Out of Africa

“If we as a people realized the greatness from which we came, we would be less likely to disrespect ourselves.” ― Marcus Mosiah Garvey

 Biden’s legacy in the USA has not been particularly good, dropping from 61% in 2021 to a mere 37% favorability today, according to some polls. 

However, I suspect that with his pardoning our first national hero, Pan-Africanist Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, it will be much higher among Jamaicans.

I am of course aware that we still have a significant number of Jamaicans who do not wish to highlight or celebrate our association with Africa or may even not realize the revolutionary developments made on the continent before slavery distorted the records, so of course they will not celebrate.

I know these people are an insignificant minority, but even I know at least one such person! And while I know he is also a staunch MAGA, when I texted him the news about Garvey, even I was shocked when he replied that Garvey was a criminal and shouldn’t be pardoned!  

Oh well, every human, no matter how accomplished, will always have detractors.

So, while we and most of the black world may celebrate this pardon as a great first step, we must be cognizant of the fact that in the USA which leads the white world, it will probably take another century before he is recorded in their textbooks as anything but a criminal, as my daughter who is a teacher in Colorado tells me is the current situation.

In the meantime, I am waiting to see how long it will take for Jamaica to introduce the philosophies of Garvey in our own schools!

My interest in Africa and things African did not start today, as from my paternal grandmother told me when I was around six years old, that we were descendants of the warrior Mandingo tribe and therefore must always stand up for our rights, I have always wanted to visit the continent and know more about my heritage.

However, due to the immense cost of traveling to the continent, I never got the opportunity to do so until friends invited me to visit them in Kenya in 2018. (That was after I had moved to the USA where we can find good airfares, due to the competition among the myriad of airlines here.)

My most culturally insightful trip to the continent however did not take place not until 2023, when my granddaughter, daughter, and I visited Ghana to get our true names, on a trip organized by my daughter, an active member of Black Lives Matter.

 There, the names you are given have real meaning, as they depend on your age, the day on which you were born, your gender, the position you fall among your siblings etc.

My African name is Korleki and I am now a member of the Krobo Tribe. 

 Ghanaians know which tribe someone belongs to by their name.

 Our naming ceremony was performed in the village of Odumase Krobo, which is around four hours away by road from the capital Accra. 

 Before going to the community center where the ceremony was performed, we had to stop to pay homage to our Chief Nene Sakitey, who was also President of the Ghanaian Council of Chiefs, an elected position.

 He told us through an interpreter, that all African descendants born in the diaspora are welcomed to his country, but we must always have an open mind, as there are many cultural differences.

(That’s when I learned that women were not allowed to cross their legs when sitting in the presence of the Chief!😢)

 At that session, I also learned a few tribal differences too. For example, different tribes have different naming rituals, so members of the Ashanti tribe have names all beginning in AS. 

Further, Krobo parents can only pass down their surnames to their children, but it's different in the Ashanti. Also, because African names are so difficult to pronounce, many Ghanaians use their surnames as first names when introducing themselves!

 It was a most enlightening and educational session with our Chief.

 Later at the actual naming ceremony, I found that aspects of the rituals there were similar to what the Accompong Maroons practice at their annual festival in St. Elizabeth.

 So libation, (where liquor is poured on the ground for the ancestors)  is continuous and the drumming and dancing is similar. However, while in Ghana the liquor used was vodka and none was imbibed during the ceremony, our Maroons (in Jamaica) use white rum and sip a lot of it regularly.

 More on my experiences in Ghana anon.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

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Currie again?

One of the most beautiful, peaceful, lush and crime-free villages in Jamaica that I have ever visited, is Millbank in Portland, which straddles a section of the John Crow Mountains.

This region which is reputed to have the second highest rainfall in the world, is naturally luxuriant, flourishing, and productive. The rain plus the constant supply of water from the long, flowing Rio Grande River which you can see form every point, irrigates the well-laid-out banana, plantain, dasheen and other fields, making the area a critical agricultural supplier for the rest of Jamaica.

My first visit to that locale was in 2010, shortly after heavy rainfall had washed away part of the road between Comfort Castle and Millbank cutting off a number of small districts from Port Antonio. 

