I have really heard some convincing ghost
stories in my time, but despite growing up scared as hell that I will one day
run into one, I still remain unconvinced that they exist.
Some of my fellow Jamaicans have the
greatest imagination in the world, and the most convincing story tellers
have no hesitation in insisting that it’s their personal experiences,
even when the same story had been around for decades!
Now why as a mature adult, would I be now addressing the issue of ghost stories you may very well ask. So, I’ll tell you.
Posing with Hon. Vivian Crawford |
This is a place I physically visited for decades, long before google was heard of. For there is no question relating to Jamaica’s literature, history, culture etc. that you can’t find answers to there.
And if you can’t find what you want in the documents, the long-standing head, Mr. Vivian Crawford who I only recently had the honor of meeting, but whose writings I have learnt so much from over the years, is a one-man encyclopedia!
So, what at the Institute, you may very well ask, could have inspired this topic?
This picture- is prominently displayed in their foyer.
It brought back memories of Jamaica’s greatest
duppy story ever.
This was the tale of an illusive and mysterious Mr.
Brown, who three crows carrying a coffin, were flying around and looking
for!
This was in early 1970 and believe me, that
ghost story not only caused national hysteria and excitement but also drew overseas interest as
well.
I was living in Canada at the time, but
got such arresting information about their appearance all over the island, that
it is still firmly etched in my memory, even today.
Even the late great Bob Marley got caught
up in the excitement, for he dropped the tune written by Glen Adams called “Where
is Mr. Brown.”
The lyrics begun:
(Well, he be found) In the
coffin, where there is three crows on top and two is laughing
Oh, what a confusion! Ooh,
yeah, yeah
What a botheration! Ooh, now,
now
Who is Mr. Brown? I wanna know now
He is nowhere to be found
From Mandeville to Slygoville,
coffin runnin' around
Upsetting, upsetting,
upsetting the town
Asking for Mr. Brown
From Mandeville to Slygoville,
coffin runnin' around
Upsetting, upsetting,
upsetting the town
Asking for Mr. Brown
I wanna know who (is Mr.
Brown?)
Is Mr. Brown controlled by
remote?
It was a most amazing period, for a simple rumor that the coffin was seen or expected in a town or village would cause people from near and far, to drop what they were doing to converge on the venue in anticipation of seeing the ghostly figures!
And stories of the sightings and all the excitement lasted for months.
An old gramaphone on display at the Institute |
An old record player on display too |
Not to be left out, some individuals would add their personal spin. I was especially amused when it was reported that someone described as being in the car racing business, was even reported as being passed by the coffin and the crows while driving his Jaguar at top speed along the Ferry Road! (At that time, this was the straightest and smoothest road in the island!)
Whoever came up with that story had/has an imagination equal to none other! Since no one knows who started that rumor, we will never know what happened to that person. But I hope he/she became a great author, movie director or playwright and did not simply bury that talent.
For that story came from an unparalleled
imagination!
Talk Jamaican: Duppy story - YouTube
Joan Williams, author - YouTube
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