Las Religiones, Ritmos y Lengua Africanos en la Cubania: Explorando la Estetica Creative de Nicolas Guillen

Abstract

In this study, cubanía is to be understood from the focus of Cuba‘s cultural and human identities. From this perspective, the emphasis is laid on the black, his cultural contribution to cubanía as well as the historical context (that is to say, his days of slavery, colonialism and imperialism) that have moulded his human identity. In other words, the black becomes the nucleus in defining the essence of being Cuban. And for the purposes of this study, African religion, rhythm and language are discussed to buttress the point that a definition of cubanía is incomplete without the due recognition and integration of the contribution of its black community. Consequently, Guillén as a poet will begin to bring the Cubans into a collective awareness of their full identity by calling attention unto the religion, rhythm and language of the African community that have shaped Cuba‘s identity. Guillén employs poetry as a tool to bring about a revolutionary change that will jolt the Cubans to recognize themselves as people bound by a common historic past but with a possible future without any forms of prejudices and discrimination.