Louise Bennett-Coverley
It has been said that the language of a people is among the things that define them and elevate them above the animals. Call it what we will, from native tongue to dialect, the true Jamaican individual almost always thinks in patois. But for years we have remained ashamed to claim it as our number one language.
The late poet/cultural icon and storyteller, Louise Bennett-Coverley, proudly claimed patios, she celebrated it and spread the gospel according to patois through her dialect verses. It is a poignant experience to listen as she relates her moment of enlightenment on the country bus when market women colourfully expressed themselves "pread out yuself", to prevent well-dressed women from sharing their seats in the back of the vehicle. And so began her verses which at age 14, she penned and shared with classmates.
Although deceased, Miss Lou's legacy remains one that the people of independent Jamaica can truly be proud of.
As we celebrate Emanciption Day, Lifestyle presents poems from Miss Lou's book, Jamaica Labrish, which was written in celebration of Jamaica's emancipation and independence. Miss Lou died on July 26.
Independence
"Jamaica start smoke, ah hope
We got nuff Jackass Rope" (tobacco) ...
In other words, Jamaica has taken on to herself new responsibility, let's hope we can manage! Independence came to Jamaica on August 6, 1962. The true meaning of the new status was not fully grasped by all, but political leaders emphasised hardships to come, the need for work, self-sacrifice and a lot of training and education (second to last stanza).
Independence wid a vengeance!
Independence raisin' cain!
Jamaica start grow beard, ah hope
We chin cab stan' de strain
Wen dog mawga him head big an
Wen puss hungry him nose clean
But every puss an dog noh know
Wat Independence mean
Matty seh it mean we facety
Stan up pon we dignity,
An we don't allow nobody
Fe teck liberty wid we.
Independence is we nature
Born an bred in all we do
An she glad fe se dat Govament
Tun Independent to.
She hope dem caution worl' map
Fe stop draw Jamaica small
For de lickle speck can't show
We Independantness at all!
Moresomever we mus' tell map dat
We don't like we position
Please kindly tek we out o' sea
An draw we in de ocean
Wat a crosses! Independence
Woulda never have a chance
Wid so much boogooyagga
Dah expose dem ignorance.
Dog wag him tail fi suit him size
An match him stamina,
Jamaica people need a
Independence formula!
No easy-come-by freenis tings
Nuff labour, some privation,
Not much of dis an less of dat
An plenty studiration.
Independence wid a vengeance,
Wonder how we gwine to cope,
Jamaica start smoke pipe, ah hope
We got nuff Jackass Rope!
Independence Dignity
An Independence celebrations committee planned an elaborate programme of celebrations for Kingston and local committees echoed the plans in parishes. The singing of the National Anthem, Jamaica Land We Love, was one of the highlights of many a ceremony.
Dear Cousin Min, you miss sinting,
You should be ovah yah
Fe see Independence Celebration
Capture Jamaica.
You wan' see how Jamaica people
Rise to de occasion
An destant up demself fe greet
De birt' o' dem new nation!
Not a stone was fling, not a samfie sting,
Not a soul gwan bad an lowrated;
Not a fight bruk out, not a bad-wud shout
As Independence was celebrated
Concert outa street an lane an park
Wid big-time acks performin',
An we dance outa street
From night till soon o' mornin'.
Fe de whole long mont' o' Angus'
Independence was in prime;
Everything was Independence ting
Roun' Independence time.
Independence pen an pencil
Cup an saucer, glass an tray;
Down to independence baby bawn'
Pon Independence Day.
An de independence light dem
Jus' a pretty up de night dem
An a sweeten up de crowd fe
Look an wonder at de sight.
Dere was functions by de tousan'
An we crowd up every one;
From Packy Piece to Macka Town
De behavior was gran.'
You want see Jane unruly an
Unmannasable gal
Dah-stan up straight an sing out
"Teach us true respeck for all!"
Fan lazy bwoy who spen him time
A kotch up Joe shop-wall,
Serious up him face an' halla
" Stir response to duty's call!"
Teet' an tongue was all united,
Heart an soul was hans an glove,
Fenky-Fenky voice gain vigour pon
"Jamaica, land we love."
It was a sight fe cure sore y' eye,
A time fe live fe see
Jamaica Independence
Celebration dignity.
Jamaica Labrish pg 227
Jamaica Elevate
By the end of 1962 some of the implications of Independence began to show themselves quite clearly. Jamaica was accepted to membership in the United Nations, embassies and consulates were established abroad, discussions started on a possible membership of the Organisation of American States, the Prime Minister declared his support "for the West" and his stand against Communism; the word 'national' took on new significance with the new National Stadium, Bank and Anthem. Above all, the British Governor-General, Sir Kenneth Blackburne, soon left the island and his place was taken by the first Jamaican Governor-General , Sir Clifford Campbell whose appointment is said to have special significance for the majority of Jamaicans who are able to identify themselves with the head of state. "Jus like one a we own fambily, De very same complexion, An and de head part an de face part, De dead stamp a Breda John."
Dear Mark, me know you eye dem dark,
You glasses dem can't read
But me haffe write an tell you
How Jamaica dah-proceed.
So much tings happen so fas' an quick
Me head still giddy!