Luckily this was a cycling outing, so we dismounted and pushed our bikes gingerly along a narrow ledge with a deep precipice below. That was all that was left of the road. 

Colonel Sterling

That visit was memorable, as it was my introduction to the Moore Town Maroons, their Colonel, Wallace Sterling and tasty, unusual, exotic Maroon dishes including busso soup.

That was such an enlightening and enjoyable day that I pledged to return quickly.

And I did visit that area many other times. Once to enjoy a hike in the beautiful valley, followed by cool refreshing water massage at Nanny Falls, (named in honor of Queen Nanny). Another, to hike along the Cuna Cuna trail and a few other times to Alligator Church Bridge, where we would swim, eat locally prepared food and relax after an invigorating ride from Kingston.

The Cuna Cuna trail which is over five hundred years old, lies hidden between the Blue and John Crow Mountain ranges. Because it is replete with caves in which the guerillas could hide and it has a number of springs supplying live-giving water, it was a primary escape route for Nanny and her warriors as they battled the British who wanted to re-enslave them after they overthrew the Spanish in 1655.

The trail runs from St. Thomas to Portland and is today very well maintained by the Moore Town Maroons, who have built guard rails and rest areas for use by hikers. They also provide the guides who take outdoor lovers on the trail through the mountains.

Hospitality is nothing new to the Moore Town Maroons though, as for decades they have been building bamboo rafts and steering visitors carefully down the long, beautiful Rio Grande River. 

Rafting down the Rio Grande River through the spectacular Rio Grande Valley, is one of Jamaica's most popular attractions.

But I stray. 

It was on that first trip in 2010 that I gained a lot of information about how the Maroons operate. My informant was Colonel Sterling who heads the Maroon Council, the body responsible for the enforcement of the laws (the state deals with murder) and maintaining order.

Colonel Sterling had at that time, been in the position for some twenty years!

When I enquired how he had retained his position for such a long time, (that was twelve years ago!), he explained that the Maroons do not have set elections but whenever the residents want a change of leadership, they have their means of asking for a change or letting their dissatisfaction with the current leadership known.

So, is it that the residents of Moore Town want a change of leadership now or is it that dissention there is being instigated by outsiders? 

It was the article in the Jamaica Observer of May 9th 2022, entitled "Stalemate in Moore Town, but Maroon teen seeking leadership claims support....." which caught my interest.

The article begun; "The attempt to unseat Colonel Wallace Sterling as leader of the Moore Town Maroons failed on Sunday as no election was held in the community ......."

According to the report, the person trying to unseat Colonel was an 18-year-old young lady Lomorra Dillion who the article revealed, had the support of the Chief of the Accompong Maroons, Richard Currie, who was seen in the area.

It continued to report Colonel Sterling as saying;  "For one colonel to leave from his community to come into another to decide who should be colonel, this is wrong, downright rude, out of order, impertinent and that nonsense we will not stand...” "Currie don’t run Moore Town so he and the persons in Moore Town who are setting date for an election, we are not having an election. They have proposed the eighth of May, but we not having any, the council don’t call an election.”

It was when I read that paragraph that I had the "aha moment".

As a background, Richard Currie is the 43-year-old bombastic and 'revolutionary' Maroon Chief who was elected in Accompong in February 2021. He immediately started out by not only making demands for the Sovereignty for the Maroons but also claiming (falsely) that Maroons are the indigenous people of Jamaica!

That stance by Currie spurred me to ask in an article in January 2022, if  he had the support of the other Maroon leaders, for as you know, there are three other Maroon settlements in Jamaica and each has its own Chief.

After stirring up much public controversy, it was clearly revealed that he didn't!

This was implied by the statements coming out of a meeting (on sovereignty?) held between Prime Minister Andrew Holness on Friday 21st January 2022 and the other Maroon leaders. Currie who was not invited.

The latest developments in Moore Town have  therefore led me to conclude that having been snubbed by the other Maroon Colonels, Currie is now strategizing to get rid of that older generation of leaders and replace them with his young proxies!

Let's hope that the power-hungry young turk who clearly thinks the older generation of Maroons have been too docile, does not stir up conflict in what have been some of the most peaceful communities in Jamaica. 

He however seems to be blowing the wrong Abeng, if the recent developments in Moore Town are anything to go by.

