The origins of the Caribbean Patwa Language can be traced right back to the murky pages of histories 'Black Slave Trade, which was brought about by colonization, Rape and pillage of the African sub continent and the Caribbean Islands by European Slave masters. One of the most devastating effects caused by' Slavery' is cultural dissemination, its passage and identity has travelled right down into our modern millennia. Through which its vestige of slavery's unlettered tongue can clearly be seen as the language of Jamaicans and all other Caribbean islands that are descendants of the 'Black Slave Trade' which is the unifying inheritances left to a Race of people desecrated by European supremacy.
In Jamaica the use of 'Patwa' came about due to English slave owners daily communications with their African slaves, which was vital in order to ensure continued productivity from their numerous lucrative plantations on the Caribbean islands. Daily communication therefore was crucial in order to conduct business and increased trade, which ultimately led to the slave owners wealth and power. As time went on the slave masters were unaware of the creation of a new unlettered language that had evolved, amongst the varying tribes of slaves, that was originally brought from small tribal villages in Africa. Slaves who survived the treacherous journeys under brutal inhumane conditions were keen to learn a new way of life that was forced on them by their new masters - who depended on their labour, unaware that enforcement of their language onto the slaves created a new common language that initially bonded and united them to a common language that had not existed even in their own lands. Slaves who previously were unable to communicate with one another due to tribal languages barriers - were now emancipated as for the first time in their history they could communicate in one unified tongue, though raw and unlettered. Soon a number of 'Pigin or Creole languages' emerged, depending on which European masters had colonized each group of slaves, e.g. - English, French, Spanish, Dutch etc.
As the various languages became established Europeans commonly knew them as broken English or 'Bad English', as slaves became more
liberated depending on the position of each slave whether working in the house or in the fields. Normally the house slave was able to
copy their master ways and attitudes looking down on the slave in a less favoured position. Consequently this led to inter racial
supremacy by black slaves who were now being born on the Caribbean islands, with higher social status than newer slaves being shipped
in on slave ships, speaking their native tongues, which other slaves could not understand. This is the 'Root' cause of inter racial
snobbery - that still exist among black Jamaicans and Caribbean's as a result of which disunity and social injustices among the social
classes - not only exist in the Caribbean between the Town and Country peoples but which also exist in Black European communities around
the world. This is one of the reasons why black communities are still failing in today's society when compared to other minority groups
who have not had to endure European slavery.
The legacy of which is still very much alive - no more so than in Black British society - again you see the emergence of a affluent
educated class of blacks that has embraced their new found status as community leaders and political icons who pontificate cultural
identity and achievements in education and business spheres, but in reality are distant from the community they claim to represent
again exhibiting a much higher social standing from their lower uneducated fellow Caribbean's in the community. As a result of
which although most 'Black Youth's were born in Britain they are unable to grasp a sense of real identity and pride from the black
multicultural society they find themselves in. Paradoxically they are in the same situation as their African ancestors who again are
disseminated from their cultural roots and identity created by a vast cultural divide in their community. In their efforts to communicate
with others in similar situations we see the formation of a new unlettered street language which has it roots in the 'Patwa language of
their slave ancestors a common language that united their uniformed displacement which they were able communicate in - who says that
history doesn't repeat itself!
In July 2006 the chartered institute of linguist made Jamaican Patwa an official language but it will take time to overcome the derogatory status which has denigrated it throughout its history, in preference of standard English - especially by most educated Caribbean's who distain its rightful place and use in modern society, whose roots is firmly rooted back in the days of slavery.
It is hoped that the range of creative products and services on this site will dispel any inferior complexes associated with the use of Jamaican Patwa language. Which demonstrate the usage of a vibrant living language that is full of life and humour - providing positive benefits in education and society that ensures identity and preservations of Caribbean Cultural heritage.