Linx Speech Outline
Val’s Speech 04/07/08
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, my name is Val Lyons, and I am vice-chair of
the linx group. We started this project just over 22 months ago and now we are honoured
to be able to share with you tonight, some of the magic we were able to capture.
We hope our work will serve as a testament and tribute to the Maroon people of Jamaica,
and increase awareness of their strong, colourful and important legacy. I hope you
will agree, we managed to produce photographic content of a high standard that embodies
their culture and tradition. We hope to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds
with the history of these fascinating once enslaved people.
The group set out to
produce a photographic project of the Maroon people of Accompong Jamaica on location;
capturing the lifestyle and traditions of these people, the aftermath of their past
oppression, and their legacy. Photography allows people of all ages and abilities
to understand and have an immediate feel of environment, people, lifestyles and
culture. This vision was achieved after receiving funding from the Brent Youth Service
and Youth Opportunity Fund.
I personally am in a constant awe in the way in which
they defeated the British army to an extent the British could only resolve to form
a peace treaty with the community. The British could not match or adapt to the strategic
ability and organisation of this group of people, despite what many would consider
technological advances over the Maroons. The Maroons had a unique understanding
and appreciation of the Jamaican landscape and were extremely resourceful; elements
of their lifestyle still witnessed today. Through their aptness they were often
able to escape being enslaved by the British. The Peace treaty of 1738 ensured the
maroons were entitled to the land in Accompong. They were free to govern themselves
outside of the jurisdiction of the rest of Jamaica. This included not having to
pay taxes and having their own community leader, the colonel.
The African culture
was ever noticeable through the stories of the elders; also some of the words incorporated
within the maroon dialect can be traced to West Africa. The drum patterns they play
are strongly recognised to this day in Africa. The town still produces many African
instruments, in a very much traditional way, which has been passed down from generation
to generation which we managed to capture in our exhibition. The Maroons find great
significance in the ‘talking’ drums, which they used to communicate messages and
play at ceremonies and celebrations. I remember George, the chief drum maker of
the community, explaining to me that the drums were the heartbeat of the Maroon
people.
The Maroons are a very environmentally friendly people something of which
we can all learn from in our current global climate. They actively recycle different
materials, and have a unique respect for the natural world which clearly takes care
of them as they take care of it. They are economic with electricity, and all washing
is done by hand. They are talented in manufacturing a variety of everyday items
from the materials around them, this ability noticed right down to the youngest
of the community who make their own toys and equipment for sport such as cricket.
The landscape is filled with a variety of natural plants and herbs which the Maroons
actively use as remedies for different ailments. This knowledge again has been passed
down from generation to generation and we were fascinated by their potency. The
cooking techniques such as jerking and the spices used are still conducted today.
The food would be jerked and seasoned in the past to give a longer life for the
food the Maroon people prepared while they were on the move. This I was told, made
sure smoke was not produced as to give away their location to the British. And to
think all this time I thought it was just so it could taste so good! Unfortunately
the group was unable to bring back any jerk chicken to exhibit, next time perhaps.
I hope you will agree our exhibition captures the Maroon lifestyle and culture and
stands as a tribute and testament to their legacy. One of the most impressive aspects
of the Maroon people is the facts is that they have survived a turbulent history
and are still present today with a culture as strong as ever in modern Jamaica.
This is a very different aspect of slave history as it shows black Africans that
were highly organised, resourceful and skilled in essence ‘outsmarting’ the British
who at the time were the sole ‘superpower’ of the world.
The world can learn a great
deal from the peacefulness of the Maroon people especially in the war torn world
we live in today. The children show a respect to the elders, as do the elders take
pride in the young children in communicating their knowledge. Our exhibition gives
insight to the legacy of the Maroon people through photography taken by young people
such as myself which I am sure you will feel is refreshing. The expression of the
people and their environment give an image of their daily routine and lifestyle.
An important aspect of our project is that we did not treat the Maroon people as
historic specimen, but immersed ourselves into their lifestyle and gained a more
personal insight into the community.
The Linx feel it is crucial to attain a thorough
understanding of the history of slavery, as people are able to see clearly the impact
and legacy it has on the modern day African people. Britain no doubt would not be
where it is today economically without the exploitation and manual labour of the
enslaved which generated billions of pounds of capital. We can all learn so much
from the Maroon people regardless of age race religion or background.
I feel it
is important we remember and reflect on this history to ensure it does not occur
again in future, so our children will be enlightened and inspired and Jamaica, as
well as the world can be a truly better place.
You have something precious here.
The Linx found Accompong a treasure chest of historical knowledge and sources. The
Maroon people and Jamaica should be proud of this vibrant history as it demonstrates
the resilience, strength and unity of the African Jamaican people from the 1600’s
right up to today. Under the plight and fear of being enslaved and loosing family,
the Maroon people showed organisation, intelligence and a dedication to freedom.
They at no time gave up. I am extremely impressed as I am sure you all are. So again
I would like to stress that it is our responsibility to invest in this history and
remind Jamaicans and the world who Jamaicans are.
