Anacaoana, Taino queen (Women's history podcast)
Summary
TLDRThe radio program 'Your Grandma Rocks' explores the life of Anacaoana, a Taino queen from Hispaniola, known for her resistance against Spanish conquest. Born in 1474, Anacaoana was a peace-loving figure, yet portrayed variably across Spanish accounts. The show delves into her story, featuring music from Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Cuba, reflecting her cultural impact. Despite the scarcity of firsthand accounts, Anacaoana's legacy as a symbol of defiance and cultural identity endures, resonating in modern Caribbean art and history.
Takeaways
- 🎓 Philippe Girard and Amber Hale are professors from McNeese State University, hosting a program exploring the life of Anacaoana, a historical figure from the Caribbean.
- 🌟 Anacaoana was a Taino queen, born around 1474, who was the sister of a king in Haiti and the wife of a king in the Dominican Republic.
- 🛡️ She was known for her resistance against the Spanish conquistadors and is considered a national hero in several Caribbean countries.
- 🎵 The program includes music from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba, reflecting Anacaoana's cultural heritage and influence.
- 🏰 Anacaoana was born into the Taino civilization, which dominated the northern Caribbean before the Spanish conquest.
- 👑 Her name, meaning 'golden flower' in the Taino language, signifies her high status as a royal figure in her society.
- 📚 The historical accounts of Anacaoana's life vary, often reflecting the biases of the Spanish authors who wrote about her.
- 🌴 The Taino people had no written language, so much of what is known about Anacaoana comes from Spanish conquistadors' accounts, which may be skewed.
- 🗣️ Anacaoana's voice is missing from historical records, and the stories told about her are often filtered through the perspectives of others.
- 🔥 The Spanish conquest brought diseases, forced labor, and violence to the Taino people, significantly impacting their population and culture.
- ⚔️ Anacaoana's resistance to Spanish colonization and her ultimate execution have made her a symbol of defiance and a figure of admiration in the Caribbean.
Q & A
Who are the hosts of the 'Your Grandma Rocks' radio program?
-The hosts of the 'Your Grandma Rocks' radio program are Professor Philippe Girard from the history department and Amber Hale from the biology department, both at McNeese State University.
What is the significance of the name 'Anacaoana' in the Taino language?
-In the Taino language, 'Anacaoana' means 'golden flower'.
What was the original name of the island that is now split into Haiti and the Dominican Republic?
-The original name of the island was Ayiti, which meant 'mountainous island'.
How did the Tainos commemorate important events without a written language?
-The Tainos commemorated important events through public performances called areitos, which served as a form of historical record.
What was the Spanish term for the Taino kings?
-The Spanish referred to the Taino kings as 'caciques'.
What was the name of the fort built by Christopher Columbus in Haiti?
-The fort built by Christopher Columbus in Haiti was called Fort Navidad, meaning 'Fort Christmas'.
What event led to the death of Anacaoana's husband?
-Anacaoana's husband was captured and sent to Spain on a ship, but he died en route, possibly of sorrow or smallpox, according to different accounts.
How did Anacaoana use areitos to communicate with the Spanish?
-Anacaoana used areitos, a form of public performance, to convey messages and negotiate with the Spanish, such as organizing a dance with 300 naked virgins and staging a mock battle.
What was the Spanish system of forced labor imposed on the Tainos called?
-The Spanish system of forced labor imposed on the Tainos was called 'repartimiento'.
How was Anacaoana executed by the Spanish?
-Anacaoana was executed by public hanging in the city of Santo Domingo.
Why is Anacaoana considered a national hero in Haiti?
-Anacaoana is considered a national hero in Haiti because she fought against Spanish colonization and was executed for her resistance.
What is the significance of the novel 'Anacaona, Golden Flower of Haiti' by Edwige Danticat?
-The novel 'Anacaona, Golden Flower of Haiti' by Edwige Danticat is significant as it provides a narrative of Anacaoana's life and her struggle against Spanish colonization, offering insights into her character and historical context.
What misconception did Eduardo Sanchez have about the origin of the words in his symphony dedicated to Anacaoana?
