Caribbean Folklore: Women as Keepers of Tradition

In Caribbean villages, storytelling wasn’t just entertainment—it was a way to teach, warn, and inspire.

Women, especially grandmothers, would gather children under the moonlight, weaving tales of trickster spirits, lost souls, and powerful

deities.

These stories weren’t just fiction; they carried lessons about survival, morality, and the unseen forces shaping their world.

Anansi the Spider, a legendary trickster, is one of the most famous figures in Caribbean folklore.

Women storytellers kept his tales alive, teaching cleverness and resilience.

Through Anansi’s adventures, children learned how wit could outmatch brute strength.

These stories, passed down orally, connected generations and preserved African heritage in the Caribbean.

Women also preserved tales of spirits like the Soucouyant, a shape-shifting vampire, and La Diablesse, a ghostly seductress.

These stories weren’t just spooky—they warned of real dangers, like strangers with bad intentions.

By sharing these legends, women protected their communities, ensuring that wisdom and caution were passed down through generations.

Even today, Caribbean women continue to pass down folklore through books, music, and festivals.

Their voices keep traditions alive, ensuring that the wisdom of the past isn’t lost.

Whether through bedtime stories or cultural events, they remain the guardians of history, shaping the identity of future

generations with every tale they tell.