The real special parts of our
exhibition are not the photographs but the places and most importantly the people
in them, without whom none of this would have been possible. The Linx and I were
truly blessed to have such a wonderful location and community to match which quite
frankly made our objectives and photography easy! We were overwhelmed with engaging
photographic potential; I vividly remember taking snaps every 5 seconds at times.
I feel blessed to have had insight into a world which is not often covered in the
media. I hope you will agree our exhibition captures Maroon lifestyle and culture
and stands as a tribute and testament to the Maroon people and their legacy. This
history is truly something to be proud of. Thank you all very much.
Eve Baker
Hello. My name is Eve Baker and I am a senior manager for Brent Youth Service. Brent
is a London borough and it houses the famous – Wembley Stadium. Brent Local Authority
is seriously thinking about changing its name to Wembley to take advantage of this
wonderful landmark and to use it as a great PR opportunity.
And what a great opportunity
this has been and I thank all those who have helped and supported us. I will leave
it to the YP to give thanks and talk a little bit about the project and their work.
However, I want to state that Brent Youth Service of Brent Council and the Youth
Opportunity Fund, a Government initiative, have funded this project throughout as
well as the London Docklands Museum. A similar exhibition is being shown there,
as we speak, until the end of the year. All this clearly illustrates that young
people are very important to us. The British government understands that educational
trips really broadens young minds and expands cultural awareness and harmony - but
I don’t have to tell you that and this is particularly important in a world of drugs,
crime, and teenage pregnancy and general under achievement that Britain is experiencing
more than ever with their young people today..
These YP here are a credit to themselves,
their parents and their community. The YP of Accompong are a credit to themselves,
their parents and their community. Thanks.
Guest Speaker
The Linx are a group of six young people from Brent Youth Service
in London, aged between 14 – 20 years of age. They began in September 2006 with
the intention of doing great work that would grab attention and motivate people.
As 2007 marked the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the
UK, they wanted to do something positive to mark this occasion that would inspire
people. The Linx chose photography because they thought that everyone would be able
to relate to the images. Everyone thought that this was a great idea and the Linx
thought of different ways of pursuing this project. They eventually received funding
from the Youth Opportunity Fund and Brent Youth Service. This would open new door
and allow Linx to put their ideas into motion.
While researching into what aspect
of slavery of slavery the Linx wanted to base their project on their came across
the Maroon people and were fascinated and wandered why they had not heard of these
amazing people before. The Maroon’s that they were going to focus on for this project
were from Accompong, St Elizabeth in Jamaica. Whilst doing their research, the Linx
realized the Maroons had a great impact on Jamaica in relation to the slave trade.
They were the first to revolt and become run a ways.
The Linx were also amazed to
find out that people still lived in Accompong. It seemed that their community was
cut off from the rest of Jamaica, high up in the mountains of St Elizabeth. They
have their own laws and government. This went back centuries ago when they signed
a peace treaty with the British in 1739 so that they could be left alone. They thus
created their own vibrant community and culture.
Traditions passed on by the elders
in the community go back hundreds of years to the origins in Africa. The Abeng which
is made from cow’s horn is used also in Ghana, Africa. So the connection between
both countries is still rich in shared traditions even today. The Maroons learnt
how to use their surrounding to their advantage and made use of natural plants and
herbs to create medical remedies.
Every year on January 6th they celebrate Kojo’s
birthday and the life of the Maroons in Accompong. People from all over Jamaica
come to celebrate with them.
In November 2006, Asia Bharj and Val Lyons of the Linx
as well as youth worker Yvonne Scott and curator Jennie Baptiste of the project
went to Accompong to do a reconnaissance visit before the actual trip the following
year. They talked to the Maroon community in Accompong and they really liked Linx’s
idea. Val and Asia took many photos and they were given permission to stay in the
community the following year (2007).
The Linx found it great meeting the people
of Accompong. Everyone had different perceptive about what they would look like
and how they would act. The Linx found everyone friendly and kind and showed great
hospitality. The Linx found them to be very peaceful people and very eco-friendly;
they recycled and lived off the land. The Maroon people have such a close knit community
– everybody knows each other and is friendly.
There has been no crime in the last
200 years. This idea of working together was something for the Linx to bring back
to their home on London and share with other young people. This is what the Linx
wanted to capture in their photographs; the hospitality and warmth of the people
and also the unique features of the community. The Linx decided to look at the different
aspects, such as the children, the elders, food, life style, entertainment and most
importantly, historical sites and artifacts.
The Linx learnt so much when they went
to Accompong and what they wanted to bring back to London and share amongst people
in their community like the peacefulness of the Maroon, the organization of the
community and the strength of their culture over the centuries, environmental awareness
and the respect the young have towards their elders.
The Linx aimed to capture what
they experienced in their photographs – the peacefulness of the Maroons and the
vivid community. Every face in the photographs tells a story and shows warmth, drawing
the viewer in.