 UPDATE

It seems Currie himself is now in trouble, for on the 11th September 2022, Accompong News Network, put out the following statement; "Official report from the desk of the Accompong Town Maroon Council of Elders. Telephone: 876 9908015 Email: accompongcouncil@gmail.com Date: Sept, 11, 2022 .

With an astonishing and unanimous vote by the Accompong Town Maroon Council of Elders, all Maroon Council members both in the general Maroon Council and the Grand Maroon Council of Elders voted on September 10th, 2022 to convict Richard Currie on more than 27 IMPEACHMENT charges along with a VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE which automatically deposed him from his position as Chief of Accompong town. The dossier contain charges with high crimes and misdemeanors, including breaking and entering, inciting violence resulting in physical body harm, murder investigation, illegal possession of firearms, kidnapping, death threats to various individuals, intimidation, harbouring criminals in Accompong Town, malicious propaganda, deceptive advertising, promoting nefarious persons into Maroon administration, fraudulent intent with precious stone, destruction of private properties, impersonation of royal Title, financial scam, criminal intent to defraud Maroon citizens, etc. 

Never in the history of the Accompong Maroon Nation has there ever been such an overwhelming majority in any Maroon Council, the general Maroon Council was decisive and swift in its action on kicking out Mr. Richard Currie from the position of the Colonel’s chair. Many concerned citizens are already aware that the deposed and humiliated Richard Currie will not disappear quietly into the night without a fight, citizens are bracing themselves knowing that Richard Currie will try to fight the Maroon Council of Elders. The fact is, the Accompong Town Maroon Council is the supreme law of the land, not the Chief. The sheer number of members on the Council is remarkably unbelievable, for the first time in Accompong Town Maroon history has there been such a large Council, there is even a grand council within the general council, plus there is also a security council. The Grand council members are in no rush to take up office right away, they are willing to give Richard Currie a few days to vent, run to different media houses for public support and try to fight very hard with the Accompong Town Maroon Council of Elders, one Grand Council member said he doesn’t expect Richard to go without a fight, he understands and he feels sorry for Mr. Currie, but all Mr. Currie has done is destroy the great heritage and culture while bringing shame and disgrace to our community, all he does is braid his hair and go on all the social media and news platforms, he has brought not one single development to Accompong.

Over ninety percent of Accompong Maroon Citizens voiced their opinions that never in the existence of Accompong town have they ever experienced such anarchy in their community, all because of this new Chief. One maroon citizen cried with joy, bending on her knees praying to the sky thanking God for getting rid of the most embarrassing experience and situation they have ever seen or endured in their community. 

The Chairman of the Accompong Town Maroon Council of Elders is asking the public to please pray for Accompong and its citizens, for in times like now they need prayers."

Currie has been on Inatagram and radio deniying the report, but all is not well in Accompang or with his leadrship.

A Welcome Apology

Easter 2022 bought what I consider a most welcome announcement in Jamaica, one which will improve on how we discuss one very important aspect of our history and heritage from now on.

No, I am not referring to the numerous headlines saying; “he is risen,” as that is stale news and not at all factual!

What I am citing is the revolutionary story which the majority of the media fraternity in Jamaica ignored, except those at the Jamaica Observer.

They carried it under the banner headline “Maroons finally say sorry.”

The earth-shattering word in that story in my book is, ‘finally,’ as for centuries, the Maroons in Jamaica have sought to either deny the treacherous act of their ancestors or ignore it.

Oh yes, the Maroons have an outstanding history and this is so highly respected by us that Queen Nanny was elevated to the position of National History.

Incidentally, they are not however the indigenous Jamaicans as some have belatedly claimed, for the only people who can fill that bill are the Tainos.

The fact is, the original Maroons were enslaved Africans who  were brought to the island by the Spaniards. Cherishing their freedom though, they escaped to the hills after the British defeated their Spanish enslavers in 1655.

From strategic points, they conducted guerilla wars for some seventy years.

Because they couldn’t be defeated, the British offered them a treaty which included; their own lands and limited autonomy. Also included in the agreement though, was a commitment that they would help the British forces defeat other slave uprisings and return escaped slaves to the plantations.

