediation. This heavenly force of the Orishas is at the root of all ceremonies and rituals. Using Ache, any obstacle may be overcome and all issues handled. Orishas use Ebbo as a sacrifice to rescue their captives from enslavement by sickness, witchcraft, and incarceration. Flowers, fruits, candles, or the Orishas' favorite cuisines are all examples of acceptable Ebbo offerings. The Yorubas believe that the cosmos is divided into two opposing forces. Orishas and good forces rule one, but 'login' and evil take control of the other. This syncretic relationship between African religion and Catholicism introduced to Cuba by the Spanish profoundly affected Cuba. Santeria is now prevalent in the United States, not just in Cuba (Brown, 2021).
Vodou in Haiti
This theology has its roots in the religious traditions of West and Central Africa, where Haiti's ancestors originated, and European invasions of Africa and France's west coast incursions into Haiti. Slavery shaped its beliefs and practices, which is the product of that brutality. Voodoo conjures visions of animal sacrifices, enchanting dolls, and repeated spells for many people in the West. It is a religion of ancestor spirits and patron saints practiced by the black diaspora in the U.S., South America, and Africa, including Haiti. Unlike many popular depictions of magic and ritual, Voodoo acts as a healthcare system by giving religious healing. Voodoo is used in a variety of ways in Haitian society today. Its involvement in healing is a significant contribution (Bender, 2020).
Voodoo is a conglomerate of African and Catholic practices, an amalgamation of African beliefs and rituals. Voodoo is a religion and mysticism that has evolved over centuries, with sophisticated traditions and symbolism. The majority of Haiti's countryside and urban population adhere to this faith. Voodoo worshippers want the same things from their faith as anybody else: relief from suffering, fulfillment of wants, and a sense of security in the face of adversity. Voodoo has a long and illustrious history, and its practitioners continue to reap the benefits of their efforts (Bender, 2020). Despite this, the Catholic and Protestant Churches continue to attack Voodoo's practice of animal sacrifices. Compared to the days of the colonial era, Voodoo is no longer as horrifying.
Rastafari in Jamaica
Jamaica's Rastafari movement began in the 1930s with the ascension of Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia as King 1930. They think Haile Selassie is a god and that he will bring back to Africa those who have been exiled as a result of the colonization and the slave trade. Beginning in the 1930s, the Rastafari movement grew to numerous nations around the globe. This movement's ideology is intertwined with Protestantism, mysticism, and a pan-African political orientation. Those who identify themselves as Rastas, or members of the Rastafarian movement, have a unique perspective on their past, present, and future. When drawing on the Bible's Exodus story, they see people of African origin in the Americas as 'exiles in Babylon,' rather than 'understand.' They believe that slavery, economic inequality, and racial 'downpression' are tests from Jah (God) (rather than oppression) (James, 2019).
Contemporary Babylon is a clear example of Rastafarianism's current assertiveness, which involves the past sovereign state of Great Britain and its current great industrial force, Jamaica's bourgeois state, and its church. Jamaica is claimed to have been afflicted by Babylon (James, 2019). As of late, the movement's focus has been on how it views nature. Some of the lifestyle practices of Rastafarians, such as uncombed locks and beards, and ganja, stem from Rastafarian beliefs that nature is a nonindustrial society.
It has been estimated that Rastafarianism has had a significant impact on Jamaican popular music from its inception, sometime in the 1960s. The Rastafarians' acute drums influenced the quick pace of ska, and reggae was born. While many reggae songs criticize society, others extol the virtues of Ras Tafari, Jamaican heroes, independence, and ganja. Rastafarian poets and prose writers have a strong focus on the African identity and the continent of Africa in their work.
Other sections of the Caribbean, Western Europe, and the U.S. have become familiar with the Rastafarian culture, including artworks, poetry, music, and philosophy. There are a number of African countries where Rastafarian music has made its way. There has been no drop in the movement since Haile Selassie's overthrow in 1974 and his death (James, 2019). Rastafarianism emerged in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries because of certain circumstances, and it has persisted because of these circumstances and the international environment.
The Importance of Religion to Caribbean Immigrant Identity
Many individuals around the world place a high value on their religious beliefs. For many immigrants, religion becomes more than just a family tradition or habit, but a method to connect with their home country's culture and traditions. Immigrants see religion and other cultural traditions as more important. There are many Caribbean immigrants in New York City who rely on their faith for help in dealing with the difficulties of daily life as a new arrival to a new country.
Several communities in the Caribbean have developed new religious traditions centered on the more conventional and conservative doctrines of the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches over time and following colonization. Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Protestant congregations in the U.S. have had a considerable number of Caribbean immigrants join them. In contrast, the majority of Caribbean immigrants tend to develop their church communities, either through the founding of a new syncretic church or the establishment of a uniformly Caribbean community inside an already established church. Doing so helps them adapt to American society more easily.
Syncretic religions draw their theological inspiration from both indigenous African and Western sources. These hybrid faiths arose as a direct result of the oppression of African slaves and Caribbean indigenous peoples. The history of the peoples of the Caribbean is a major focus of these syncretic faiths. They often use the sacred scriptures and philosophy of the West to connect with the Caribbean diaspora and keep them as members of their faith. Some of the religions are Shango Baptist, Yoruba Orisha Baptist, and Haitian Vodou. Second and third generations can learn about their Caribbean and African ancestry through these religions, which provide a story about their origins.
Because of the formation of Caribbean religious groups, immigrants and their families can reinvest in cultural customs from their homeland, helping them integrate into American society while keeping their unique Caribbean identity. Adding their cultural elements to thousands of years old traditions, Caribbean immigrants and their families have had a significant impact on American religion in some circumstances.
Conclusion
In spite of the fact that some of the Caribbean's religious traditions are reflected in its art, the religions that make up the Caribbean remain mostly unknown outside the region. Despite this, indigenous religions are still practiced throughout the Caribbean, and the influence of European practices in the region may be seen in the religious activities of these religions (Stevens-Arroyo, 2002). Santera, Vodou, and Rastafari are examples of Creole religious practices that combine European and African spiritual beliefs. Throughout colonial history, we can witness Christianity's influence in the Caribbean. We learn about the numerous ways people have been displaced, assimilated, and found a sense of place through their customs and heritage. The history of the Caribbean and its diverse religious traditions are depicted in a brief glimpse. This illustrates the various Caribbean communities and the various nationalities, races, and cultures that are practiced. The art and religions of the Caribbean reflect the region's multiculturalism.