Papiamentu: The Language of Curaçao with Sheedia Jansen
The Moreish Podcast: Caribbean History, Culture, and Cuisine by Hema Ramsingh
Episode notes
Exploring Papiamentu: The Unique Language of Curaçao
In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema and guest Sheedia Jansen delve into the 300-year-old history of Papiamentu, the vibrant lingua franca of Curaçao.
Sheedia, a Freedom Alchemist born and raised in Curaçao, explains how Papiamentu emerged from a blend of influences from West Africa, Portuguese, Dutch, Indigenous Caquetios, and Spanish cultures, and is a result of Caribbean colonization.
The conversation highlights the evolution of the language, its official recognition in 2007, and its survival in the face of past colonial restrictions. Speaking to the rich cultural tapestry of Curaçao, Sheedia also discu ...