Dear Editor,
Over the past few days we have been trying really hard to negotiate an entry into a conversation with Mona Heritage Committee at the University of the West Indies and the Archaeological Society of Jamaica pertaining to the reinterment of the bones of our African ancestors on the campus of the university.
These bones were disinterred in 2012. To begin with, these bones should not have been removed from their resting place. If for any reason this action had to be taken then appropriate rituals and protocols needed to have been followed.
We were recently invited to a reinterment of the bones. This means that between when they were found and now they were ‘somewhere’. The questions arising are, for example, where were they kept and under what conditions?
They are now to be reinterred and we have found ourselves being stonewalled in our efforts to find any information at all as to rites/rituals/protocols that may have happened at the time they were disturbed and during their sojourn on the UWI Campus. We don’t know. Now, at the time of their return to the earth, we do trust that it is to the earth they are being returned; what rites will be accorded?
The secrecy surrounding this situation is not pleasing to the spirits of these ancestors. And, yes, I do speak for them. The exclusion, sidelining and gratuitous disrespect of those of us who have sought involvement in this activity is simply unreasonable and intolerable. Let us remember that these are the bones of foreparents of, not some, but all of us. No one person or group should have a monopoly position to dictate the ‘hows and whys’.
Our ancestors want us to work together, not to harbour the spirit of divisiveness, but to positively pull on the energy of collaboration as they have taught us. This is part of an even more meaningful respect that we could show to them. What is happening now is disrespectful and falls short of the honour we are all seeking to bestow upon them.
Where do we go from here? May the love of God and the guidance of our ancestors continue to be with us all.
Afua Fofie
afuafofie@hotmail.com
?
Over the past few days we have been trying really hard to negotiate an entry into a conversation with Mona Heritage Committee at the University of the West Indies and the Archaeological Society of Jamaica pertaining to the reinterment of the bones of our African ancestors on the campus of the university.
These bones were disinterred in 2012. To begin with, these bones should not have been removed from their resting place. If for any reason this action had to be taken then appropriate rituals and protocols needed to have been followed.
We were recently invited to a reinterment of the bones. This means that between when they were found and now they were ‘somewhere’. The questions arising are, for example, where were they kept and under what conditions?
They are now to be reinterred and we have found ourselves being stonewalled in our efforts to find any information at all as to rites/rituals/protocols that may have happened at the time they were disturbed and during their sojourn on the UWI Campus. We don’t know. Now, at the time of their return to the earth, we do trust that it is to the earth they are being returned; what rites will be accorded?
The secrecy surrounding this situation is not pleasing to the spirits of these ancestors. And, yes, I do speak for them. The exclusion, sidelining and gratuitous disrespect of those of us who have sought involvement in this activity is simply unreasonable and intolerable. Let us remember that these are the bones of foreparents of, not some, but all of us. No one person or group should have a monopoly position to dictate the ‘hows and whys’.
Our ancestors want us to work together, not to harbour the spirit of divisiveness, but to positively pull on the energy of collaboration as they have taught us. This is part of an even more meaningful respect that we could show to them. What is happening now is disrespectful and falls short of the honour we are all seeking to bestow upon them.
Where do we go from here? May the love of God and the guidance of our ancestors continue to be with us all.
Afua Fofie
afuafofie@hotmail.com
?