Characters from Bahamian Folklore

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?