II.

Oral Literature

The earliest form of Caribbean literature is oral literature, consisting of a rich folktale tradition, legends and myths, and songs and poetry. It flourishes today in popular music, such as the calypso, the Cuban son, and the Puerto Rican bomba; in storytelling customs derived from West Africa and India; and in supernatural tales from African religions, including Santería, Lucumi, Vodun, and Shango. Caribbean oral literature also thrives in proverbs, riddles, and sayings that reinterpret African, European, and East Indian traditions. Prominent among these are anancy (spider trickster) stories; animal dilemma tales, which typically teach a moral lesson; stories of village life or evil women; tall tales; and rhetorical flourishes, such as boasting, toasts, and speeches.