Of Bosal and Kongo: Exploring the evolution of the vernacular in contemporary Haiti
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2018
Department/School
African American Studies
Publication Title
Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies
Abstract
In this article, I trace the multiple layers of meaning behind the words “bosal” and “kongo” in contemporary Haiti. I read the socio-political origins of the two terms, both of which issue from the slave era, and trouble the attributes that scholars traditionally ascribe to them. I also explore how two Haitian folklore characters, Uncle Bouki and Ti Malis, reflect and comment on historical and con-temporary class divisions. Then, using interviews as a basis for my discussion, I explore the two terms’ varied meanings within popular culture before analyzing them as terms not only of denigration but also of empowerment. To do this, I compare popular uses of the terms with the appropriation of the term “nigger” in African Ameri-can popular culture
Link to Published Version
Recommended Citation
Pressley-Sanon, T. (2018). Of Bosal and Kongo: Exploring the evolution of the vernacular in contemporary Haiti. Ufahamu: A Journal of African Studies, 41(1), 47–64. https://doi.org/10.5070/F7411042303