Cocolo Dance Drama Tradition

The Cocolo dancing drama tradition developed among English-speaking descendants of British Caribbean slaves who had come to the Dominican Republic in the mid-nineteenth century to work in the sugar fields. Originally pejorative， the term “Cocolo”， which refers to the migrants working on the British sugar plantation of the island， is now used proudly. This linguistically and culturally distinct community set up their own churches， schools， benevolent societies and mutual assistance lodges. Their most distinctive expressions， however， were annual dancing drama performances in city of San Pedro.

Various Cocolo drama troupes used to perform at Christmas， on St Peter’s day and at galas and carnival festivities to pay tribute to the city's patrol Saint Peter on June 24. In their performances， themes from various worlds are creatively united. Music and dance genres of African origin blend with dramatic plots， legends and figures derived from biblical and medieval European literature. These include Christmas carolling， performances of string and scratch bands， the so-called Niega business， involving masquerades and the staging of theatrical scenes such as \"David and Goliath\"， \"Moko- Yombi\" and \"Cowboys and Indians\".

This fusion of African and British cultural themes renders it a special role in witnessing the historical development of Dominica. The influence of African culture is reflected on the unique values， customers and system in the Cocolo society. It can also be found in its unique cuisine， medicine traditions， linguistic form， social institutions （such as churches， gathering places， athletic clubs and schools） and dance drama tradition alike with medieval scenes. This special fusion of dance drama survives in the Spanish culture. Today older members of the Cocolo community still speak Caribbean English at home.

庫庫魯舞蹈戲劇傳統，由19世紀中葉來自多米尼加共和國講英語的加勒比地區移民中的工人創造。“庫庫魯”一詞一開始對移民含有貶義，這些移民在該島的英國蔗糖種植園中工作。他們建立了自己的教堂、學校、慈善會社和聚集會所，以提供互相幫助和組織集體文化活動，如在圣佩得羅城舉辦一年一度的庫庫魯舞蹈戲劇活動。

每年12月25日圣誕節和1月的第一個禮拜，都有各種各樣的庫庫魯舞蹈戲劇表演。每年6月24日，在向該城保護神圣彼得表達崇敬的慶典和狂歡節中，也能看到這一表演。這類表演中，音樂、舞蹈、手勢、源于非洲的人物和戲劇的情節、傳奇，從中世紀歐洲文學中提取的人物以及《圣經》人物混雜一體。慶典也包括一些集會，如圣誕頌歌、弦樂和打擊樂隊表演。還有一種被稱為“尼戈”的商業活動，其中包括化裝舞會和有場景的戲劇演出，如《大衛和歌利亞》、《莫可——揚比》（Moko-Yombi）、《牛仔和印第安人》和《媽咪》等。

庫庫魯文化結合了非洲和英國的傳統，因此它在見證多米尼加的歷史發展過程中具有特殊作用。非洲文化的影響體現在庫庫魯社會特殊的價值觀、習俗和制度中，也可以在獨特的烹飪和醫藥傳統、語言形式、社會機構（比如教堂、集會場所、體育俱樂部和學校）以及類似中世紀情景的舞蹈戲劇傳統中被找到。這些特殊的結合著非洲和英國傳統的舞蹈戲劇傳統，在該島的西班牙文化環境中幸存下來。目前，庫庫魯社區的老人們仍然在家里使用他們特殊的加勒比味英語。