The Observer story reported; It took almost three centuries, but on Good Friday 2022 the Maroons of Jamaica apologized for their sordid role in crushing popular anti-slavery uprisings and forcibly returning runaway slaves to hellish conditions on British-owned sugar plantations, sullying their storied history.

Two of the more well-known black rebellions put down by the British colonial forces with the solid support of the Maroons were that led by West African slave Chief Takyi of St Mary in 1760 and Baptist Deacon Paul Bogle of Stony Gut, St Thomas, in 1865. Bogle and his key ally George William Gordon were hanged but later named national heroes of Jamaica, and just two Fridays ago, April 8 was officially declared Chief Takyi Day, henceforth to celebrate the freedom fighter credited with the first slave uprising in the Caribbean.

“We regret the hurt and sufferings caused from such actions. We take total responsibility on behalf of our ancestors,” said paramount chieftainess and Queen of the Maroons Gaamang Gloria “Mama G” Simms, the woman now occupying the seat once held by Queen Nanny of the Maroons, the only female among the seven national heroes. “…We realise that we cannot undo the past, but we can remedy the situations through reconciliatory actions that will repair the damage and rebuild trust so that these behaviours will not be repeated,” continued the Maroon spiritual leader in a press statement, according to the Observer.

Mama G

It is the refusal by previous Maroon leaders to admit that treachery and apologize, which has caused numerous other Jamaicans of African ancestry, to remain bitter against them.

Maybe if they had been honest in celebrating their history, more of us would have been more understanding and forgiving, for indeed Africa has never been a unified black continent, as it has always been tribal loyalties not color that remained supreme.

However, while forever boasting about their courageous feats, previous leaders have rubbed salt into the wounds by denying the ‘treachery’ of their ancestors.

Until now.

This long-awaited apology therefore makes Mama G a very special Maroon leader indeed.

Hopefully her courage and honesty will temper the attitude of the pretenders like Chief Currie of the Accompong Maroons, (a little village in St. Elizabeth) who has belatedly been trying to rewrite history to the point of declaring that they were given sovereignty by the infamous treaty!

Yes, the Maroons have a proud legacy to celebrate and now that Mama G has finally admitted that they also had feet of clay, maybe we can all now proudly embrace our motto ‘out of many one people’ as we continue the journey to make Jamaica one of the greatest nations on earth.

 

 

Of Caving,Thai kids, Omens and, Claustrophobia

Entrance to Blue Hole, Westmorland

What I think will be the most memorable story for 2018, is what I dub the Cave Event in Thailand.

In brief, On June 23, 2018, 12 young soccer players ranging in ages from 11-16, who went exploring the six-mile-long Than Luang cave complex at a park in Northern Thailand along with their 25-year-old coach, went missing.

For ten nail-biting days parents and indeed the  entire world, anxiously followed the progress of searchers from that country plus numerous international volunteers, many of them experienced divers, as they braved the murky waters inside the flooded caverns, squeezed through narrow twisting tunnels, climbed sharp ledges at great peril to themselves, but despite not finding them for days, they refused to give up hope and just kept going.

All geared up to enter Green Grotto cave, Discovery Bay, Jamaica

 
Miraculously, on July 2nd, they were spotted by two British divers, fearful and hungry but thankfully safe, on a high ledge deep inside the cave.  

After feeding and giving them medical assistance, the rescuers were faced the awesome task of getting them out of the flooded caverns, a journey of some three miles, without even knowing how many of the stranded youth could actually even swim. 

This was a dangerous and staggering task that had to be completed quickly too, as the rescuers soon realized that oxygen levels were being rapidly depleted. Further, the rainy monsoon season was due to begin in days, thus further flooding the caves, despite the effort being undertaken to use a massive pump to get out the millions of gallons  of water already inside the flooded caverns.

Outside the Guadirikiri Caves in Aruba

At one point, it was even feared that they would have to keep the boys inside for months for their own safety as getting them out looked too dangerous. And it was indeed dangerous, as a former Thai Petty Officer,  Saman Gunam,  unfortunately, lost consciousness on his way out, after delivering air tanks inside the cave to facilitate the rescue.

Sadly,  Saman  Gunam later died.

