Africanisms in the Caribbean Region: African Descendants’ Resistance to Enslavement and Subjugation in Post-Emancipation

Abstract

This article explores the central role of Africanisms in Africans’ revolts against enslavement in Haiti and Jamaica. There is an investigation on the memories of Africa that motivated the military leaders and the African masses in their insurrections or wars against their European enslavers in these countries. Hence, there is an investigation of Africanisms such as knowledge of governance and political organization, military training, code of military conduct, African cosmologies, knowledge on the decentralization of power, among other African derived values and beliefs that were learnt in Africa. These Africanisms informed the military and other modes of resistance against European colonizers. There is also attention to traditional African spirituality. Evidence is presented on the influences of spiritual beliefs and practices on military incursions during the enslavement era and in post-emancipation culture. There is a discussion on Vodun, Legba, Kafou, Eshu, Obeah, and Anansi. There is an analysis of the factors that accounted for military success or failure in the enslaved Africans’ military wars or revolts against European enslavers in the countries being discussed. The current modes of resistance in post-emancipation are also addressed.