Biff, referandum! Buff, election!
Baps, Independence drop pon we!
We tun Independant Nation
In de Commonwealth of Nations,
An we get congratulation
From de folks of high careers;
We got consuls an ambassadors,
An ministers an senators
Dah rub shoulders an dip mout
Eena heavy world affairs.
We sen we delegation
Over to United Nation,
An we meck O.A.S know dat
We gwine join dem.
We tell Russia we don't like dem,
We tell Englan' we naw beg dem,
An we meck' Merica know
We is behine dem.
For though we Army scanty
An we Navy don't form yet,
Any nation dat we side wid
Woulda never need to fret;
We defence is not defenceless
For we got half o' brick,
We got we broken bottle
An we Cookoomacka stick.
But we willing to put we arms
In peace an Freedom name,
An we call upon de nations
Of worl to do de same.
We got we owna Stadium
We owna Bank fe save,
We owna National Anthem,
An we owna Flag a-wave.
We owna Govana- General,
A true-bawn Native Son;
Don't you member Bada John-John?
Well, him fava him can't done.
De fus day him picture print, de
Paper drop out o' me han;
Me heart go boop, me bawl out
"Something bad happen to John!"
Meck dem draw him pikcha big so?
Him too ole fe pass exam.
Him noh buy noh sweepstakes ticket?
Something bad happen to John!
Jamesy run come read de writin,
An it wasn' John at all;
It was we new an well appointed
Govanna-General.
Jus like one o' we own family
De very same complexion,
An de head part an de face part
De dead stamp o' Bada John.
So you see how we progressin,
Gi me love to Cousin Kate,
Spread de news to fren an family
How Jamaica elevate.
Jamaica Labrish pg 231
Colonisation in Reverse
Jamaicans who have been migrating since the late 19th Century (to Panama, Central America or the U.S.A.), turned in the early 1950s to Britain, where some 200,000 first generation Jmaiacans now reside. Truly a paradox of colonial history - this colonialisation in reverse to the MAother Country which once settled her colonies with Britons who came as planters, traders, administrators, technicians etc.!
Wat a joyful news, Miss Mattie,
I feel like me heart gwine burs'
Jamaica people colonizing
Englan in reverse
By de hundred, by de t'ousan
From country and from town,
By de ship-load, by the plane-load
Jamaica is Englan boun.
Dem a-pour out o' Jamaica,
Everybody future plan
Is fe get a big-time job
An settle in de mother lan.
What a islan! What a people!
Man an woman, old an young
Jusa pack dem bag an baggage
An tun history upside dung!
Some people don't like travel,
But fe show dem loyalty
Dem all aopen up cheap-fare-
To-Englan agency.
An week by week dem shippin off
Dem countryman like fire, Fe immigrate an populate
De seat o' de Empire.
Oonoo see how life is funny,
Oonoo see de tunabout,
Jamaica life fe box bread
Outa English people mout'.
For wen dem catch a Englan,
An start play dem different role,
Some will settle down to work
An some will settle fe de dole.
Jane say de dole is not too bad
Because dey payin' she
Two pounds a week fe seek a job
Dat suit her dignity.
Me sey Jane Will never fing work
At the rate hoe she dah-look,
For all day she stay pon Aunt Fan couch
An read love-story book.
Wat a devilment a Englan!
Dem face a war an brave de worse,
But I'm wonderin' how dem gwine stan'
Colonizin' I reverse.
Jamaica Labrish pg 237
Jamaica Elevate
A highlight of the Independence celebrations all over the Commonwealth is usually the visit , and round of duties performed by some member of the British Royal family, who hands over the Instrument of Independence to the local leaders in their duly constituted Parliament and officiates at every special ceremony. Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowden did the honours at the Jamaican celebrations.
This poem is a lesson in protocol for those who would have to be "presented" .... nothing necessarily new to the "student" since royalty had visited Jamaica before in the recent past - the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1953, for example.
Ben Dung
Ben dung low sah, lower! Ben yuh back,
Noh ben yuh kne,
Yah haffe learn de rightful way
Fe bow to royalty.
Come try yuh luck again an timely
Graceful, ben yuh back,
Good, straighten up yuhself, whai oh
Here how jint a crack!
Yuh wi haffe grease yuh jint massa
Is how dem rusty so!
Dem dah-go meck you shame. If me
Was you, me wouldn' go.
Noh badda get bex pon me sah,
Govern yuh tempa, steady!
Me knewv say dat you meck curtesy
To royalty already.
Me memba well, de big affair
Up university
Bustle frock an fedda ha, jus a-
Show off pon royalty.
Me memba how dem dress, wat dem
Noh got dem run go get
De store dem never sell more stockin'
Gloves an nose-veil yet.
Is de fus' Po' Jane wear gloves, her han
Dem feel so proud an high
Dem stick off from her side, like she
Dah-get ready fe fly.
Me memba when you hop in wid
Yuh spwile-up scissors-tail
Matty bus out o' laugh an
Nearly swallow her nose-veil.
Come practise up again sah
Ben yuh back, lawd wat a sight!
Mine yuh fall dung wen yuh ben back
Pon Kings House lawn tonight.
