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| photo by Adriana Murray |
By Adriana Murray
Barbados’
rich history is embedded in local characters which adorned our cultural
experience. Characters like Ossiemoore, the steel donkey and the cane cutter are
more than figments of our imagination or fanciful images that dance in our
heads. But when you may ask did these
now ever-present roots surface and become visible facets of our cultural
landscape? Come with me as we venture
into the well-known to some or almost-forgotten world of Barbadian
heritage.
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| Cane cutters depicted by Artist John Stuart |
To
the islands boats came laden with African men and women headed for plantations
naked but fully wrapped in the familiar beliefs and superstitions of their
forefathers. To the aristocratic mind their foibles may quite often be seen as folly. Yet to the hard and dark cruelty of
plantation life they developed colorful stories that brought wonder and
mystery. It may have been seen as a form
of escapism but they were free to infuse colour and old mystery to the new
world around them. People became
characters, inanimate objects became creatures and creature became household
legends. Plantation life had a rich
history brimming with tales that capture our imagination. Today we seek to
unearth one of those enchanting beings which enchant and sometimes elude us.
The Critters
Life’
greatest predictors and fortune tellers often presented themselves before our
ancestors clothed with vivacious colours.
They came as creatures whether crawling, slithering or flying and they brought
with them messages to guide them in what was otherwise an uncertain destiny.
The
first critter to make its appearance is our opening batsman’s the
cricket-er!! According to prolific writer
and historian Addington Forde this little critter of supreme influence often
makes a chirpy one-man led orchestra outside our patio at night. The fortune
soliciting this friendly visitor is wealth. The age old suspicion is that the
sighting of the cricket in the house signals that money coming into the
household. However Forde cautions that the cricket which actually enters the house unannounced ushers in sickness
or worst warns that death is at the family’s doorstep. This maybe myth has its
beginning in the mouths of our ancestors who explained their surroundings by
giving the same supernatural qualities to insects and animals as they did in
their original African homeland.
The
tired head and collapsed body of a cane cutter would spring to life if this
creature landed on the earthen floor near him or appear within feet of
him. This is because in Barbadian folklore
the ubiquitous grasshopper particularly the brown hopper whenever he appeared
brought with him good luck. This critter
would be treated with care and one would be cautioned that he should not be put
to death to ensure that good fortune is sustained.
A
staple and asset of the Caribbean home is the dream fly catcher. This automatic mechanism is the ever so
lively and beloved green lizard. Yet
folklore tells us that he also brings with him bountiful presents. Barbadian writer Addington Forde states that the
presence of a green lizard in your home was a sure sign of a pregnancy of one
of the women in the household or that one of your sons has done the deed and his
maiden will soon deliver his bounty.
Last
but certainly not least should this unwanted guest find its way into your bed
or cross your path whilst you are performing your daily task you should be on
your guard as an enemy is near. The 1000
legged slithery creature, the centipede indicates although considered an enemy
in itself shows up to signals that a human enemy is close by. In addition it
was believed that persons should be careful not to mention the centipede’s name
for his magical powers caused him to appear whenever his name is called in a conversation.
And Live Characters
Onto
the creative characters that are very much alive today in the tongues and tales
of many Barbadians. It seems Ossiemoore
has perpetual incarnation for his life happenings have been told and new
stories of recent happenings of Ossiemoore are heard frequently in
Barbados. The tale usually starts with
“One day Ossiemoore was talking to his teacher….” And so goes a now action
attributed to this magical never die character.
Oh Ossiemore the tales they
tell of you from whence you came?
I’m not too sure!
Your origins have been
attached to Saint Peter, Saint Andrew and Saint John
However these are not
disciples of which I speak, nor priests or apostles
But parishes of Barbados that
claim to be the place of your birth and where the days of your life unfold
Or so I am told!
Research
proves that Ossiemore although the brunt of an ever increasing number of Bajan
jokes was not a fictional character but
indeed a man whose given name was George Ethlebert Oscar Moore . The actual
place of his birth where his proverbial navel string was buried was in St James
near popular tourist spot Payne’s Bay.
His
was a meek handy man employed by a magistrate by the name of Seymour Nurse he
was a lonesome bachelor with no close family.
The story and stories of Ossiemoore speak of an enduring oral legacy of
story- telling. Storytelling has stood the test of time like a bridge over
troubled waters. For our ancestors whose
struggle took them over and into troubling waters stories were calming and transported
them to another world. These characters
have remained entrenched in our landscape. Storytelling has kept us grounded with
magic and laughter and is the connective tissue in our evergreen heritage.
Of Kings and Queens
King
JaJa and Bajans unquenchable appetite for a good story would lead to us being enthralled
by the love story of King JaJa and a Bajan maiden Becka.
The
history books record a man sold into slavery near the Gold Coast in a city
known as Bonny he traded his way to wealth and was later recognized by the British
who undoubtedly intervened when tensions ran high. The British lauded him as
King Jaja of Opobo. Jaja created an ally with the British which served him
well. Ironically it is when Jaja rose to royalty he faced rivalry with the king
of the very city which he was bought from, Bonny. He was exiled by his British counterparts to
St. Vincent and then Barbados hence the birth of a romantic love affair and
seemingly a folk song to match.
Before
the king and queens of the band before them come the kings and queens of the
crop. The cane cutter – the celebrated characters of the annual Barbados
festival of Crop Over is Bajan royalty with origins in the Barbadian sugar
plantation.
The
plantation was an equal opportunity employer. Its most strenuous world cutting
and loading canes was not reserved for a particular sex. Here was there was
gender equality. Cane cutter came in every sex, age and build. Celebrated at
the start of the festival that celebrates the harvesting of sugar canes is the
cane cutter. In this harsh brutal environment future kings and queens would be
produced. The work of the cane cutter started as early as the sun rose and
involved harvesting hundreds of acres of ripe sugarcane. The cane cutter symbolizes resilience and
strength. Cane carriage caused for a very regal and erect bearing as men and
women balanced pounds of the lengthy stems of canes on their heads. They
ascended ladders whilst performing a grand balancing act while maintaining an
erect posture and majestic bearing while performing back breaking work.
Just as the kings and queens of the Crop Over are crowned in their final gathering these are the characters that crown our heritage.
(Long Feature)
ADDINTON FORDE FOLK BELIEFS OF BARBADOS
AUGUSTINE OYOWE KING JAJA: THE FOLD SONG AND THE MAN
https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2395994437854727252#editor/target=post;postID=2441409779607510236;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=1;src=link
MORE ON KING JAJA NEWS SHORT DOC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuNh2_N4KME
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuNh2_N4KME
FULL BAJAN FOLK SONG ON KING JAJA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az6b5avH_Zc
FULL CANE CUTTER FOLK SONG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiK6EWbvGJ0
I do not own rights to any content used in the videos which I created.
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