By Gareth Davis, ContributorPORT ANTONIO, Portland:
ON WEDNESDAY, a museum and safu yard was officially opened at the Charles Town Maroon Village in Portland as part of their annual festivities. The quao abeng award was also presented to Vivian Crawford, director of the Institute of Jamaica.
The celebration revolves around the Quao victory over the British at Spanish River, in 1739, which led to the signing of a peace treaty with the Windward Maroons. "This award is presented to persons from the Maroon community who have risen to prominence," said Frank Lumsden, Captain of the Charles Town Maroons. The first recipient of this award was Clement 'Sir Coxsone' Dodd.
Mr. Lumsden noted that the Charles Town Maroons are being plagued by unemployment and disunity within the community. However, he quickly pointed out that a development programme involving beekeeping and trek-in tours are now in place to provide Maroons with employment.
"We have pledged to provide assistance to each other by meeting more often and to sort out the community related problems. There is also a safu yard (a dancing ground) and a playfield for the Maroons here in Charles Town", he added.
The treaty, signed in 1739, signalled the official emancipation of the Windward Maroons, which included Charles Town, Scotts Hall and the Moore Town villages.
The museum, the first of its kind in Jamaica, is to be used by all the villages, and displays a rich heritage of the Maroon way of life.
Some of the artefacts on display at the museum are the calabash (used as utensil or bowl); the kalaban (a bird trap baited with seeds); the jungs (a spear used to hunt wild hogs) and the abeng.
Living in remote villages forced the Maroons to live harmoniously with nature and to be resourceful with what she provides. Their source of food reflected on their way of living, as it was important to make and set traps on the go while fighting the British.
