ST. ELIZABETH:
THE 265th Accompong Maroon celebrations were expected to culminate yesterday with a civic ceremony in the maroon village.
According to a release from the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), the event, which marks the birthday of Maroon war hero, Captain Cudjoe, was als used to observe the historic signing of a peace treaty with the British, which marked the end of a gruelling period of adversities for the maroons.
For more than 200 hundred years, the maroons have been observing January 6 as a sacred day when they pay homage to their ancestors and this year the celebrations promised to be bigger and better. TPDCo, an agency of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, which has been working with the maroons for the past two years to facilitate the development of the community as an attraction, has partnered with the maroons to stage the event.
Colonel of the Accompong Maroons, Sidney Peddie, said that this year, the Maroons were seeking to hold a ceremony that was in the true spirit of their traditions. On Saturday, January 4, they staged a fair and drumfest, featuring the Kingston Drummers. The event continued on Sunday with a revival ceremony and ended yesterday with the traditional Maroon function, which included a civic ceremony, traditional drumming and a march from the Kindah Tree. The day's activities were to begin at 10 a.m.
Colonel Peddie also said that this year, the Accompong Maroons would be incorporating maroons from Moore Town and Chalestown in the celebrations. Most of the ceremonies are being held in the Bickle Village in Accompong. The Bickle Village is made from wattle and grass roof and features traditional maroon buildings.
Colonel Peddie expressed gratitude to TPDCo for their assistance in the management of the festival and pointed out that TPDCo's involvement in last year's functions enabled the event to be better organised.
