Charles Town Maroon Conference and Festival turns ‘sweet sixteen’

PEOPLE FROM ‘yard’ and abroad will descend upon the Portland Maroon community of Charles Town from Thursday, June 20 to Sunday, June 23 for the 16th annual International Charles Town Maroon Conference and Festival, under the theme, ‘Land: Ancestral Connections, Indigen Rights, Stewardship’.

The Asafu Yard and the ‘river park’ will be the epicentre of the hub of activities that are slated for this popular calendar event, which started out as a conference, but evolved to include festival in its brand, because of the plethora of cultural elements embedded within and, of course, the festive atmosphere.

“It has been one of the most intellectual events that teaches people about the Maroons and these 16 years in academics state that we are very much one of the sole providers of knowledge as it pertains to our culture. We can actually produce more if we stretch out a little more, but we are continuing to do our best. I feel as if we have been carrying a gold saucer … floating on a river.

“We’ll continue this journey … and we will actually bring it from one generation to the next, until there’s no more people to reach. So, yes, I feel really elated, really good, really responsible,” Colonel Marcia Douglas, the leader, who was there for the very first conference, told The Gleaner.

On opening day, billed as ‘Yucahuna Kachi Arieto, is ‘Taino Day’, when patrons and other participants will connect with animal relatives and yuca (cassava), light the sacred fire, celebrate the life force energy of the sun and the male spirit of fertility. There will also be Yamaye (Jamaican) Taino songs and dance. Activities for the community start at noon, and the day ends with the closing of the sacred fire at 6:30 p.m.

Friday is the day for academic panels, which will consist of notable academics, scholars, researchers, historians, students. Treaties, indigenous resistance, environmental management and climate change are some of the topics to be under discussion. After all that cerebral indulgence, the drummers, singers and dancers will rock the stage in the Asafu Yard for the regular Friday night jam session.

Saturday is dedicated to the community as it is designated ‘Comm-Unity Day’ with a domino tournament being at the very heart of it. Six-a-side football, health and wellness checks, ‘Children’s Playground’, ‘One Love Elders’ Treat’ for people 65 years and older, town hall reasoning on Maroon lands, are also set to put back the ‘U’ in unity. And when night falls, the bonfire will manifest and inspire all comers, including the artistes down to perform on the ‘Indigenous Roots Rock Showcase’ in the river park.

‘Bonfire Night’ blazes off at 7 and rages until 2 a.m. By that time, Ras Padam, Akinsanya, Bongo Herman, The Contortionists, Fred Locks, Hardio, Insence, Jqula, Naldo Kid, Nature Ellis, Ras Shadai, Tesengue, Turbulence, and Roy Rayon would have added to the heat of the night, which will also be rocked by the Charles Town Drummers and Dancers and the Master Drummers Collective of Moustafa Reds, Mwalimu, Bongo Shem, Linval, Jungle King and Calbert. MC is ‘Lois The Maroon Vibes Queen’, while ‘Bragga Flames’ will be burning the music into the minds of all and sundry.

Quao the ‘Invisible Hunter’ helped to defeat the British in the east, paving the way for his descendants. So, Sunday, the last day is being recognised as ‘Ancestor Quao Day Celebration’. It is intended to be a fanfare of abeng blowing, singing, drumming, dancing, pouring of libations, a tribute to Captain Quao, a ritual about ‘The Land’, and much more.

For the entire festival, the ‘wellness village’ will live on. In it there will be mind/body/spirit workout, a fire ceremony, sound balm yard, reflexology, reiki, yoga, tai-chi, hot rock massages, massage therapy, herbal river spa, herbal tea bar, plant medicine, Maroon food, a live food workshop, camping, drumming, storytelling, stargazing and a bonfire.

“Dive into rejuvenating workshops, mindful sessions, and immersive experiences designed to nourish your mind, body and spirit. Discover the power of wellness amid the vibrant energy of our community, as we come together to cultivate balance, resilience, and harmony. Get ready to embark on a transformative journey towards greater well-being,” The Charles Town Maroon Council says.

On reflecting on this sweet-16 milestone, Colonel Douglas said, “We accomplished the gathering together of people, we accomplished the socialisation of people, we accomplished people learning more about the Maroons … . The accomplishment is so huge that we can see what they are talking about, when they say, from the abeng to the Internet.

“The accomplishment shows us that the putting of our foot forward to do this conference is worthwhile. People get more interested, day by day, and that is what we want to do, to get the interest of people and the ways of putting out our knowledge, to let people know about our culture, our biodiversity, about our surrounding. This year is so special; we’ve accomplished 16 years of the International Maroon Conference and Festival.”