The Africans
Africans
represent the largest ethnic group in Jamaica. Their introduction to the island
was primarily through forced migration and importation, which began with the
Spaniards (Sherlock and Bennett, 68) and later they were employed by the
British who sought to augment the labour supply of the demanding plantation
system during the period of slavery. Estimates of the number of Africans who
were brought to the island between the mid- seventeenth century and 1807
(immediately after the Abolition of the Slave Trade) varies between 750,000 to
a million. Although most Africans were coercively brought to the island, a
notable portion (about 8000) voluntarily came as wage labourers after
emancipation, between 1840 and 1865 (Senior, 3).
Both
indentured and enslaved Africans were from mainly West Africa (Southern Nigeria
and the Gold Coast, Ghana) and from various ethnic groups, particularly the
Asante, Yoruba, Igbo, Congo and Mandingo. With them was transported especially
non- material culture such as ideas/ philosophies and beliefs, which not only
manifested in various forms, but also transmitted to future generations in
spite of attempts of suppression by colonists.
Despite
the rigidity of enslavement, many Africans relentlessly challenged it through
various overt and covert means such as rebellions/ wars, maroonage (running
away from plantations), poisoning, labour withdrawal, infanticide, suicide, and destruction of property.
These,
along with other acts of resistance, significantly contributed to the Abolition
of Slavery in 1834 and Emancipation in 1838. The Sam Sharpe Rebellion in 1832
and maroon wars in the 1700s, for instance, posed major challenges to the
institution of slavery in not only Jamaica, but they also served to undermine
slavery in other British colonies as they motivated slaves to fight for
freedom.
Today,
Jamaican African leaders such as Sam Sharpe, and Nanny of the maroons, have not
only been honoured as national heroes, but they symbolize the great struggle
for freedom. Maroon settlements including: Accompong in St. James, Moore Town
and Nanny Town in Portland are important maroon legacies.
The result of large scale African immigration is that the greatest
portion of Jamaica’s population is of African descent, and the island’s
cultural heritage is to a great extent reflective of West African traditions
and their creolized versions: a mixture or fusion of African and especially,
British traditions. Included in
such traditions and customs are:
·
Jamaican creole (English)— essentially a mixture of English and
African languages
·
Dance— Dinkini Mini, Kumina and Jonkanoo
·
Music—Mento (Jamaica’s first original popular music form which is
a combination of African and British musical elements). Heavy drumming,
commonly associated with West African music is a popular component of
Jamaican music (Simpson, 31-32)
·
Folklore—Obeah, Duppy, Jamaican Proverbs, and Anancy Stories
Sources
Cundall,
Frank and Joseph Pietersz. Jamaica Under the Spaniards.
Kingston: Institute of Jamaica, 1919.
National
Library of Jamaica. File Containing Historical Notes on the
Lebanese.
Senior,
Olive. A-Z of Jamaican Heritage. Kingston: Heinemann Educational Books
(Caribbean) Limited and Gleaner Company Limited, 1983.
Sherlock,
Phillip and Hazel Bennett. The Story of the Jamaican People.
Kingston and Princeton: Ian Randle Publishers and Markus Wiener Publishers,
1998.
Simpson,
Joane M. Why Heritage. Creative Links, 2002.
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