Dominican Cultures: The Making of a Caribbean Society is an English translation of a collection of lectures and essays from leading Dominican scholars, edited by Bernardo Vega. I found it to be very useful as an introductory text, particularly regarding the rise of 'Creole' culture in the colonial period and its ties to the colonial system of agriculture and labor in the hatos. Vega's essay on indigenous contributions to Dominican culture were particularly enlightening, although limited to agriculture (the conuco system), certain crops, names of places or geographic features, the siting of towns, the bohio, and possibly the Dominican variant of Vodou (Taino allegedly appear as lwa (luas).
The subsequent essays discuss the Spanish contribution, African contributions, cultural creolization, the impact of various immigrant groups (Haitians, cocolos, Arabs, Germans, Italians, Dutch, Spanish, Puerto Ricans, etc.), and finally, change and modernization in the 20th century. Most essays offered a relatively balanced overview of these cultural changes over time, but Deive's essay on African cultural contributions to music, dance, religion, cuisine, language, and social life described blacks in outdated, stereotypical ways.
Overall, this serves as an exceedingly accessible source for anyone in need of an introduction to Dominican studies. Indigenous, African, Spanish, and immigrant groups helped shape the contours of dominicanidad in such a manner that reveals surprising facts, while also serving as an example of the complex dynamics that created our modern world.
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