Dorette Abrahams yields to ancestral call

Paul H. Williams, Gleaner Writer

ALBION, St Thomas:

YORUBA PRIESTESS Oya Ade, née Dorette Abrahams, of Albion, St Thomas, is a true daughter of her parish. She was also the first student on the list when Morant Bay High School was established.

Yet she left the parish for many years to pursue several endeavours, including trucking. But her absence was not acceptable to her African ancestors, it seems, and so they had to do what they had to do.

"I came back into the parish because the ancestors kept saying that Paul Bogle and the marchers were not getting the recognition that they need ... . That thing almost drive me crazy," she told Rural Xpress recently. And it also seems that crazy she was not meant to be, so she said she heeded the call of her ancestors. She had no choice than to go back to Paul Bogle's parish.

Trouble-making rabble-rouser

Back to where she belonged in 2000, Abrahams started the recognition process by associating herself with the Paul Bogle Foundation, but she eventually founded the African Heritage Development Association (AHDA). One of the activities of the AHDA is the annual march from Stony Gut to Morant Bay on October 11 to commemorate Paul Bogle's 1860 March.

But after much research, Abrahams realised that "we really knew nothing about the Morant Bay Uprising".

The perspectives on Bogle, who was regarded as a trouble-making rabble-rouser, in the history books were invariably negative. It was then Abrahams said she understood why the ancestors were saying they were not getting the recognition that they deserved.

One of the ways of giving them their recognition, she said, is of course to educate the people about the real history of the Morant Bay Uprising. Yet it is not just about education, it is also about inculcating a sense of pride in the descendants of Bogle and his marchers, the black people of St Thomas.

These notions gave birth to an annual Paul Bogle Commemorative Lecture, initially targeting Caribbean Examinations Council history students. The first one was in 2004. Past presenters include the Reverend Devon Dick and Professor Verene Shepherd. This year's lecture was held on Friday, November 22, with Dr Clinton Hutton being the main presenter.

Hutton, who spoke on 'The spiritual foundation of the Morant Bay Uprising', told the audience the lecture "was a marvellous idea for a community event, which other communities should emulate". He paid tribute to Abrahams for the vision of a lecture and the persistence of it.

In addressing the gathering, Abrahams encouraged black people to embrace their African heritage and to "love the skin you are in". She also reminded black people in Jamaica that our history did not start with slavery, but long before it. In reference to Dr Hutton's presentation, she said, "I can guarantee you that we will leave here being informed, having learned one new perspective about the uprising."

But Abrahams is fully aware that some people, especially the older folks, are not interested in the new perspectives, so she is targeting the younger ones. While discussing the issue with Rural Xpress before the start of the lecture, she said, "If we can cater to the young children who are coming up and teach them the true history, then, of course, over time it can change."

In her address, she further said, "Not only will they make the changes, they will go home and inform their parents who will more likely listen to them rather than come to a lecture like this."

rural@gleanerjm.com

PHOTOS BY PAUL WILLIAMS