“Limón Is Not Just Patí and Rice and Beans”. Elements That Make Up the Afro-Costa Rican Culture

Abstract

Within Costa Rican society, a reduced vision of Afro-Costa Rican culture limited it to the culinary of rice and beans, patí (an empanada filled with spiced meat), and the so-called Calypso music. This Afro culture in Limón, Costa Rica, is a heritage of Afro-Caribbean immigrants from the late 19th century. The Afro-Costa Rican culture of the 21st century has inherited elements from these immigrants, particularly the Jamaicans. This article aims to provide a historical approach to achieve two objectives: first, to verify how many of these elements of immigrant culture have been preserved; and second, to contribute to the United Nations declaration of the Decade of Afro-descendants (2015-2024) by conducting research focused on the Afro community. For this purpose, primary sources used were the oral history of two Afro-Costa Ricans born in the mid-20 century, and general information a Jamaican provided through e-mails for a more contemporary view of Jamaica's culture. Some 20th-century newspapers were also reviewed, as well as other publications related to the subject. Among the principal conclusions drawn, the study highlighted the persistence of elements typical of Afro-Caribbean immigrant groups' culture in the 20th century's turn. Besides, it is evident the modification of the culinary traditions adapted to the current society, as well as other inherited cultural elements, which currently deserve recognition from this Afro-Costa Rican culture that has important cultural elements that should be appreciated and preserved.