In the French and Spanish islands of the Caribbean, including Haiti (or St Domingue as it was previously known) the religious beliefs of enslaved Africans were adapted to the orthodoxies of the Catholic Church. Drums like this were used in voodoo ceremonies. In some islands, such as St Kitts, the beating of drums was forbidden by law except at Christmas. There was a fear that drum beats could be used to signal the start of a rebellion (as indeed they were in St Domingue, which led to the successful revolution and independent Haiti)
© Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives
Accession reference: Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives, Ea 7193
Themes
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Africa before Transatlantic Enslavement
The history of Africa and African people does not begin nor end with transatlantic slavery. Understand what Africa was like and what the continent lost as a result of the trade.
Background Reading
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The Lost Libraries Of Timbuktu
Until recently, many commentators on Africa claimed that African societies had no tradition of writing. With the rediscovery of ancient manuscript collections, some dating back to the 8th century AD, this perception is changing.
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Introduction To Various African Kingdoms