From Bahia to Brooklyn, Caribbean stories

Jamaica

In Jamaica, we delve into the legacy of Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.” What significance does he and his lyrics hold in present-day Jamaica? What did Marley mean by the call to “emancipate ourselves from mental slavery…,” a statement made by influential Jamaican activist Marcus Garvey? What does that statement mean, and how does one achieve spiritual liberation? Has Jamaica achieved liberation? As part of the British Commonwealth, the country is still connected to its former colonizer, the English crown. But for how long? Here in Jamaica, the resistance against colonialism gave rise to a new religion, one that has followers in the farthest corners of the world thanks to Bob Marley. But why do Rastafarians want to leave Jamaica? To return to Africa? The disparity between the rich and the poor is immense, as Nina observes in Trenchtown, the neighborhood in Kingston where Bob Marley’s musical career took off. The maroons of Jamaica are led by a woman: Gloria Simms, also known as Mamma G. Nina visits her. Similar to Suriname, the people who fled the plantations are called maroons here. However, unlike Suriname, the maroons in Jamaica are highly respected. Nanny of the Maroons is officially recognized as a national hero, and her portrait even graces a banknote.

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