Everything Copasetic

Yuh memba when yuh use to go a school an every time yuh bring up yuh work to teacher she mark ‘Seen’ pon it? Me nevah know wha dat mean but me tink it mus be good for everybody get ‘Seen’. An when dem Rasta bway come out wid ‘Seen’ me tink seh teacha mus […]

Ghosts, Guinness, and God

As a child growing up in Jamaica, I was frightened by the graves in my front yard. Although the graves were my daylight playground, at night the ghosts of Aunt Hortense’s relatives returned to reclaim their territory. Aunt Hortense tried to relieve my fears by explaining that the ghosts were friendly, more interested in tasting […]

Teasing the Madman

Madman Steady! Madman Steady! Shouted the children as they dash passed the mentally challenged man on their way home from school. Move you ** %#@! (Euphemized as, “Whats-it nat”) came the response as he stamped his shoeless feet to the urine drenched soil emphasizing the swear word. He is becoming angrier with each taunt, leaving […]

I Remember..

I remember as a child running home to watch JBC, then our onlytelevision network, which was off more times than on as a result of the everlasting power outages. Things seemed so simple then. We had Ringding, hosted by Louise Bennett-Coverley, a Jamaican version of Sesame Street, an attempt to make sure we didn’t forget […]

Cousin Lucy

When me did lickle a country, yuh know, me use to have one cousin name Lucy. Me say, nobody nuh bright like Lucy. Spell, read, do math, you name it Lucy can do it. But di ting me know Lucy coulda do is play Jacks. All day, all night, Lucy a play Jacks. She back-hand, […]

Jamaican Style Christmas Carol – An She Rack De Babi (And She Rock The Baby)

“An She Rack De Babi” (And She Rock The Baby) is one of the carol songs in Jamaica during Christmas. It is especially popular at Christmas cantatas at churches in Jamaica. You may also hear it in churches overseas with a large Jamaican and Caribbean congregation. Jamaican Style Christmas Carol – An She Rack De […]

Jamaican Christmas in the 1990’s

What can be said about Christmas in the 1990s in Jamaica? I might be telling my age if I go back too far but basically, the historical perspective surrounds country people who make a lot of preparation both at home, at the workplace, their places of business whatever. At home, it starts with cleaning up […]

Old Time Christmas in Jamaica

Whitewashing of walls and tree roots with temper lime using beaten banana stalks Barefooted people obtained shoes, which posed difficulty in greeting the ever-present pebbles. Country fair in the schoolyard with rumba-box, guitar, and saxophone, Christmas hat, donkey ride, merry-go-round. Grand market in town squares the night before followed by Sunday church with hat. Even […]

My Unique Experience as a Canadian Spending Christmas in Jamaica

I have, as a Canadian, had the unique experience of spending Christmas in Jamaica on several occasions. My family and I stay just outside of Mandeville with my Auntie Vernice and Uncle Harvey. It’s nice and cool up there, high in the hills. One thing that stands out in a major way is the number […]

Dear Miss Lou – Thank You

Many of us never got the opportunity to thank you for the joy you brought us in childhood with your national TV show “Ring Ding”. We will never forget the many Jamaican poems, stories, and proverbs you taught us. Miss Lou, you are Jamaica’s folklore ambassador and educator. As an actress, dramatist, storyteller, poet, and […]