This project is also unique because the photographs were taken by
young people. Young people probably were able to tap into the passion of the people
in a way that adults cannot. The Linx also stayed in Accompong for a while and so
they gain a great insight into the daily routine of the people. This greatly comes
across in their work.
Ladies and gentlemen may I introduce you to Asia Bharj, Val
Lyons and Blain Powell.
Asia's Speech
The Linx are made up of 6 members; myself Asia, Blaine, Val, Moses,
Dipesh and Stepfan. The Linx began in September 2006. As 2007 marked the abolition
of the slave trade in Britain, we decided we wanted to contribute in some way that
was interesting and fun. Photography is something visual, that is easy to understand
and can appeal to everyone – so by doing a photographic project we thought information
on slavery can be shown in a new way. We discovered the Maroons while researching,
and were amazed to find there was not much information on them, even though they
had such an impact in Jamaica on slavery history. From this the Linx began. Being
part of the Linx has been a great experience; I have learnt many skills that are
transferable in my academic and everyday life. I got involved in the Linx because
I thought it was a great way to understand and explore my heritage. I only knew
a few aspects on slavery but nothing about the Maroons and their involvement in
Jamaica. I think more young people based projects like this should happen; I found
it a great way to meet new people of different backgrounds, abilities and ages.
Being a photographic project it furthered my skills and knowledge in photography.
From doing this project I hope to give people who hear about our work and view it
more understanding of slavery and to get more involved in community based projects.
The Linx are so proud of how this project turned out, and the amount of interest
it has received. We are all grateful that we have been given this opportunity to
come to Jamaica again and show our work in the Institute of Jamaica, and especially
for some of the maroons to be here today. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the work!
Blaines Speech
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am Blaine Powell and is currently
part of the Linx group. I joined this group around late November which was a couple
weeks after the group formed. The reason I got involved was because I was interested
in what the group was doing and wanted to learn more about my background culture.
Although I wasn’t part of the project at the start I felt like I became part of
the group instantly and I was then able to see the work “The Linx Group” had come
up with which drew my attention. When I was briefed by the youth workers organizing
this project and was told what the project was about and the out come I was really
impressed and thought to myself what a wonderful experience. During my time with
the Linx group I have learnt a lot about my heritage and have also learnt new skills
such as using a camera professionally as well as any other skills. As a group I
think we have worked very well together and I am very proud with the progress we
have made. During my stay in Jamaica I came across some memorable moments such as
Planting the mango trees, meeting the community, taking pictures of scenery, listening
to historical stories past down from generations, being a guest on the radio station
HOT.102 Fm and many more. Although 3 members of our group could not be here Due
to financial reasons I would like to say some things on their behalf, Moses would
have liked to say hat he found the trip very awarding and has gained a lot of confidence.
Getting involved in this project not knowing anything about using a camera came
out of this project with new skills learnt. Dipesh enhanced his communication skills
due to interviewing a lot of the maroon community and really enjoyed his experience.
Jennie Baptiste
The Linx Good morning ladies and gentlemen thank you joining us
today on this historic occasion of the international launch of the photographic
exhibition entitled “journey to Accompong” by the Linx at the Institute of Jamaica.
In September I was invited to talk about my work as a photographer to a group of
young people in Brent Youth Service in London, by senior youth worker Yvonne Scott.
The young people’s interest in my work led Eve Baker to ask me to design a photographic
project with this group.
As 2007 was the Bicentennial of the Abolition of the British
Slave Trade, the proposal for this project would centre around this bicentennial,
with the young people investigating a particular part of black people’s history.
The ‘freedom fighters’ that came from the African-Caribbean Diaspora, The Maroon
people of Accompong, Jamaica.
The Linx spent weeks researching through libraries,
using the Internet and with family and friends. They spent many months also doing
interviews and preparatory work that would enhance their main body of work. They
gained skills in photography, oral history, interview technique and the use of museums
and galleries for archival research. This was a subject matter that would intrigue,
aspire and enrich the young people from the Linx, allowing then to gain knowledge
about heritage and culture, and empowering other young people to embrace this part
of their cultural heritage.
I would like to read you a diary entry from Moses Howe
aged 13 done during his stay in Accompong, September 2007:
DAY ONE
Today we arrived in Accompong and we went to our rooms to find they had no electricity. Later in
the day we went for a walk around town and met a young drum maker called Sylvester
who told me how the Maroons used the drum. I also met Avian an 11 year old farmer
who has his own goat plus a patch of land to himself were he plants bananas, potatoes
and other stuff, we met his grandfather, George Huggins who taught him how to farm,
he is also a drum maker.
DAY TWO
Today we planted some mango trees. I named mine
‘red sea’ because of my name and I met George again he was making legs for some
small drums. He said he got a letter from The Institute of Jamaica.
DAY THREE
We
left Accompong saying goodbye to Delroy and Mark. Travelling for three hours to
Kingston to talk to Mr Vivian Crawford the Head of The Institute of Jamaica abut
the work we did in Accompong. He was very pleased with what we had done so far and
offered to host our exhibition Journey to Accompong this was excited and made me
feel happy.
Moses Howe. September 2007