Finally thanks to the skills and technology of  dozens of 

Engineers, geologists, military persons, health care volunteers etc from all over the world, assigning two divers to each boy and medicating the young people so they would not panic in the murky waters, all the boys and their youthful coach were rescued on 

July 10th 2018.

Inside Two Sisters cave, Hellshire

And would you believe that the pump that had been taking out the water from the cave to facilitate their exit, broke down almost immediately after the last person was rescued? This caused the water to start rising rapidly to the point where experienced divers who had gone back inside to recover the gear that was left inside, had to exit quickly to save their own lives!

Eerie isn't it?

Considering all this happened during the exciting  FIFA World Cup which was being played out in Russia and in which upsets have been the order of the day, I couldn't help wondering if this event involving the young Thai soccer players was some kind of omen. 

Marking inside the cave at  Cudjoe Hill, St. Catherine, made by the Tainos in Jamaica before Columbus arrived and wiped them out. Nanny's brother Cudjoe also hid out in that cave for months, when the British were trying  to capture and subjugate the Maroons. 

For example, could it be that in four or eight years, Thailand, a rank outsider in the soccer world, could become a world beater or this young soccer team would eventually represent their county at World Cup? 

I hope I will be around to find out if this was really a soccer omen!

While I know this drama held the attention of people all over the world for all sorts of reasons, for me it was especially eye-opening in understanding my own self!

For I am an enigma in that, although I tend to be extremely claustrophobic, I actually enjoy caving. 

Native Americans built fascinating abodes in the caves at Mesa Verde

However get this clear, when I say caving I do not mean I am a spelunker.

 No sir, I don't go into unexplored caves to study anything. I just like to go into well-established caves with professional guides to look and learn.

However, its is only since the incident with these boys that I realize that my love of exploring the underground and claustrophobia just cannot co-exist! 

For it has never occurred to me before that something like a flood or earthquake could occur while I was under the ground.... especially in my homeland, Jamaica, which sits on a serious seismic fault.

One of the caves along the Cuna Cuna trail in which Nanny hid for months

I cannot even conceive of how I would survive trapped underground for an hour much less 10 days. 

In fact, I have no doubt that I would actually go crazy if I was trappedn underground, anywhere.

This Thai drama has caused me to have a great deal of respect and admiration for those Thai youth who all seem to be in reasonably good spirits, despite being trapped in the dark, no bathroom, no food and not knowing if they would ever come out alive! 

What a terrible 10 days that must have been. 

This has also prompted me to have even greater respect for Jamaica's only female National Heroine, Nanny of the Maroons.

She led the Maroons in Jamaica to victory against the British in the early 1700's when they defeated the Spanish, captured the island and tried to re-enslave the former slaves who the Spaniards had transported from Africa to work on their plantations.

It was the complex caving system that the Maroons studied, which helped them in their struggles, as they were able to strategically select those caves which had water inside, in which they could hide for months on end while waiting to ambush and kill the  British soldiers. 

It was not until hearing about the Thai youth and seeing their plight in living color that I got a much greater appreciation for the suffering that Nanny and her people had to endure, as they hid from the oppressors.

As for me, will I continue going into caves? 

Maybe not right now. Luckily, I have been into all the interesting caves in Jamaica but maybe later if I am in another country and hear about a fascinating cave, who knows what will happen?

You have to ascend many steps to reach the entrance of Hato Cave, Curacao

Bullhead Mountain, dead center of the island

This marker was installed to signify the peak as being dead  centre of the island 

Isn't it fascinating that dead centre of the beautiful island of Jamaica, stands a mountain range from which you can get a fantastic view of sections of the parishes of Clarendon, St. Ann, St. Mary and St. Catherine? Well right in the centre of that peak, you will find the marker confirming this fact.

That is the Bullhead Mountain which is situated in the parish of  Clarendon, the third largest parish in Jamaica.

The fabulous view of the scenic plains and surrounding hills

This important landmark is also the source of\Jamaica's longest river, the Rio Minho which runs from the range and empties out at Portland Point, after running a distance of  92 km ( 57.7 miles) providing life sustaining water to irrigate the Clarendon plains for thousands of farmers.

