Editorial | Preserving Jamaica’s living culture

The recent report on the decline of Jonkonnu celebrations in Moore Town is unsettling, and it should be for Jamaicans alike, especially those who are passionate about the country’s deep-rooted identity.

Jonkonnu, a living expression of resistance, memory and continuity, is rooted in the lived experience of enslaved Africans and has been sustained for generations through community effort. The diminishing of this art form, partially blamed on the dwindling number of cultural practitioners, and fast-paced technology, which has pushed many gentle-paced traditions into oblivion. This is a global phenomenon, exasperated by policy indifference and growing apathy to value cultural inheritance.

Culture is a manifestation of sustainable and evolving practices and not merely a symbolic spurt on occasions. It is the core pillar of national development. When traditional practices are allowed to wither, the loss is not merely on the surface. It weakens community bonds, erodes historical consciousness, and leaves younger generations disconnected from their past.

The situation in Moore Town may not be isolated. The problem is not with waning cultural value, but lack of sustained support. This newspaper has long called for a more serious approach to cultural policy, one that encourages growth. Sustained funding for cultural practitioners, integrating traditional forms into school curricula, and supporting community-led initiatives, can keep these practices alive. Culture cannot survive on volunteerism alone.

Further, corporate partnerships, sponsorships and long-term support are necessary for cultural preservation. Critically, conservation should just not be freezing culture in time. Expressions like Jonkonnu have evolved, and they need to be given place in community life. Culture thrives when it is allowed to adapt while remaining grounded in its origins.

INTEGRATED

In Jamaica, traditional folk forms such as Jonkonnu, Hosay, Kumina, Revival rituals, mento and folk storytelling need to be integrated into the school activity, and also developed as a part of the tourism product – here the ministries of education, culture and tourism should look at common grounds on which to collaborate. Further, beyond lip service, there needs to be dedicated funds, backed by robust education policy and cultural planning. Culture appreciation needs to start in the early childhood institutions, using indigenous folklore as part of creative teaching tool.

Jonkunnu holds deep significance for Jamaicans, a critical link between ancestors and their descendants. It emerged as a form of expression during enslavement, allowing Africans to preserve their cultural expressions under unforgiving circumstances. This masquerade dance form’s accompanying music, masking and movement are weaved into storylines tied to ancestry, the will to overcome inhumane conditions and, ultimately, that of survival. If traditions like Jonkunnu fade from the communities that nurtured them, the country stands to lose vital links in the evolution of the contemporary Jamaican society – that of shared identity, belonging and freedom across time.

Further, culture is integral to people, as it anchors identity. In a society grappling with violence, social fragmentation and economic pressure, cultural practices teach discipline, cooperation and respect for collective memory. This newspaper has mooted for a strong society, built on shared values and a sense of belonging coupled with economic and technological progress. Culture reinforces both.

BECOME CHAPTERS

Further, when cultural expressions fade, they become chapters in textbooks rather than living experiences. Children, as part of their curriculum, may learn about them but may not know their meaning and the emotion connection to their lives. The flip side is that history that is not lived is easily dismissed. Cultural practices can only survive and thrive when youngsters experience them firsthand and are a part of them.

Further, preservation of Jonkonnu is not the sole responsibility of Moore Town. The State has a clear role to play. There’s need for structured and sustained investment through schools, local government, cultural agencies, and planning on the national level.

It is critical to have a serious approach to cultural policy, which treats heritage as essential practice. Jamaica’s creative industries often draw inspiration from traditional forms while giving little back to the communities that sustain them. Partnerships and long-term support are necessary.

The decline of Jonkonnu in Moore Town should be taken seriously and urgent and innovative steps taken to preserve it and other dying cultural expressions. If these traditions fade, revival may be too late. We should not allow island’s culture to be restricted in theory, wherein these practices wane.

Earlier this year, educator Bertram L. Melbourne, professor of New Testament studies at Howard University School of Divinity, used an Anansi metaphor for cultural preservation “They knew my name throughout Jamaica,” Melbourne said, referring to the legendary spider figure as saying. “Please keep me alive.”

We can’t merely continue to propagate cultural practices without providing the means for them to be relevant and thrive. The future generation, already living in virtual reality, will inherit only fragments.

Cultural expressions can’t be allowed to survive on life support.