Bluefields dances with the rhythm of May Pole and Tululu
Arquimedes Hernández | May 22, 2013
Main days of May ancestral afro-Caribbean celebrations will be celebrated soon.
With the sound of drums, the city of Bluefields celebrates with dances, flavors and colors two of its most important dates: the Maypole parade and Tululu. These celebrations are part of the popular culture and represent the main basis of the idiosyncrasies of Creole people, as a fundamental part of their ancestral traditions; the activities start from the early days in May, with artistic expressions that represent the culture and identity of African descent.
According to the program of activities provided by INTUR, there’s schedule a Cultural Fair where you can enjoy the traditional food from Bluefields, the sale and exhibition of local handicraft and a variety of cultural performances from the area. All this activities will take place on May 26th at the street of the Regional Council and the Reyes Park starting from 9:00 AM.
The celebration will end on May 31st at the neighborhoods of Old Back and Punta Fria, with the famous and sensual dance of Tululu, an ancient tradition celebrated by the Afro-Caribbean’s in honor to Mother Earth and fertility. Note that these traditions are still an important part of several communities in the South Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAS) of Nicaragua, however the place where you can see it the most is Bluefields.
This year the festival is consecrated to the local historian Hugo Sujo, for his important and valuable contribution to the culture and preservation of this celebration. According to his research, it is clear that the tradition of Maypole came from the Caribbean Coast of England, through its main British colony in the Caribbean: Jamaica, who kept a close communication with the kingdom of Mosquitia since 1655.
Translated by Cynthia Cordero