More Culture Education Needed!

Opposition spokesman on education Basil Waite is lobbying for the inclusion of mandatory cultural lessons within the schools’ curriculum to help preserve Jamaica rich heritage that is being eroded by popular culture.

During a brief presentation at the 273^rd annual Accompong Maroon Celebrations in Accompong Town, St. Elizabeth on Thursday Waite argued that it is “we need more of this kind of history being studied in our schools because it is through such medium where a greater appreciation for what is taking place here today and understanding as to what some of our descendants fought for”.

The annual Accompong Maroon celebration is held on January 6 to commemorate the birthday of former Maroon leader Cudjoe. He fought with the British for decades before signing a peace treaty in 1738.The celebration begins with the blowing of the abeng, summoning all the Maroons to assemble like they did more than 270 years ago. The abeng is an old powder horn adapted from its use for carrying musket powder to an instrument used to communicate with Maroons over many miles in the Cockpit terrain.

It was in this view where Senator Wait, who is also a descendent of a Maroon, revealed that he will be strongly lobbying parliament to ensure that the well-documented Maroon history is included in the syllabus from the elementary up to secondary.

The United States of America Ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater commended the Jamaica’s Maroon communities for preserving much of the African culture.

“Communities that preserve traditions often face challenges in the form of outside influence and pressure to change. Finding that balance is something only you and your leaders can do but as you chart your path, know that the United States underscores the need for all governments to respect the human rights of all citizens, including indigenous and minority populations and others with diverse lifestyles”.

Nonetheless, the Accompong Town Maroons have charted a path toward the continuation of their cultural legacy through the formation of their Accompong Maroon Junior Council.

According to the maroon chief Ferron Williams “our history needs to be preserved and one such way to do that is through our youths. As such the formation of a Junior Council was necessary in order to continue our traditions. As elders, we alone cannot accomplish the task of cultural preservation and so our young ones must be given the opportunity to continue what we have over the years”.

This year’s staging of the celebrations saw a noticeable decline in the number of international visitors who are normally drawn to the event because of its history. Last year persons from England, Canada, the United States and even Kenya attended the major calendar event in St Elizabeth.

A solution to improve this dismal international turnout was touted by Senator Waite who encouraged the organizers of the celebration to target more persons from the African Diaspora to come and partake in the proceedings.