Magnificent pine trees abound

The range which consists of 220.6 hectares (545 acres) is controlled by the Jamaican Forrest Department and peaks at 547 metres (3600 feet) above sea level. As it is the forestry department that controls it, most of the area is covered in pine and bamboo trees which provides excellent shade but several species of ferns grow wild and provide a soft cushion all along the hiking trails.

While this area is unknown to most Jamaicans, the people of Clarendon have for years been using it as a major outdoor centre especially during the Easter holidays when, they trek there in droves to enjoy the wonderful scenery or simply hang out.

Fun and Thrills hikers

The first time I head about Bullhead Mountain, I thought I heard it had a beautiful waterfall and being very addicted to water, quickly  encouraged friends to accompany me on a hike there. We got ourselves a guide from nearby Thompson Town and asked him up front if he knew where the waterfall was and although he replied in the negative, he assured us that he could find it. Well we spent an entire day from about 10 am to around 4 pm hiking and dying to cool off but alas, there was no waterfall  to be found. I subsequently heard about the local folk lore that indicated that there is a mysterious waterball hidden somewhere in the range which will one day burst and wipe the entire parish of Clarendon from the face of the earth! That I heard many decades ago but have not fear, its just a duppy story!

The entrance to the park

More recently though, I went on another trek to that mountain with my regular group Fun and Thrills.

This was a properly organised outing overseen by environmentalist Nicole Brown who arranged with members of Northern Rio Minho Forrestry Management group, an environmentally active community group, to give us a proper tour.

Young Norris

Naturally, as Bullhead is dead centre of the island, there are several ways to get there. This time we opted to drive from May Pen to Red Hills via Pumpkin to Orange River road. It was near the park that we met there that we met a most pleasant young man, Norris Newman on his way to the river to get water.

When the guides joined us, my first question to the guides was "Are there any waterfalls here?" They assured me there was but after many hours of walking, when we got there, because we were in the midst of a severe drought, what we saw was a mere trickle.

This was however the occasion on which really got comprehensive information about this mid-island wonderful park. For example, we learnt that the original name was name of the mountain was Santa Marian, named after an indigenous plant found there. The name was however changed by the British to Bullhead, as it is said that the peak looks like a bull's head
when seen from out at sea and it provided an excellent navigation tool for sailors in the olden days.

Scenic views from every angle

We also learnt that the famous Maroon warrior Cudjoe, hid out there for a while after killing his first British aggressor in nearby Colonel's ridge which lies to the south of the range. As a result of the greart warrior and members of his troops hiding out there for a while, there are many descendants of the Maroons in the area, although we were told that they do not keep up the traditions as do their relatives in places like Scotts Hall and Accompong.

Nope, we still haven't seen a good waterfall at bullhead mountain but it is still a fabulous place to visit and lyme.

https://youtu.be/h2eZbrXgTNQ

Excitement at Scott hall

Roddy blows the Abeng to alert all maroons
that there are visitors in the area. The vine around his neck
is the 5 bredda.

Both women whose bodies were taken over by spirits, are being held.

One thing we can say about "Fun and Thrills" outings, that is, there is never a dull moment.

  The outing to Scotts Hall maroon settlement in St. Mary was full of even more  excitement. 

For while we were there, two women had their bodies taken over by their ancestors and created quite a scene.

 I have seen similar scenes three times before, once at a kumina ceremony in St. Thomas, once with the "raising of the table" at Devon house and yesterday and to tell the truth, no matter how convincing they look, I can't believe it is no allt an act. 

Yesterday, when we got back from Bowling water falls, we saw quite a crowd as a group of maroons who were claiming that one faction was putting on all the events and making all the  money off their culture and traditions, was not including everyone.

This policeman was a credit to the force

Even the police was there when we arrived as there seems to be real fear of a violent outbreak. 

In fact a friend told me today that there was a notice in the Saturday papers saying that (someone, she could not remember the name) was not authorized to conduct business on behalf of the 
Scotts Hall maroons.  

I subsequently found the paper and it says; 
NOTICE, "The public is hereby notified that Mr. Noel Prehay Colonel, Uri Prehay Deputy, Natalee Burton Secretary &  Dana Henry Treasurer of the Scotts Hall maroons are no longer authorized to conduct any business on behalf of the Scotts Hall maroons."