-Eduardo Sanchez falsely claimed that the words in his symphony dedicated to Anacaoana were of Taino origin when they were actually of Congolese origin, coming from voodoo ceremonies organized by African slaves in Cuba.
Outlines
🎙️ Introduction to 'Your Grandma Rocks' Show
The script opens with an introduction to the radio show 'Your Grandma Rocks' hosted by Philippe Girard from the history department and Amber Hale from the biology department at McNeese State University. The show aims to explore the lives of notable women in history, starting with Anacaoana, a significant figure from the Caribbean. The hosts set the stage by mentioning that Anacaoana was related to royalty in what is now Haiti and the Dominican Republic and was involved in conflicts with Spanish conquistadors. The introduction also highlights the inclusion of music from the regions Anacaoana was associated with, emphasizing the cultural aspect of the show.
🏝️ Anacaoana's Background and Taino Heritage
This paragraph delves into Anacaoana's origins, discussing her birth around 1474 on the island of Ayiti, later known as Hispaniola, which is now divided into Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Anacaoana was a Taino, a Native American group that inhabited the northern Caribbean before the Spanish conquest. The Tainos, related to the Arawak Indians, migrated from South America to the Caribbean. Anacaoana, whose name means 'golden flower,' was of high social status being the sister of the king of Jaragua and the wife of the king of Maguana. The paragraph also touches on the lack of firsthand Taino accounts due to the absence of a written language and the reliance on Spanish accounts, which may be biased.
🛡️ Columbus's Arrival and Anacaoana's Resistance
The narrative shifts to 1492 with Columbus's arrival in Haiti and the subsequent establishment of Fort Navidad. It recounts the story of Anacaoana's husband, the king of Managua, leading an attack against the Spanish, possibly with Anacaoana's involvement. The paragraph discusses the varying accounts of Anacaoana's life, emphasizing the Spanish authors' portrayal of her as violent to justify their conquest. It also hints at the broader context of the Tainos' resistance to invasion, including the impact of European diseases and the Spanish's brutal treatment of the indigenous people.
🎶 Music and Anacaoana's Legacy in Dominican Republic
The paragraph introduces a segment of the show dedicated to music, specifically a lively song by Milly Quezada, known as the Queen of Merengue in the Dominican Republic. The hosts draw a parallel between Milly Quezada's royalty in music and Anacaoana's royal status in history. The paragraph also reflects on Anacaoana's life during the Spanish conquest, her portrayal as a rebel or freedom fighter, and the challenges of interpreting her actions through the lens of Spanish accounts.
🎭 Anacaoana's Diplomatic and Cultural Influence
This section focuses on Anacaoana's role in diplomacy and cultural expression through the Taino tradition of the 'areito,' a public performance commemorating significant events. Anacaoana is said to have organized an areito to negotiate with Bartholomew Columbus, using it as a tool for communication and possibly to influence the outcome of the negotiations. The paragraph explores the complexity of interpreting Anacaoana's intentions and actions, as well as the Spanish chroniclers' potential biases in recording these events.
👑 Anacaoana's Rise to Power and Tragic End
The paragraph describes Anacaoana's ascension to power following the deportation of her husband to Spain and the death of her brother in 1503. It discusses the Spanish justification for their harsh treatment of the Tainos, including forced labor and the introduction of new diseases. The narrative also covers Anacaoana's refusal to submit to the Spanish, leading to her execution by hanging at the age of 29. The paragraph highlights the growth of her reputation over time and her portrayal as a mythic figure rather than a historical person.
📚 Anacaoana's Posthumous Fame and Cultural Impact
The final paragraph reflects on Anacaoana's enduring legacy, particularly after many Caribbean islands gained independence. It mentions her status as a national hero in Haiti and an icon in the Spanish Caribbean, with references to a novel and a symphony composed in her honor. The paragraph also addresses the manipulation of Anacaoana's image for political purposes and the ongoing efforts to finance fellowships at McNeese, concluding with a thank you to the listeners and sponsors of the show.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Anacaoana
💡Taino
💡Hispaniola
💡Conquistadors
💡Cacique
💡Areito
💡Columbian Exchange
💡Bartolome de las Casas
💡National Hero
💡Repartimiento
💡Independence
Highlights
Introduction to the radio program 'Your Grandma Rocks' exploring the lives of famous women in history, starting with Anacaoana, a remarkable woman from Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Anacaoana was the sister of a Native American King in Haiti and wife of a king in the Dominican Republic, battling Spanish conquistadors.
