PUBLIC ART: The Maroons of Jamaica
London based photographer Jennie Baptiste’s latest project, in conjunction with six young people collectively know as The Linx, took her and her youth shooters on a fact-finding trip to Accompong, Jamaica to interview and photograph descendants of the Maroons - the first free African slaves in the western hemisphere. The Linx are a part of London’s Brent Council’s Youth Service and have been commended for raising awareness about these “courageous runaway slaves”, more appropriately described as, historic freedom-fighters, through public talks and forthcoming exhibitions. Jennie told Cultureserve, “The people out there are so humble and giving, we in the west could definitely learn a thing or two.” Stepfan one of the youth participants, along with the other 5 members, Asia, Blaine, Dipesh, Moses and Val (ages 13-19), described the experience of being invited into the Maroon community and seeing former slave plantations as quite “enlightening.”
(Photos, left to right: Avian a young farmer who lives in Accompong by Moses Howe,14 yrs. old and Traditional Maroon House by Blaine Powell, 17 yrs. old)
The work will be exhibited in the newly opened “permanent slavery gallery” (no comment on that name!) at The Museum in Docklands in London from Wednesday 2/20/2008 - 8/31/2008. There will also be photography workshops for young visitors in which Maroon culture and artifacts will be examined and discussed with The Linx. Also on deck: A book with photos by Jennie Baptiste and The Linx sponsored by The Watchmen Agency and, an exhibition at the National Institute of Jamaica 2008.
[…] Twice in the last 6 months, London based photographer, Jennie Baptiste has touched down in the land of the Maroons (Accompong Town), on the island of Jamaica, in an effort to share the vibes of one of the Caribbean’s most recognized groups of self-liberated peoples. On her first trip, six young adults traveled and photographed with her (see Cultureserve Issue #4). Her second trip, sans youth, coincided with Jamaica’s annual Maroon Day (Jan 6). People from the countryside, around the globe, both young and old, as well as dancehall queens dressed to the nines, shared in the reverie and celebration of over 250+ years of Black independence at the biggest celebration of the holiday, the Accompong Maroon Festival. Jennie B.’s work coincides with the celebration in England and the English speaking Caribbean of the 200th anniversary of the end of the British trans-atlantic slave trade. In contrast, the US has yet to acknowledge the 200th anniversary of Jan. 1, 1808, the day the importation of slaves into the United States was prohibited. […]
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