Kumina is a branch of the Myal religion, dance and music form. Kumina has practices that include secular ceremonies, dance and music that developed from the beliefs and traditions brought to the island by Kongo enslaved people and indentured labourers, from the Congo region of West Central Africa, during the post-emancipation era. It is mostly associated with eastern Jamaica particularly the parish of St. Thomas Portland, St. Mary and St. Catherine, and the city of Kingston.

The Myal Dance of Kumina also gives its name to a drumming style, developed from the music that accompanied the spiritual ceremonies, that evolved in urban Kingston. Like all Myal drumming styles Kumina has a great influence on Rastafari music, especially the Nyabinghi drumming, and Jamaican popular music. Count Ossie was a notable pioneer of the drumming style in popular music and it continues to have a significant influence on contemporary genres such as reggae and dancehall.

The Kumina riddim is a dancehall riddim produced by Sly & Robbie in 2002. It has featured in recordings of over 20 artists including Chaka Demus & Pliers and Tanya Stephens. Thus, some of the Kongo-captives enslaved in this conflict would have been liberated by the West Africa Squadron, and rerouted to Jamaica, giving rise to Kumina.

Beliefs and practices

The practices of Kumina in the Myal Religion are primarily linked to healing. Healing ceremonies utilise singing, dancing, drumming, animal sacrifice, and spirit possession, with the intent of summoning spirits to heal the sick individual. These elements are also found in Revivalism.

Organization

Within the Kumina branch of the Myal Religion there are sub-branches or sub-communities which follows the general local character of pre-Christian religions in Jamaica. These communities are small family based communities or nations. Some nations include Mondongo, Moyenge, Machunde, Kongo, Igbo, and Yoruba. People from Kumina families are given the title Bongo. Marrying into a Bongo family is one avenue to become a part of a Kumina nation; special initiation is the other avenue. Kumina nations are led by a "King" and "Queen". Imogene "Queenie" Kennedy AKA Queenie III (c1920-1998) was a well-known Kumina Queen in the 20th century, born in St Thomas in the late 1920s she later moved to Kingston and then Waterloo, St Catherine.

Influence on Rastafari

The use of cannabis or ganja in Kumina Myal ceremonies influenced the adoption of this plant as a sacrament in Rastafari [a religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s] and is a direct influence of the sacramental use in Kumina Myal ceremonies.

References

Citations

Sources

  • Jamaica Cultural Development Commission