Afro-Mexico: Dancing between Myth and Reality

Glossary

| 1 5 1 | G L O S S A R Y Afroamericano Resident of the Americas who is of African descent; African American. Afroindígena Person of African and indigenous ancestry. Afromestizo Person of African and mixed-race ancestry. Afro-Mexican Resident of Mexico who is of African descent. arpa Portable harp used in Jarocho music. artesa Long, narrow, raised wooden platform used for performing the rhythmic dance Artesa. It is usually nine to twelve inches high and can accommodate about four dancers. barrio alto Literally, “higher neighborhood”; here referring to the upper-class residents of a village. barrio bajo Literally, “lower neighborhood”; here referring to the lowerclass residents of a village. bufo Variety show featuring comic and political sketches, as well musical and dance acts. The bufos that became popular in Cuba during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries included a range of black-faced characters; the bufo cubano has been compared to North American and British minstrel shows. cajón Hollow wooden box used as a percussion instrument in musical ensembles. The word literally means “box,” but the cajón is used for making music throughout the Americas, especially in African-descendant communities. caporal Spanish ranch foreman. The Caporal is one of the characters in the Straw Bull Dance. Casa de la Cultura Community cultural center established by the government to promote cultural activities and encourage public displays of regional art. Casas de la Cultura have been established in most major towns in Mexico. casta Social class system based on racial mixtures. The Spanish introduced the casta system in the New World to establish social boundaries between the various ethnic communities. chaparrera Chaps, or protective leather leggings, worn by ranchers. Chilena Dance style of the Costa Chica said to have originated when Chilean fishermen landed in Acapulco in 1882. In the Chilena performers wear classic folklore outfits of ruffled skirts and peasant pants. cofradía Brotherhood society. In African-descendant communities in the Americas, brotherhood societies were used to maintain ethnic, | 1 5 2 | a f r o - m e x i c o religious, and social traditions and were sometimes cauldrons of political activism. Often members of brotherhood societies would pool resources for community events or services. Corpus Christi Catholic holiday that occurs in mid-June and celebrates the body of Christ. In Latin American countries Corpus Christi festivities provide an opportunity for local celebrations that merge Catholic traditions with local community practices. corrales Corrals; enclosed areas originally used for containing animals that later became performance spaces. Some open-air corrales were eventually enclosed to become theatres in the round. corrido Storytelling or ballad song from the west coast of Mexico. Corridos generally tell stories of heroism, love, valor, and regional lifestyles. Costa Chica West coast of Mexico; includes the states of Guerrero and Oaxaca. Costeños Literally, “coastal people.” The Costeños dance features fishermen or alligator-hunting characters who wear black masks and represent the Afro-Mexican people of the coast. Danzón Couples dance performed in Cuba and on the east coast of Mexico that resembles a ballroom dance in that couples face one another and perform stepping patterns while holding their partners. diablo Literally, “devil.” The Devil Dance features masked dancers who perform devilish acts while moving through community streets. encomienda Spanish colonial system of dividing conquered territories into subdivisions that were placed under the tutelage of a Spanish citizen. An encomienda included both the land and the people on the land. The Spanish verb encomendar means “to entrust.” encuentro Meeting or conference to exchange knowledge or ideas. gente de color quebrada Literally, “burnt-skinned people.” The term referred to dark-skinned field-workers. Gueleguetza Annual folkloric dance festival held in the state of Oaxaca that commemorates and celebrates the region’s local customs and culture. jarana Small eight-string, guitarlike instrument used in Jarocho music. Jarocho A music and dance form that originated on the east coast of Mexico. In Jarocho dance the performers wear classic folklore outfits of ruffled skirts and peasant pants. La Llorona Mythical Mexican mother figure who drowns her children and then cries forever over their loss. La Minga Female character performed by a male dancer who appears in many Afro-Mexican dances of the Costa Chica. Malinche Native American woman who translated for Hernando Cortés in his conquest of Mexico and gave birth to his children. She is also known as Malintzín, Malinali, or Doña Marina. Some consider her a Mexican traitor; others embrace her...