Abstract

The arts are well-discussed features in Western academic writings. Little, however, has been said about the value or the role that the arts play in relation to cultural identity and social cohesion in non-Western societies such as the Surinamese Bush Negro society. Field study observations which I have undertaken in Suriname for over a decade suggest that the Surinamese Bush Negro people, in general, seem to have an unwavering sense of pride in their cultural heritage and strongly identify with their artistic and ceremonial village traditions. In this paper, I will look at a selection of art conceptions in Western society and how these relate to the art conceptions of the Surinamese Bush Negro people. This comparison will form a basis for looking into how these conceptions of the arts contribute to the formation of cultural identity and social cohesion outside the Surinamese village settings.