Anacaoana's name means 'golden flower' in the Taino language, highlighting her royal status and cultural significance.
The Taino people, related to the Arawak Indians, migrated from South America to the northern Caribbean, forming the dominant group before the Spanish conquest.
Anacaoana's life and actions are primarily known through Spanish accounts, which may have biased or manipulated the story to justify their conquest.
Contrasting accounts of Anacaoana portray her as both a peace-loving figure and a violent rebel, depending on the Spanish author's agenda.
Anacaoana's involvement in the armed resistance against the Spanish is disputed, with some accounts suggesting she was part of a revolt led by her husband.
The Columbian Exchange brought European diseases to the Americas, devastating the Taino population and possibly contributing to Anacaoana's husband's death.
Anacaoana's role in organizing an areito, a public performance in Taino culture, demonstrates her influence and the importance of such events in commemorating history.
The Spanish conquest and its impact on the Taino people are discussed, including forced labor systems like repartimiento and the introduction of new diseases.
Anacaoana's defiance of the Spanish, refusing to become a concubine of a conquistador, showcases her as a symbol of resistance.
Anacaoana's execution by public hanging in 1503 and her growing reputation as a national hero after the Caribbean islands gained independence.
The novel 'Anacaona, Golden Flower of Haiti' by Edwige Danticat is recommended for further exploration of her story.
Anacaoana's legacy as an icon in the Spanish Caribbean, with a symphony composed in her honor and her name used for an all-female Cuban band.
The manipulation of Anacaoana's image to fit political agendas throughout history, reflecting the challenges of understanding the true story of her life.
The program's funding by a Juliet Hartdener grant and the history department at McNeese, highlighting the importance of supporting women in the humanities.
Transcripts
Hello my name is Philippe Girard, I am a professor in the history department at McNeese State University. And
I am Amber Hale! I'm from the biology department at McNeese. Welcome to 'Your Grandma Rocks" where
we explore the lives of famous women in history. Welcome and bienvenue à nos amis francophones ! Vous écoutez la radio de l’université McNeese.
On the program today, music and history as we retrace the life of a remarkable
woman. She was the sister of a Native American King in what is today Haiti and the wife of a king in
the Dominican Republic. She battled the Spanish conquistadors and she paid the ultimate price
for it. Her name was Anacaoana. Along the way we'll sample songs from Haiti and the Dominican
Republic, where she came from and from Cuba, where she's also considered a national hero. We will
even throw in a Puerto Rican song for free! That song is called "Anacaoana" by Cheo Feliciano.
Bonjour and welcome back to "your grandma rocks!" We just listen to the song "Anacaoana" Je m'appelle
Philippe Girard. And I'm Amber Hale! Today we're exploring the life of you guessed it Anacaoana!
