Faith · St. Thomas · written in Patois with an English translation
Listen — yu hear di drum dem? Inna St. Thomas, dem beat from way back. Afta slavery done, inna di 1840s go dung to di 1860s, ship dem bring free African workers come a Jamaica fi wuk pon di estate dem. Nuff a dem come from Central Africa, from di Kongo region, an plenty a dem settle right ya inna St. Thomas. Dem neva come empty-hand: dem bring dem drum, dem song, dem dance, an dem deep respect fi di ancestors. Outta dat come Kumina. Inna a Kumina ceremony, two drum talk to one anodda: di kbandu keep di steady heartbeat, an di playing cyas drum dance pon top a i wid di lead rhythm. Di drummer dem sidung PON di drum dem an play wid dem han. Di singers dem use ole word from di Kikongo language — di elders call i 'country' — so Africa still a talk inna St. Thomas tideh. Kumina come out fi nine-night (wake ceremonies), memorial, tanksgiving an odda big family time. One a di greatest teacher a di tradition was Imogene 'Queenie' Kennedy, a famous Kumina queen, weh help di whole a Jamaica understand an respect i. An di riddim spread: yu can hear Kumina echo inna Rasta drumming an inna Jamaica music at large. Memba dis, please: Kumina a no show fi tourist — a living faith an family heritage. Wi listen wid respect.
Listen — do you hear the drums? In St. Thomas they have been beating from way back. After slavery ended, from the 1840s down to the 1860s, ships brought free African workers to Jamaica to work on the estates. Many of them came from Central Africa, from the Kongo region, and many settled right here in St. Thomas. They did not come empty-handed: they brought their drums, their songs, their dances, and their deep respect for the ancestors. Out of that came Kumina. In a Kumina ceremony, two drums talk to one another: the kbandu keeps the steady heartbeat, and the playing cyas drum dances on top of it with the lead rhythm. The drummers sit ON the drums and play with their hands. The singers use old words from the Kikongo language — the elders call it 'country' — so Africa still speaks in St. Thomas today. Kumina comes out for nine-nights (wake ceremonies), memorials, thanksgivings and other big family occasions. One of the greatest teachers of the tradition was Imogene 'Queenie' Kennedy, a famous Kumina queen, who helped all of Jamaica understand and respect it. And the rhythm spread: you can hear Kumina's echo in Rastafari drumming and in Jamaican music at large. Remember this, please: Kumina is not a show for tourists — it is a living faith and family heritage. We listen with respect.
Lisn — yu ier di jrom dem? Iina St. Thomas, dem biit fram wie bak. Afta slievri don, iina di 1840s go dong tu di 1860s, ship dem bring frii African wokaz kom a Jamieka fi wok pon di istiet dem. Nof a dem kom fram Central Africa, fram di Kongo riijan, an plenti a dem setl rait ya iina St. Thomas. Dem neva kom emti-han: dem bring dem jrom, dem sang, dem daans, an dem diip rispek fi di ansestaz. Outa dat kom Kumina. Iina a Kumina serimoni, tuu jrom taak tu wan anada: di kbandu kiip di stedi haatbiit, an di playing kyaas jrom daans pon tap a i wid di liid ridim. Di jroma dem sidong PON di jrom dem an plie wid dem han. Di singa dem yuuz uol wod fram di Kikongo langgwij — di elda dem kaal i 'konchri' — so Africa stil a taak iina St. Thomas tide. Kumina kom out fi nain-nait (wake ceremonies), mimuoriyal, tangksgivin an ada big famili taim. Wan a di grietis tiicha a di chradishan waz Imogene 'Queenie' Kennedy, a fiemos Kumina kwiin, we help di uol a Jamieka ondastan an rispek i. An di ridim spred: yu kyan ier Kumina eko iina Rasta jromin an iina Jamieka myuuzik at laaj. Memba dis, pliiz: Kumina a no shuo fi tuoris — a livin fiet an famili heritij. Wi lisn wid rispek.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
Hear this read aloud in St. Thomas →