Three Cuban women are sitting next to each other on a bench. With their fast, experienced fingers they quickly weave strands of dried, brown palm leaves together to form a basket-like shape. The oldest of them is almost near one hundred years old, so old she can hardly remember. The woman next to her, her daughter, approaches her sixties and the youngest woman, granddaughter, is in her early thirties. These three women, from three generations spread over almost a century are weaving their baskets as their ancestors did before them, and their ancestors before them, all the way back to the Indigenous peoples of the island. This process has been unchanged for centuries and results in one of the simplest, yet impressive products one can make: the macuto basket.
The palm leaves come from a local palm tree species called the Guano. This palm lends its leaves for several uses such as thatching roofs and of course weaving baskets. The practise of basket weaving is very old and the techniques have been passed down from generation to generation. As with many cultural practices, specific to a certain culture or geographical area, they are passed down word-to-mouth and not written down. This means that it has a certain vulnerability to be lost.
The weaving of Macuto baskets was a joint effort of a household, as the uses of these baskets would be required in many aspects of daily life, such as cooking, transportation of goods or even ceremonial use. Several designs are known for these baskets such as the classic Macuto, which has a bell-type shape as it tapers near the centre and broadens at the rim; -the Canasta, which has a round, broad, low shape and a large handle; -and the Cuerda, which has a high, round tube-like shape. Each of these baskets would have their own special function and use, specifically designed with a purpose in mind. Varying from simple designs to be used by the regular inhabitants, to elaborately made baskets for ceremonial purposes used by chieftains of a village. By using leaves with different gradients of colour, patterns, designs, and images could be woven into the baskets making them objects of visual beauty to be displayed.
These baskets, their materials and shapes were of very high importance in a household. As most of the furniture was made of simple wood and hammocks were used to sleep, the ownership of a finely made basket was considered an item that one could show off, it would show status. It would also be used to show off the heritage or social group one belonged to.
Text by Peter Fioole, based on original published research (see further reading) and the NEXUS1492 documentary El Retumbar del Caribe Indígena by Pablo Lozano.
Photo: Still from the documentary 'El Retumbar del Caribe Indígena' by Pablo Lozano.
Moreno, J.J.M.S. (2010) Republica Dominicana Identidad y herencias ethnoculturales indígenas. Archivo General de la Nación Volumen CVIII.