Stacey Plaskett Instagram – During my time in Senegal with the House Intelligence Committee, I observed the rich connections and similarities between Senegalese cultural practices and the culture and folklife that I and many other Virgin Islanders grew up with. Traditions of storytelling, dance, and hair braiding were brought to the Caribbean from Senegal and other West African countries during the slave trade.
Today, those cultural imports can still be seen in the spiritual stilt dancing of our Moko Jumbies and the hair braiding practices in both Senegal and the US Virgin Islands. Teachers! As the school year begins, I encourage you to employ The Smithsonian’s Learning about Folklife: The U.S. Virgin Islands and Senegal (https://buff.ly/3LYpsn8) teaching guide to educate our youth on the rich history and complexities of the African and Caribbean diaspora.
And of course, I took time for Goree Island to make libations to the ancestors and come back through the Door of No Return. | Posted on 08/Aug/2024 03:30:21