She came from an island originally known as Ayiti, which meant "mountainous Island." The Spanish
renamed it "Hispaniola", the Spanish island. Today the island is split between the republic of
Haiti to the west and the Dominican Republic to the east. She was born around 1474, about
20 years before the first voyage of Christopher Columbus. She was a Taino, the Native American
group that dominated the northern part of the Caribbean before the Spanish conquest. The
Tainos are related to the Arawak Indians of the Amazon. Over the years they had migrated from South
America to the northern Caribbean, where they settled in Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, and Cuba. Her
name meant "golden flower" in the Taino language. She was born in the kingdom of Jaragua. That would
be around Port-au-Prince today. Jaragua was one of five kingdoms in Hispaniola. Each was ruled
by a Taino king known as a cacique. She stood at the top of the social pyramid since she was the
sister of the king of Jaragua. In fact, she was a royal twice-over because she married the ruler
of the kingdom of Maguana, which is in today's Dominican Republic. The two had a child together
but the details about this child have been lost to history. No big surprise there. Our knowledge of the
Tainos is pretty sketchy in general because they didn't have a written language, and they did not
survive the Spanish conquest. Instead, we must rely on accounts by the Spanish conquistadors: that is
to say, the very people who conquered the Tainos. You know what they say: history is written by the
winners! Well that definitely applies here. Those Spanish accounts vary widely. Depending on the
author, the most famous account was by Bartolome de las Casas, a priest known as the quote "protector of the
Indians." He portrayed the Tainos like Anacaoana as peace-loving. That may have been true but Las
Casas was trying to prove that he could easily convert the Tainos if only the conquistadors
treated them more gently, so he may have tweaked their story a little. Other accounts by Fernandez
de Oviedo and Peter d'Anghiera are completely different. Those authors describe the Tainos as
savage brutes. But they had their own agenda: they wanted to justify the conquest of the Caribbean
and the enslavement of the Tainos. Today the people of the Caribbean portray Anacoana and the
Tainos in a very positive light. Which is also problematic: they want to find national heroes
who resisted European colonization. The one thing missing from all of these accounts is Anacaoana's
own voice. We face the same issue when we studied La Malinche, she another Indian woman who was active
during the Spanish conquest of Mexico. La Malinche and Anacoana were two key figures in the
history of that period and yet we have no document by them. So, the only thing we know for sure is
that Anacaoana was the sister and the wife of two kings. It's now time to set the clock forward to
1492. The year in which Columbus sailed the ocean blue. But we'll take a musical break first. Since
she came from the area of Port-au-Prince, can we listen to some Haitian music? I have a great
song for you. It's called "Ti Chans Pou Ayiti" and it's essentially Haitian rap. I didn't know you
liked Haitian rap? I normally don't, but I make an exception for this one. I used to play it full
blast when picking up my daughter from ballet. She either had to pretend that she didn't know
me and walk all the way home, or walk up to the car and acknowledge to her fancy ballet friends that
the guy playing the Haitian rap song was her dad. Oh poor girl. Don't worry she got over it.
Welcome back I'm Amber Hale co-host of "your grandma rocks" your favorite women's history
show on KBYS. E je suis Philippe Girard. C’était “une petite chance pour Haiti.” Vous écoutez la radio de l’université McNeese. We
just listen to some Haitian rap. Which wasn't too bad! I knew you'd like it! Before our break,
Anacaoana, the subject of today's show, was an Indian queen living in what are today Haiti and
the Dominican Republic. The year was 1492 when Columbus after stopping in the Bahamas and Cuba
made his way to Haiti. On Christmas Eve, he decided to take a little break. So he left his flagship in
the hands of an underling who then proceeded to wreck the ship on a coral reef. Oops! With
the wreckage from his flagship, Columbus built a fort in northern Haiti: that was the first
Spanish settlement in the New World. He called it Fort Navidad, meaning "Fort Christmas." Columbus
and his men were later attacked by a group of Taino Indians near the Samana Peninsula. They
called that spot "Punta Flecha": the peninsula of arrows. Apparently the leader of the attackers
was none other than Anacaona's own husband, the king of Managua. Her husband then proceeded
to destroy the Spanish settlement at Fort Navidad. Supposedly Anacaona was with him. But
remember that accounts of Anacaona's life vary a lot depending on the authors. The story of her
involvement in the armed resistance were spread by Spanish authors who wanted to portray her as
violent to justify the conquest. These stories also never explained why the Tainos had revolted in the
first place. After all, they were the ones who had been invaded! So, depending on your perspective, Anacaona
could be described as a rebel against the Spanish or as a freedom fighter defending
her homeland. Her husband was eventually captured and sent to Spain on a ship. But he never made
it there: he died en route, supposedly of sorrow. I think that's another instance of hiding important
truths about the conquest. When they settled in the Caribbean, the Spanish brought many diseases that
were unknown in the Americas. That's called the Columbian Exchange: when the very different ecosystems
of Europe and Americas collided. The Tainos had no natural immunity against European diseases, so
they died in huge numbers from imported diseases like smallpox. Maybe that's what killed off Anacaona's
husband: smallpox, not sorrow. Oh that sounds more likely. But enough about war and pestilence.
