Jamaican Sayings With Notes on Folklore, Aesthetics, and Social Control

In 1992, Jamaicans celebrate the 30 anniversary of Jamaica's formal independance from Britain. This collection of Creole sayings contributes to the interest in cultural preservation which exists in anticipation of the event. The sayings aim to trigger reflection and thought. They are never fully explained, and, says the author, ""in the most extreme situation one might well need an entire week to ponder and think seriously"" about their meaning. They exert pressure to conform to community standards, and they influence conduct in much the same way as religion does. The maxims draw upon a variety of flora, fauna, and real or imaginary creatures. The anansi, for example, famous for ""playin' fool fe ketch wise"" (playing foolish in order to catch the wise), is regarded as a favourite hero in folklore. Creole, initially constructed as a coded language, employs a number of West African linguistic traditions. These Creole sayings, an addition to the literature and ethnography of the Caribbean region, link Jamaican culture to its African past. They should be of interest to Latin American scholars, to students of comparative sociology and anthropology, and to the general public.