National heroes · St. Ann · written in Patois with an English translation
Marcus Mosiah Garvey baan a St. Ann's Bay pon di 17th a August, 1887. From im a bwoy im love book an big ideas. Im travel go a Central America an England, an everyweh im go im see black people a ketch hard time an a get treat bad. So inna 1914, right ya inna Jamaica, im start di UNIA — di Universal Negro Improvement Association. Garvey message did simple an strong: black people fi proud a demself, fi unite, fi build dem own business, an fi lif op Africa. Inna 1916 im go a America, an di movement grow so till — branch open all ova di worl', an million a people follow im. Im even start one shipping company name di Black Star Line. Some powerful people neva like wha im a do, an im face nuff persecution an prison time. But im never stop talk di message. Im come back a Jamaica an start di People's Political Party inna 1929, a fight fi di working people-dem. Garvey dead a England inna June 1940, an inna 1964 dem bring im body home come bury a National Heroes Park a Kingston. Inna 1969, Jamaica mek Marcus Garvey di very fus National Hero. Im did teach seh wi fi free wi mind from mental slavery — an yuh can hear dat teaching inna reggae music till tideh. St. Ann's Bay pickney, worl' teacher.
Marcus Mosiah Garvey was born in St. Ann's Bay on the 17th of August, 1887. From boyhood he loved books and big ideas. He travelled to Central America and England, and everywhere he went he saw Black people struggling and being treated badly. So in 1914, right here in Jamaica, he started the UNIA — the Universal Negro Improvement Association. Garvey's message was simple and strong: Black people should be proud of themselves, should unite, should build their own businesses, and should uplift Africa. In 1916 he went to America, and the movement grew enormously — branches opened all over the world, and millions of people followed him. He even started a shipping company called the Black Star Line. Some powerful people did not like what he was doing, and he faced plenty of persecution and time in prison. But he never stopped speaking his message. He came back to Jamaica and started the People's Political Party in 1929, fighting for working people. Garvey died in England in June 1940, and in 1964 his body was brought home and buried at National Heroes Park in Kingston. In 1969, Jamaica made Marcus Garvey the very first National Hero. He taught that we must free our minds from mental slavery — and you can hear that teaching in reggae music to this day. A St. Ann's Bay child, a teacher to the world.
Marcus Mosiah Garvey baan a St. Ann's Bay pon di 17th a August, 1887. Fram im a bwai im lov buk an big aidiyaz. Im chravl go a Central America an England, an evriwe im go im si blak piipl a kech aad taim an a get chriit bad. So iina 1914, rait ya iina Jamieka, im staat di UNIA — di Universal Negro Improvement Association. Garvey mesij did simpl an schrang: blak piipl fi proud a demself, fi yuunait, fi bil dem uon bizniz, an fi lif op Africa. Iina 1916 im go a America, an di muuvment gruo so til — branch uopn aal uova di worl, an milyan a piipl fala im. Im iivn staat wan shipin kompani niem di Black Star Line. Som powaful piipl neva laik wa im a du, an im fies nof porsikyuushan an prizn taim. Bot im neva stap taak di mesij. Im kom bak a Jamieka an staat di People's Political Party iina 1929, a fait fi di wokin piipl-dem. Garvey ded a England iina June 1940, an iina 1964 dem bring im badi uom kom beri a National Heroes Park a Kingston. Iina 1969, Jamieka mek Marcus Garvey di veri fos Nashanal Iiro. Im did tiich se wi fi frii wi main fram mental slievri — an yu kyan ier dat tiichin iina rege myuuzik til tide. St. Ann's Bay pikni, worl tiicha.
The history and the figures come from the sources above. The Patois is mine.
Hear this read aloud in St. Ann →