Time for our third song! That song is actually called "Take my life." Oh No sounds like a real downer?
No, it's a lively song by Milly Quezada. She's very popular in the Dominican Republic, where she's known as Queen of Merengue. So she is royalty too! Yes! Just like Anacaona!
Bonjour a tous and welcome back to "your grandma rocks" on KBYS. This was the 2011 Dominican song
"Toma mi vida" by Milly Quezada. I am Philippe Girard. And I'm Amber Hale. Today we're covering the
life of Anacaona, a Taino queen who lived during the Spanish conquest of Hispaniola. She's been
portrayed very differently depending on the sources. Supporters of the conquest accused
her of destroying Spanish settlements. But we get a very different story from the priest
Bartolome de las Casas. His story takes place in 1496, four years after the first contact,
and it involves Bartholomew Columbus. Who was the brother of Christopher Columbus. Bartholomew went
to the kingdom ruled by Anacaona's brother to collect a tribute in gold. The brother only
wanted to give him some hemp and cotton though, and so negotiations began. Anacaona played
a central role in that process by organizing an areito. What does that mean? It's a type of public
performance that was a major part of Taino culture. Remember that they didn't have a writing
system: so they would stage plays as a way to commemorate important events from the past. So
they wanted to have a history, even if they didn't know about writing. Yes, history matters! Shaping
the past has always been a political tool. Taino chiefs could send a message based on the kind of
areito that they selected for their guest. They could pick a peaceful poem accompanied
by dances and drumming; or they could celebrate past victories with battle reenactments. So, which
kind of entertainment did Anacaona pick for Bartholomew Columbus? Supposedly, she had
300 naked virgins dance for the benefit of her Spanish guests. Was she trying to obtain better
items by titillating her guests, I mean after all, all of them are male, right? Maybe but remember
that we only know of these events through Spanish sources. So maybe the author was trying to portray
the Tainos as naked and lascivious savages. So that they had a reason to conquer and civilize
them. Exactly, so we're left with a lot of questions and few answers. It seems that Anacaona was
also involved in drafting the lyrics, in which case she was not just a queen but a poet. But
known of the Taino poetry has survived. That's so frustrating. The next day Anacaona put
together a very different kind of show. This time, she staged the mock battle where people fought
each other with wooden swords. Wow, so she used the carrot and the stick. 300 naked virgins if
the Spanish wanted to offer favorable terms or some formidable warriors if they wanted to fight.
That reminds me of Queen Njinga, who also mixed diplomacy and war when facing the Portuguese
in Angola. We did a show about her. So did it work? According to the chronicler Bartolome de las Casas,
it did. But then again, he wanted to encourage his fellow Spaniards to negotiate with the Tainos. Time
for more music? Sure we're headed back to Haiti this time with a classic song "Ayiti Cherie."
This was "Beloved Haiti" by the band Ti Coca. You're listening to "your grandma rocks" on KBYS! I'm
Amber Hale. Et je suis Philippe Girard. Today we are retracing the life of the Tiano Queen Anacaona, who ruled
parts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic until the Spanish conquest. Initially, she was just the
wife of the king of Managua, and the sister of the king of Jaragua. But her husband was deported to
Spain, and then in 1503 her brother also died. That left her in charge of a huge chunk of the island
of Hispaniola. By this point, she had largely given up on diplomacy. The Spanish had a good explanation
for it. According to one chronicler "she was very dishonest in the venereal act with the Christians,
and she was renowned as the most dissolute woman that could be found on the entire island." Wait did
you just call her the b-word? Essentially yes! That happens to a lot of powerful women who don't want
to play along. Blaming her depraved morals was a way to hide the real reason why the Tainos
revolted: the Spanish had subjected the Tainos to a form of forced labor known as repartimiento.
