Viva Zumbi to rock Charles Town
Published:Saturday | November 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Paul H. Williams, Gleaner Writer
THE STORY of the ancient Jamaican Maroons has been well told, but little, if anything at all, is known about their Brazilian counterparts who were just as liberated, fearless and indomitable.
The original Jamaican Maroons are long dead, but their descendants have been keeping their spirit alive with their hypnotic drumming, soulful singing, and energetic dancing. A journey to any of the five Maroon villages is always a cultural treat.
The descendants of the Brazilian Maroons, too, have their own spirited styles of drumming, singing, and dancing called Capoeira. And right here in Jamaica, for sometime now Capoeira is practised and taught by Grupo Catieveiro Capoeira Jamaica, led by Dennis Eckart, who said Capoeira is a "vibrant Brazilian martial art, dance, and culture, developed by African slaves during colonial times in Brazil.
"A form of resistance against slavery, Capoeira was also used by the Quilombolas (Brazilian Maroons) in their fight for freedom. Capoeira combines music, rhythm, dance, acrobatics, and martial arts skills to a unique art form that is practised by women and men of all ages all over the globe today."
And on Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19, the cultures of the Jamaican and Brazilian Maroons will clash at Charles Town, Portland, one of the main Maroon villages in Jamaica, and once the hometown of Quao, the late fearless leader of the Windward Maroons.
Aptly named Viva Zumbi Capoeira at the Maroon Asafu Warrior Yard, the two-day event is in honour of Zumbi dos Palmares, the latest leader of the Quilombolas. Zumbi is regarded a "symbol of resistance against slavery and oppression".
After many years of resisting and eluding the Portuguese military expeditions, Zumbi was eventually apprehended and killed on November 20, 1695. Today, he is revered as a heroic and legendary freedom fighter, and the 20th of November is observed as the 'Day of Black Consciousness' in Brazil.
The activities start at 9 p.m. on Friday, with the opening ceremony at a campfire, around which there will be live drumming, storytelling, and traditional Maroons food. At 10 p.m., a Brazilian movie will be featured.
On Saturday, after breakfast at 7:30 a.m., there will be a Capoeira workshop in Asafu Yard conducted by Grupo Cativeiro Capoeira Jamaica, followed by a guided tour of Charles Town Maroon Museum, a presentation about Zumbi, a workshop on the making of the reco-reco musical instrument from bamboo, a Capoeira demonstration, and a Maroon-style jerked dinner at 5 p.m.
"The Viva Zumbi project seeks to create awareness of the tremendously rich Jamaican culture and its links to related traditions in the Americas, especially Brazil. The struggle for freedom was shared by countless peoples across the Caribbean and Latin America, resulting in often distinct cultural expressions and traditions," Eckart said. "Viva Zumbi will unite the Jamaican Maroon culture with the unique Brazilian fight-dance culture of Capoeira offering a one-of-a-kind experience for all participants, demonstrating the common roots of both traditions."