What's Your Flavor?

What’s Your Flavor?

By Rachel Bradley

Puerto Rico is an island establish by many peoples near and far. The most ancient of this casserole dish are Taino Indian, African, and Spanish (photo right: Three native peoples represented by Three Kings). The United States, a former melting pot, is now a salad bowl. Citizens are able to keep their ancient traditions and embrace their culture rather than melt and assimilate to be one. Puerto Ricans are United States citizens, but they do not belong in the melting pot or salad bowl. Puerto Ricans are a casserole dish because most all citizens (yes, U.S. citizens) are able to embrace their culture, but enhance the others as well while still creating unity.

Each village in Puerto Rico has a patron saint, much like that of a mascot. Every year, the towns have a carnival to celebrate their mascot. There is only one municipal in the entire island that celebrates two patron saints, St. James and St. Patrick. This municipal, Loiza, is situated on the northeastern coast of Puerto Rico slightly west of Rio Grande. Loiza has one of the largest populations of African descendents in Puerto Rico since Nigerian slaves settled it.

With such vivid African ancestry, Loiza houses a vast majority of artists inspired by their culture. Take painter and sculptor, Samuel Lind, for example (photo: bottom center). Inspired by the natives, Lind captures the culture and feelings of Loiza’s history through smooth movement and color that tell a story of its people (photo: bottom left). His works can be found in prominent places around the island.

Another dominate art media to hear of the African natives is through Bomba music. Bomba is played by hand drums and one pair of maracas. A dancer salutes the lead drummer and begins to make the music as the lead drummer follows the beat of their steps. This is a very traditional Puerto Rican style of music, but many on the island confuse it with the salsa and other forms of dance. It is a mission of the Cultural Restoration organization to enlighten and encourage the people of their own island to learn and appreciate this music rather than take all styles from other caribbean islands.

Being a casserole dish encompassed by so many flavors, it is difficult for Puerto Ricans to own what is truly Puerto Rican. Through the arts produced in Loiza, the African heritage of Puerto Rico is kept alive.