Under this system, the Tainos were expected to work for a part of the year for free for
the Spanish, like medieval serfs. Also the Taino population was in free fall because of all the
new diseases introduced from Europe. And don't forget the outright Spanish brutality. Our other
main source, Las Casas, gives graphic descriptions of the atrocities committed by the conquistadors.
One infamous incident involved governor Ovando, who summoned all the Taino Chiefs for what
was supposed to be a peaceful meeting. Las Casas described the scene like this quote "300 leaders
arrived upon the summons of the governor. He made those of the highest rank enter into a large thatch
structure by deceit, and once inside, he ordered that it be set on fire and he burned them alive.
All the others were killed with lances or put to the sword." Where was Anacaona
at the time? She had been summoned to that meeting too, so she witnessed this horrible scene. Why didn't
they kill her along with the other Chiefs? "To show her honor" according to Las Casas. Clearly she
was seen as a special person. According to a local tradition, the Spanish offered her clemency if she
agreed to become the concubine of a conquistador. But she refused saying that she'd rather die then
sleep with the enemy. So, she was a dissolute woman according to the Spanish, and a saint according
to her admirers? And we have no way to know if either story is true. Anacaona was taken to
the city of Santo Domingo where she was executed by public hanging. She was about 29 years old at
the time. That's a sad end to our story but it's not really the end of the story, because her
reputation only grew with time. In fact, since we don't have sources written by her, we don't really
know the real Anacaona, only the image of Anacaona. So we're covering a myth more than
a person. Exactly! She's a screen onto which people project their own visions of the past. So, where is
she famous today? In Haiti and the Dominican Republic, obviously, because that's where she
ruled. But she also has a lot of admirers in the rest of the Caribbean. I noticed that one song we
played was from Puerto Rico. Oh she's a big icon in Cuba too. In the 1930s one band in
Havana was named after her. It was started by a lady named Cuchito Castro, who enlisted all ten of
her sisters in the band. Wow eleven sisters in all? Sadly, when the sister reached their teenage
years, the dad went crazy and he had to be sent to an insane asylum. People in the 30s thought that
only men could play Cuban music, so the Castro sisters formed an all-women band to prove them
wrong. It was a huge hit: they performed all the way from New York to Paris. And of course they
picked Anacoana as the name of their band. We will listen to their song "Tumba y Quinto.
Bienvenue à tous! This was “Tumba y quinto” by the all-female Cuban band Anacaona. Je m’appelle Philippe Girard
And I'm Amber Hale. You're listening to "your grandma rocks" on KBYS. Today we retraced the
life of Queen Anacaona, who fought against the Spanish colonization of the Caribbean, only to be
executed in 1503. Her reputation only grew after many Caribbean islands obtained their independence
in the 19th century. The first was her native Haiti, which became independent in 1804. She's now
considered a national hero there. I recommend that you check out the novel "Anacaona, golden flower
of Haiti" by the Haitian American writer Edwige Danticat. She also became an icon in the Spanish
Caribbean. In Cuba, which became independent in 1898, Eduardo Sanchez even composed a whole symphony in
her honor. It includes a motif called "areito antillano" which is supposedly made of bits and
pieces of foreign words dating all the way back to the plays staged by Anacaona in the 16th
century. Wow you mean to tell me that some of her poetry survived as an oral tradition? I wish! But
the words have since been analyzed by linguists and they turn out to be of Congolese origin not
Taino. They came from voodoo ceremonies organized by African slaves in Cuba. Sanchez falsely claimed
that the words were Taino so as to erase African contributions to Cuba's musical culture.
How fascinating. To the end, she remained a symbol that people manipulated to fit their political
agenda. At least it was a great story! It was! We're so glad we could share it with you. This program
was funded by a Juliet Hartdener grant for women in the humanities. For more information on how
to help finance fellowships at McNeese, contact the foundation at 337 475 5504.
This program was also sponsored by the history department at McNeese.
To apply for a degree in history or other fields contact the McNeese admissions office at 337 475 5504. Thank you for listening and good bye! Merci et au revoir!
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