A photo opportunity at entrance of   Maroon Town road

 But if they intended that notice to impress outsiders, it couldn't , as it was unsigned!

When we went there on the scouting mission, we were directed to Roddy who is their Public Relations Officer and he put Charles on to Sweetie who seems to be on the executive too.

On Sunday when we got there, we were met by three guides who all seem to have official positions as they all had badges.

Colonel Prehay poses with Raquel, Betty and the craft vendor

The problem seems to be that the faction that is making the accusations does not support Mr. Noel Prehay who we were told was the longest serving Maroon colonel in Jamaica....35 years. 

But his detractors say no general meetings are being held to allow them to elect new members of the executive and they have lost confidence in those who now hold the positions. 

While cockroach nuh business inna fowl fight, I must say the policeman who was there is the most efficient policeman I have ever seen in operation in Jamaica during my long life. For he was calm as he tried to moderate between the both factions and talk some sense into them. Not the usual aggressive and intimidating police we are accustomed to seeing operation. I am sorry I never got his name.

The large seeds of the cacoon vine

Anyway the excitement and taking over of the bodies by the ancestors occurred when the conflict arose and we were told that is what happens when bad vibes are around. 

Apparently the two ladies who were taken over by spirits were mother and daughter. Miss Sweetie, our great cook was the mother and when she saw her daughter's body being taken over, having to be held firmly and having white rum sprayed over her, she took a dive too.

People who were near to the daughter said after it was over, her eyes were glazed, she wanted water and asked what had happened and it was too convincing to have been an act. But I guess not until I am personally taken over by a spirit will I believe such things happen.

Thrillers pose at the healing ground during the scouting mission

Apart from that extra excitement, it was a wonderful day. There were close to forty of us who made the trek, some riding and some hiking from Grandy Hole brdge which is as far as you travel on the Junction road before bearing west to the Scotts hall settlement. 

Although this group of maroons have a lot of land in Gibbs hill, Scott hall and Castleton, all designated as communal land, we were told they can now get individual titles for pieces of land to allow them to benefit from  their being National Housing Trust contributions.

Pot a boil

 When we arrived there, we were welcomed by Roddy, who blew the abeng (proper maroon name Jebry) after sprinkling it with white rum, to give it a better sound he said. The blowing of the abeng before entering the sacred areas is to advise all maroons that there are outsiders visiting. 

He then took us to the healing ground where he said persons with all kinds of  ailments are healed. 

This requires a group of maroons to gather around the afflicted person and the ancestors will enter the body of any one  and instruct what has to be done to heal the person.

The river sometimes rises way up to the guango tree during the rainy season

Roddy also introduced us to the 5 bredda bush which is used to work spells against one's enemies.

He had previously introduced us to the seeds of the cacoon vine which he said is the largest seed pod in the world and is native to West Africa. It is used by the maroons for food and the vines for camouflage. 

We  we arrived at  the beautiful valley after crossing a stream from Irie river which forms the Bowling water fall above and headed to the picnic grounds beside the Wag Water river the food was almost ready.

We were told that when it rains, the river comes up so high it sometimes reaches half way up the large guango tree.

The beautiful valley

That area is well organised for picnics, even having a thatch building with a toilet.

 I am not talking about a pit toilet either but flush toilet to boot. 

The food was great and I really liked the fu fu which is an African dish. It is made of ground provisions plus plantains and bananas all ground up. They then prepare coconut milk as if for rundown and cook the fu fu in it. It was so delicious I had to commandeer some to go home with.


The river was not too deep as it is  the drought season but we had enough water to swim in and have a great time. 

Some of us then  walked up the Irie river to the Bowling falls which is to the west of the picnic grounds.

Because of the drought, it  too was not as heavy as it should but good enough to splash around in and have a great time.

Although there were nice craft items there, I doubt if the artist got any patronage because of the conflict between the maroons which diverted so much of our attention.

Boys will be boys!

 As usual, the A team rode back but poor Omar did not leave until long after the rest, but he seemed to have made good time on his own as he flew past us when we stopped for soup by Castleton gardens.

It was another great outing with the team, thanks to the miserable Ayatollah for the excellent organisation and Charles 1st for introducing the area to us in the first place.

Craft items on display

Some photos compliments of Omar Downie.