Release of Akwantu - The Journey

[Accompong]

During my last stay in my adopted hometown of Accompong Town, a film maker gave the town a premier showing of his new movie "Akwantu - The Journey". I enjoyed it very much. Wish it was a little more in depth but it was quite entertaining. Here is an official trailer release.

Peace and Guidance

[Fred Stripe]

Interesting. I also thought that the diversity of the people came from pirates from other countries who stayed on land after the ship left?

[Accompong]

Interesting. I also thought that the diversity of the people came from pirates from other countries who stayed on land after the ship left?

Fred, I am sure that some small part of the "diversity of the people" around the island of Jamaica may have come from "pirates from other countries who stayed on land after the ship left" but not so in Accompong Town.

These people are still to this day "tribally oriented" and resistant to strangers who wish to join there community. Some Jamaicans from around the island have married into the core community and a few others have been accepted as being able to live in their midst and a handful of "affaren" people (such as myself) have too been welcomed to live there. But these changes are relatively new (within the last 25 years or so) developments since the gate to the community now remains open and outsiders are welcomed to visit.

I am very sure that any pirate or similar people who would have "stayed behind" would have stayed behind in a shallow grave or at the bottom of a sink hole somewhere.

I have been a frequent visitor (for the past 25 years) and have lived for long stays mostly in the past 15 years and have been an avid student of their Culture.

Awhile back in 1995, I wrote a brief history you might like to read at http://www.jamaicans.com/info/jahistory/maroons.shtml which might shed some light of how the Maroons came to live in the Cockpit Country in "The Land of Look Behind".

Peace and Guidance

[Fred Stripe]

So the Maroons and the Americans have something in common?

[Fred Stripe]

I was ready to post the story of the Maroons on my Facebook page,but I now read that the Accompong Maroons did not fight with the other Marron towns against the British and therefore were the only town to survive? I also read that they were released by the Spaniards who fled but then had an agreement with the British to SELL them new slaves???? So they had their freedom but took $2 dollars for each new slave they gave back to the British? Is this true?

[Accompong]

I was ready to post the story of the Marrons on my Facebook page,but I now read that the Accompong Maroons did not fight with the other Marron towns against the British and therefore were the only town to survive? I also read that they were released by the Spaniards who fled but then had an agreement with the British to SELL them new slaves???? So they had their freedom but took $2 dollars for each new slave they gave back to the British? Is this true?

Let's go through this one topic at a time:

• Accompong Maroons did not fight with the other Marron towns against the British and therefore were the only town to survive?
• Spaniards who fled but then had an agreement with the British to SELL them new slaves
• So they had their freedom but took $2 dollars for each new slave they gave back to the British? Is this true?

#1 - The Accompong Maroons DID fight with the other Maroon towns in the First Maroon War and then, after signing the Peace Treaty in 1739, they remained true to the blood treaty and did not get involved in the Second Maroon War which was more of an insurrection than a war. There are two other Maroon Villages; Scots Hall and Moore Town which do exist today but they made peace with the English as well after the 1739 Treaty.

#2 - Yes, the Spanish did release the original Maroons who went to live in various places across Jamaica (i.e. Juan De Bolas in the Mountains of St. Catherine, Accompong Town, Trelawney Town, Moore Town, Nanny Town.... well, you get the picture. The "agreement" you are referring to is the 1738-1739 Peace Treaty. The Ninth of 15 Clauses in the Treaty reads>

That if any negroes shall hereafter run away from their masters or owners and fall into Captain Cudjoe's hands, he shall immediately be sent back to the chief magistrate of the next parish where they are taken; and those that bring them are to be satisfied for their trouble, and the legislature shall appoint

As far as your "agreement with the British to SELL them new slaves" well, that is plain ridiculous and on it's face, a ginned up flamethrower statement.

There are a lot of misconceptions on just what the Accompong Maroons did or didn't do. Every slave who escaped captivity and ran into the mountains did not go to live in Accompong Town. Some of these former slaves did take escaped slaves into town to collect a reward but none of them lived in Accompong Town or were representing the Maroon population of that town.

I can not speak for the Leeward Maroons who hunted down Three Finger Jack, Tacky, Paul Bogle or many others. This movie is about Accompong Town Maroons and not those from any other area or village in Jamaica. They have lived on the land they settled in 1655 and, after signing the Peace Treaty, have continued living on it for 275 years of self governess.

Skimming articles and picking out bits and pieces of facts or fiction is not like actually reading and studying the culture. Perhaps a little more in depth reading is needed but I do admire you wanting to know the truth.

Peace and Guidance

[Fred Stripe]

I do want to know the truth,thats why I asked you. I saw this in Wikipedia under "Maroons" ??? Why did they not fight the 2nd war with their brothers? It clearly states they sold "other slaves back to the Brits" I'm just looking for clarity because it's an interesting story.Remember,the Americans gained independence when they fought the British also?

[Hussyband]

I love culturally oriented films of this nature, jamaican or otherwise. I've always thought my American education (or my lack of interest when a student, possibly) gave such a limited view of world history, that little pieces of world history such as this are endlessly fascinating. I will look forward to seeing this one when available.

[Accompong]

I do want to know the truth,thats why I asked you. I saw this in Wikipedia under "Maroons" ??? Why did they not fight the 2nd war with their brothers? It clearly states they sold "other slaves back to the Brits" I'm just looking for clarity because it's an interesting story.Remember,the Americans gained independence when they fought the British also?

Fred, I am sure you know how information gets on Wikipedia, right? You don't have to know any facts to write what you perceive to be the truth. Maybe they are Tea Party Republicans, I don't know but many are certainly guilty of spreading misinformation. It reads like a personal opinion and not based in much facts. When I want to know what historians think, I go to sites that present whatever facts are known and not Wikipedia for sure. Here are a couple for you to check out.
Concerning the Second Maroon War (which did not include Accompong Town Maroons) http://www.kingscollections.org/exhi...econdmaroonwar

Concerning Accompong Town from a former Colonel http://www.folklife.si.edu/resources...l_guide/63.htm

and http://abengcentral.wordpress.com/an...oon-societies/

And remember, the Accompong Maroons were never British Subjects such as were the people fighting in the American Revolution.

Hope this helps a little more.

Peace and Guidance

[Accompong]

BTW, Fred

If you would like to read a well-written, scholarly but easy to read book.... Try The Iron Thorn
http://www.amazon.com/The-Iron-Thorn.../dp/9766101590

I read it during my stay last year and found it both factual and fascinating.

Peace and Guidance