Worth A Visit

A Visit to Charles Town Maroon Community, Portland

Colonel Frank Lumsden of the Charles Town Maroons blowing the Abeng (cow horn).

Here are some photos taken from my last visit to the Charles Town Maroon community in the Buff Bay Valley in Portland.

Charles Town is a Maroon Community located approximately 20 minutes drive south of Buff Bay. The town is known for its Maroon history and culture, its Safu Yard, the Charles Town Drummers and Dancers, the Maroon Museum, as well as its tour of the area educating visitors on the history of Maroon culture.

An off the beaten path tourist attraction, a visit to Charles Town is well worth it, though the site could use some product upgrading. (Jamaica Cultural Enterprises organizes tours to Charles Town).

The Maroons were runaway slaves who lived off the land while fighting the British for their freedom.

Pictured above is the current leader of the Charles Town Maroon, Colonel Frank Lumsden blowing an Abeng (cow horn). Maroons used the abeng to communicate with each other during wars with the British during slavery between the 17th to 19th centuries.

The word abeng comes from the Twi language of the Akon in Ghana, and means ‘animal horn’ or musical instrument. It is now used during traditional Maroon celebrations and gatherings.

For more information see Charles Town Maroons

 

Charles Town Maroon Community - Maroon Museum

 

Charles Town Maroon Community - Maroon Museum

 

My Charles Town guide

 

Very hot peppers...

 

Crushing cassava to make bammies the old fashioned way with a mortar and pestle

 

Calabash bowls used to serve lunch to visitors

 

Bustamante back bone, a traditional Jamaican candy made with molasses

 

Charles Town Maroon Community cemetary
Making tamarind balls, another traditional Jamaican candy

 

Down to the river in Charles Town

 

Charles Town river...
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10 Comments

  1. Yvonne Boxe
    November 1, 2018 at 11:06 am — Reply

    I would like to take a group of students to Charles Town Maroon Village. Could you please send me some contact information please.

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  5. […] A Visit to Charles Town Maroon Community, Portland – … – Colonel Frank Lumsden of the Charles Town Maroons blowing the Abeng (cow horn). Here are some photos taken from my last visit to the Charles Town Maroon … […]

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  8. […] my account of our hike to Blue Mountain Peak , visit to Charles Town Maroon Community and tea at Strawberry Hill, Irish Town  – all in the Blue […]

  9. Anthony Norman
    October 11, 2011 at 11:18 am — Reply

    A well worthwhile adventure into Jamaica’s Maroon culture…real time!

  10. Anthony Norman
    September 29, 2011 at 10:17 am — Reply

    Looking forward to visiting 30/09/11

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