The Charles Town Maroon Drummers and Dancers performing at the Jambana festival in Toronto, Canada, in August. From left, back row, are Rodney Rose, Cashaine Richards, Marcia Douglas and Kerry Bryan. From left, front row, are Gregory Henry, Aundray White, Dwight Christie, Delano Douglas and Dwayne Christie. - Contributed
Starting this week, The Sunday Gleaner begins a feature, 'Keepers of the Heritage', which looks at people and practices that are preserving the Afrocentric aspects of our Jamaican culture.
On any regular day, visit Safu Yard, in Charles Town, Portland, and you will be entranced by the hypnotic sounds of Maroon drums. And chances are, you will see dancers moving spiritedly to the commands of the drummers.
They are members of the Charles Town Maroon Drummers and Dancers, who, in their youthfulness, are making sure that the rich cultural heritage bequeathed them by their illustrious forebears continue to be preserved for posterity.
But, at a time when dancehall, reggae, rhythm and blues and hip-hop music are a source of joy for many young Jamaicans, why are these obviously talented youths not sucked in by the undercurrents of popularity that surround these genres? In a discussion with The Sunday Gleaner earlier this year, the young Maroons said they have no choice than to obey the call of their ancestors.
Captain Delano Douglas, youth minister and master drummer, said his role was to keep the group together, which is a way of life. He was introduced to Maroon culture by his father, Maroon icon, the late Ken Douglas, and there was no looking back.
"It was already in me, so there was no need to disobey - yuh don't need nobody to motivate yuh from yuh in the culture. Yuh can't forget where yuh coming from. If it wasn't for the ancestors, we wouldn't be here," he declared.
connections
Believing strongly in the ancestral spirits, it is important to him to make connections with his ancestors, which is done by way of drumming. "Every time we play or the group get together, it's all about preserving the culture as young people. You will always have to have even one set of young people in the community who stick out their neck to preserve the culture," he asserted.
Marcia, another member of the Douglas clan, and one of the three main dancers, said she was taught directly by the spirit of one of her deceased relatives to dance.
She was already a drummer at 17 years old. Then, one night in her sleep, the strangest thing happened. And when she awoke, she was wet all over.
"I dreamt that I was in the middle of a drumming session. And a granduncle I had took me up by the hand and said, 'Come on, this is how wi yendeh (dance)'. And he began to dance, and I began to follow. I was dancing, and when I woke up from that vision, I was actually tired," she recalled. "I got my motivation from there. Then I began dancing, and decided I wasn't going to keep it to myself, so I began teaching young people to dance."
In comparing Maroon dance moves with contemporary ones, such as those of reggae and dancehall, she admitted that the latter seemed to be more popular. Yet, Maroon dance moves are no less attractive. In fact, she said, despite the hype of these popular dances, Maroon dancing is more relaxing, taking you to a different realm.
"When I am dancing, when I reach to a point, it's like I am not dancing of myself. To me, I am just at a higher level - peace, joy, that overwhelming feeling - I can't stop dancing. It's not somebody casting a spell over you; it's an inborn thing. I am from both Maroon parents - the dancing is used for healing processes as well," she said.
heritage entertainment
It's all good and well when the mind, body and soul can be healed by drumming and dancing, but how viable is this preoccupation with heritage entertainment, in terms of making a living? The general feeling is that the returns are not as fast as those from mainstream entertainment, but at the end of the day, it is worth their while.
Dwayne Christie, another drummer, is quite patient, for he said, "Step by step we take it, each day as it comes. We not pushing it as we should, but it taking time. Eventually, it will develop within due time."
He was supported by fellow drummer, Aundray White. He declared, "From yuh have patience within yuh, yuh can achieve anything. Because it is not supp'n that yuh only do; it is a part of yuh. If you let it be something that you only do, yuh won't achieve anything. It tek time to come. Don't think about what you can get now. It can take you a long way." And it took them a very long way, recently.
Led by Colonel Frank Lumsden, a 10-member group of Charles Town Maroons toured Canada in August, participating in workshops and cultural activities to commemorate Jamaica's Emancipation Day and 47th anniversary of Independence celebrations, at the invitation of the Jamaican High Commission to Canada.
The main showcase of the tour was the performance of 'Dance Afana' (machete dance) in Halifax, in the province of Nova Scotia. It was a musical re-enactment of the deportation of almost 600 Trelawney Town Maroons to Halifax in 1796. The group was also thrilled to perform with some African drummers from Burundi in Ottawa.
incredible experience
"There were many high points of the tour apart from the performances ... sailing in the Amistad was an incredible experience. Being in The Citadel that the Maroons built in Halifax ... the raising of the Jamaican flag in Halifax ... the blowing of the abeng, and the singing of the anthem inside The Citadel," Colonel Lumsden said.
"People abroad are hungry for it ... You have Jamaicans abroad (originally from Jamaican) Maroon communities who, because of this experience, want to now reconnect with their roots. Jamaicans were on the stage dancing with us, and we were thanked for bringing the story about the Maroons because they knew very little about what happened in Jamaica and what actually caused the Second Maroon War."
From Charles Town, Portland, to Canada, the drummers and dancers had taken the heritage abroad, and it was well received. Not only are they keeping it alive in their community, but they are spreading the message loud and clear, and that's why they are this week's 'Keepers of the Heritage'.
paul.williams@gleanerjm.com