Characters from Bahamian Folklore
by Shannon Christie
Folk
tales are stories that have been passed on by word of mouth originally never
written and only memorized. Often told as a means to entertain others
especially since in the past no such thing as television or internet was around
to provide amusement. These stories are heavily influenced by the culture of
the country, environment and often carry a moral so that a lesson can be
taught. Here in The Bahamas folk tales have been a staple of our culture.
Originating from as far back as when our ascendants were in slavery and had to
tell stories they heard as children to their own to salvage their culture, so
it won’t fade away to history. Due to both of our folktales originating from
enslaved Africans, southern American folktales will share similar element. The
stories may have change a tad bit over the years due to the nature of folktales
but have essentially remained the same. Some of the most popular folktale
characters often used are Ber Bookie, Ber Rabbi, the Lusca, Chickcharney and
Anansi.
Ber Bookie and Rabbi, a pair that always
searches for the easiest way to fill their belly without working hard. The pair
are often described as two stout men, with Rabbi being dressed in a nice suit
and Bookie dressed as a vagabond. The pair often gets into to problems due to
lazy habits however, it is usually Ber Bookie who suffers the most due to his
greedy and dim-witted nature as oppose to Ber Rabbi who was witty and
conservative. Ber Rabbi often tricked Ber Rabbi to fulfil most of their
mischief. Their stories were used to illustrate how greed will be your undoing.
Fun fact: Their American counterpart are anthropomorphic animals, more specifically
a goat and rabbit.
The Lusca is a mythical creature that is half-shark,
half-octopus. The Lusca lurks around in the underwater caves, tunnels and blue
holes found all over the Caribbean. However, it is believed that she lives
mostly in the underwater caves and blue holes around the Bahamas Islands,
especially around Andros, which is the largest island in the Bahamas. She is
mean spirited, and some islanders believe that she likes to drown divers and
explorers who are not careful. Some even believe that if your boat is over a blue
hole she could pull it in down into the dark waters. The tidal currents of the
inland blue holes are said to be the breath of Lusca. As she breathes in, water
pours into the caverns, in some cases forming a whirlpool, and when Lusca
breathes out, cold, clear water gushes up to the surface.
But Lusca is not all bad because the
tidal flow also brings food for the real creatures that live in
the blue holes, such as grouper, lobster and reef sharks and other fish. So,
Lusca has long been thought of as the guardian of the dark blue holes because
she makes sure the fish that live there are fed. Even today, many local
Bahamians stay away from the mystical blue holes.
Chickcharnies
live in Andros, the largest island in The Bahamas. They are elfish, birdlike
creatures with piercing red eyes. They have three fingers, three toes and a
tail, which they use to hang upside down from trees.
Chickcharnies
live in the pine forests and build nests by joining two pine trees together at
the top.
The
Chickcharney is peaceful but mischievous creatures and likes pretty colours.
When you go sightseeing in Andros carry flowers or wear bright colours to charm
them. Legend says if you see a chickcharney and show it respect, you'll be
blessed with good luck for the rest of your life. Be careful not to sneer at
it, however, or your head will turn completely around!
An
old legend has it that a man named Billy Bowleg - the great Seminole medicine
man - was adopted and trained by the Chickcharnies. They took him when he was
14 and kept him for five years. When he returned to this people his reputation
as a healer spread throughout the Bahamas.
Anansi is a very popular figure in Bahamian
stories. He is a trickster, and is usually a spider-god, but in some stories,
he is human and in some stories he is part spider part human.
Anansi
is very rebellious and sometimes he likes to cause trouble. He can do almost
anything. He can marry the Kings daughter, create money out of thin air; He can
trick the Devil and even cheat Death. Even if Anansi loses in one story, you
know that he will win in the next. He is very intelligent and quick-witted. No
matter what happens to him he usually comes out well in the end, often because
he was able to trick someone.
There
are many more folktales that can be offered if interested check out the book An
Evening in Guanima by Patricia Glinton- Meicholas or the channel of Patrica Bazaard, a
professional story teller on YouTube. My favourite folktale story is the
gaulin wife - What's yours?
