The Power and Influence of the Obeah Man and Folk Healing in Jamaican Culture

The Power and Influence of the Obeah Man and Folk Healing in Jamaican Culture

Rhetoric of Reggae Term Paper

It's late in the 17h century and the Europeans are craving more sugar for their English tea and French coffee. Several islands are “discovered” in the Caribbean, which appear to have a sugar surplus as well as low occupancy. Now there was tons of sugar but no one to cut down the plants except for Africans rounded up and squeezed into a ship headed towards their new home. Standing shoulder to shoulder with practically no room to breathe, the slaves were hardly thinking about the new diseases they were about to encounter let alone the musical instruments left at home. The only discussions aboard the ship were most likely limited to shouts of defiance or lamentations to gods or ancestors. Once arrived, the Africans strived to rebuild the culture, music, and religion that had been stripped from their lives. Making instruments such as drums and fifes, there was a feeling that the drumming and dancing would institute a feeling of pride and hope in what seemed to be hopeless times. Music became a form of revolt from the hardship and plantation owners did not want to be bothered with the thought of rebellion and therefore banned the drum as well as allowing slaves to meet others from another plantation. Music wasn’t the only revolt; healing practices that coincided with religious practices were also a part of this revolution. This revolution was to retain their African heritage without fully conforming to their white masters’ ideals.

Funerals eventually became the only time at which slaves could meet, which was frequent due to the harsh environment. These funerals were rituals, which involved music, especially drumming. However, funerals weren’t the only musical outlets allowed, other folk religious ceremonies were also practiced. The Myal cult was the first of these folk religions shortly followed by Kumina, Pukumina, Convince, and Zion Revivalist.

Each of these folk religions plays a role in the belief systems of Jamaicans and has also played a role in the evolution of early reggae music. Rather than focusing on the religions separately and wholly, I focus on one common characteristic that still exists today in Jamaica as well as all over the West Indies and even in various spots in the southern United States- healing practices and the practitioners.