| Kumina | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Afro-Jamaican |
| Region | Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica |
| Origin | Post-Abolition era Jamaica |
| Separations | Kongo, Machunde, Mondongo, Moyenge |
Kumina is a branch of theMyal 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 byKongoenslaved people andindentured labourers, from theCongo region of West Central Africa, during thepost-emancipation era.[1] It is mostly associated with eastern Jamaica particularly theparish of St. ThomasPortland,St. Mary andSt. Catherine, and the city ofKingston.[2]
TheMyal 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 allMyal drumming styles Kumina has a great influence onRastafari music, especially theNyabinghi 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 asreggae anddancehall.[3]
TheKumina riddim is a dancehallriddim produced bySly & Robbie in 2002. It has featured in recordings of over 20 artists includingChaka Demus & Pliers andTanya Stephens.[3]
Kumina is a branch of theMyal Religion and is not the same as Pukkumina or Pocomania.
Kumina emerged through the practices of indentured labourers who were brought to Jamaica from the Kongo region of central Africa afterthe abolition of slavery.Kumina as a branch of theMyal religion differed from Zion Revivalism in rejecting the belief that theBible should be the central authority behind worship.[4]
The practices of Kumina in theMyal Religion are primarily linked to healing.[4] Healing ceremonies utilise singing, dancing, drumming, animal sacrifice, and spirit possession, with the intent of summoning spirits to heal the sick individual.[4] These elements are also found in Revivalism.[4]
Within the Kumina branch of theMyal 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 includeMondongo,Moyenge,Machunde,Kongo,Igbo, andYoruba. People from Kumina families are given the titleBongo. 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.[5]
The use of cannabis or ganja in KuminaMyal ceremonies influenced the adoption of this plant as asacrament inRastafari [a religion that developed in Jamaica during the 1930s[6]] and is a direct influence of the sacramental use in KuminaMyal ceremonies.
| African traditional religion- derived systems |
|  | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abrahamic and other new religions | ||||||
| Practices and concepts | ||||||
| Diverse roots | ||||||
