Augustino BRUNIAS - danse des esclaves
un groupe statique central de musiciens et les deux danseurs qui l’encadrent, chemises claires et peaux sombre. Jubilation apparente d’une danse, certes, mais enjeux mystérieux de celle-ci. Ils sont bien vêtus, propres et costauds. Les couleurs et la lumière sont heureuses, le tableau montre, peut-être sans tous les comprendre, ce qui porte cette danse et ceux qui la vivent.
Augustin Brunias(1730-1796), peintre italien mort à la Dominique après avoir passé trente ans aux Antilles. Auteur de scènes de genre à la touche exotique, il met en scène avec raffinement des noirs et des mulâtres, dénudés ou vêtus de chatoyants costumes. Ses peintures sont largement diffusées en Europe sous forme d’estampes.

Illustr musicale: Harry BELAFONTE - Day O (banana boat song)
Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) est un mento populaire jamaïcain. C'est un chant de travail évoquant des dockers chargeant de nuit des bananes sur un bateau. Le jour arrive, le travail est terminé et les hommes veulent que les comptes soient faits pour pouvoir rentrer chez eux.

Day-o, day-o Daylight come and we want go home
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o
Daylight come and we want go home

Work all night on a drink of rum (Daylight come and we want go home)
Stack banana 'til the morning come (Daylight come and we want go home)
Come Mister tally man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home) (bis)
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch (Daylight come and we want go home) (bis)

Day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)

A beautiful bunch of ripe banana (Daylight come and we want go home)
Hide the deadly black tarantula (Daylight come and we want go home)
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch (Daylight come and we want go home) (bis)
Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch (Daylight come and we want go home) (bis)

Day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)

Come Mister tally man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home)
Come Mister tally man, tally me banana (Daylight come and we want go home)

Day-o, day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)
Day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day, is a day-o (Daylight come and we want go home)

Burgie Irving / Attaway William A