GARVEY LIVES!!!
MOSIAH LIVES!!!
Being the first island in the so-called “English speaking Caribbean” to gain independence on Mosiah (Aug) 6th 1962 (Trinidad and Tobago followed 25 days later), Jamaicans the world over are celebrating 60 years as a nation state. (1) Moreover, non-Jamaicans are as likely to share in the festivities because the global reach of Jamaican culture (e.g. language, music, sport, religion/spirituality, food, etc.) in the last 60 years (and beyond) has been nothing short of phenomenal. It is indeed the case that ‘We Likkle But We Tallawah.’ (2)
The next phase of the island’s history “has already begun” – the move to become a republic, following Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica and most recently Barbados. (3) This indicates then that although Jamaica has had 60 years of independence, it is not yet sovereign. (4) There is also the issue of reparations that is a major CARICOM agenda item that may yet inspire greater regional (Pan-Afrikan, even) integration. (5)
But Jamaica is not without its challenges, not least the homicide rate, even though some suggest this is in decline. (6) However, given that Jamaica is the island of Marcus Garvey, who is after all the first national hero, its questionable the extent to which his influence has been woven into the fabric of the island, including the Rastafari Movement that he inspired and that has been such a powerful vehicle for Jamaican culture worldwide. For example, it was only five years ago that the government apologised “without equivocation” for the “grave injustice” meted out to the Rastafari community at Coral Gardens in 1963. (7)
There is also debate around the extent to which Marcus Garvey is, or should be taught in the schools. Recent developments at early childhood level suggest that thus far, not enough but it is changing. According to Caribbean Life online journal of May 2022:
“All true Garveyites will agree that this has been in the making for a very long time; allowing the Rt. Hon Marcus Garvey’s work to be included in the school’s curriculum in Jamaica. Well, it is finally here. On April 25, 2022, across the nation of Jamaica in each parish, 22 schools at the early childhood level started learning about Jamaica’s First National Hero, Hon. Marcus Garvey as a part of their school curriculum.” (8)
In the political sphere, neither of the main parties have substantively taken up the mantle established by Garvey’s People’s Political Party (PPP), founded in 1929 that included self-government, minimum wage and free secondary education among its manifesto pledges. (9) The PPP also advocated regional federation, in line with his Pan-Afrikan vision. (10) Ironically, one of the main political parties The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), led by national hero Alexander Bustamante (at whose behest the Coral Gardens massacre occurred) was “so instrumental in aborting” an attempt at federation two decades later. (11) The current Jamaican government has added it’s voice to those seeking to exonerate Marcus Garvey for the travesty perpetrated against him by the USA government in 1923. (12) It remains to be seen how many (if any) more steps the Jamaican government will make towards fully embracing the legacy of Marcus Garvey.
(1) Jamaican Embassy, Washington DC (27/07/22) Jamaican Diaspora to Stage Massive “Jamaica 60” Celebrations in USA. https://jis.gov.jm/jamaican-diaspora-to-stage-massive-jamaica-60-celebrations-in-usa/
(2) Bethany Stewart (29/03/21) ‘We Likkle But We Tallawah’ https://www.theunionmmu.org/articles/we-likkle-but-we-tallawah
(3) Nadine White (22/03/22) Jamaica: government ‘has already begun’ process of removing Queen as head of state. https://www.independent.co.uk/world/jamaica-queen-head-of-state-b2041296.html
(4) Rosalea Hamilton (14/07/22) JAMAICA: ‘We must establish a republic – where the people are sovereign and not the Queen’ https://www.civicus.org/index.php/media-resources/news/interviews/5913-jamaica-we-must-establish-a-republic-where-the-people-are-sovereign-and-not-the-queen
(5) Bert Wilkinson (30/07/21) Caricom fights for reparations with help from Africa. https://reparationscomm.org/reparations-news/caricom-fights-for-reparations-with-help-from-africa/
(6) Jason McKay (24/07/22) Statistics we choose to ignore. https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/statistics-we-choose-to-ignore/
(7) Jamaica Observer (04/04/17) Gov’t to set up $10-m trust for survivors of 1963 Coral Gardens incident. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Gov-t-to-set-up–10-m-trust-for-survivors-of-1963-Coral-Gardens-incident.
(8) Dawn Plummer (03/05/22) Marcus Garvey Pilot Project for early childhood schools. https://www.caribbeanlife.com/marcus-garvey-pilot-project-for-early-childhood-schools/
(9) diG Jamaica (15/10/15) Marcus Garvey People’s Political Party – Jamaica’s First Modern Party. http://digjamaica.com/m/blog/marcus-garvey-peoples-political-party-jamaicas-first-modern-party/
(10), Tony Martin (1985) The Pan-African Connection: From Slavery to Garvey and Beyond. The Majority Press. p. 116
(11) Michael O. West (2005) Walter Rodney and Black Power: Jamaican intelligence and US diplomacy in African Journal Of Criminology & Justice Studies: AJCJS; Volume 1, No. 2, November 2005. p. 36. https://www.proquest.com/openview/e6598610b688ce80e9045cdac7e1231e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=55089
(12) Afrika Speaks with Alkeb-Lan on Galaxy Radio (06/08/22) #WeExonerateGarvey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq5glL1Du_8; Loop News (11/02/22) Jamaica to push for exoneration of Marcus Garvey — GG. https://jamaica.loopnews.com/content/jamaica-push-exoneration-marcus-garvey-gg
we ask the question:
Jamaica@60: Independence or Sovereignty?
1) How has Jamaican culture spread so widely across the globe?
2) What are/have been the internal challenges facing Jamaica?
3) To what extent is the legacy of Marcus Garvey taught in Jamaican schools and what is its impact?
4) Is it now time for a functional Caribbean federation as Garvey advocated?
Our Special Guest:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of almost 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
NEXT MOSIAH SESSION: https://youtu.be/NtiPRiHJSJw