THE EXPERIENCE

RATING

5/5

ESSENTIALS

Insect repellent, change of clothing or towel.

BEST THING

Cultural and heritage site, warmth of residents, drumming, dancing.

LOCATION

The Charles Town Maroon Museum and Asafu Yard is nestled in the Buff Bay Valley in Portland. From Kingston, the site is a near two-hour drive if you drive through Stony Hill and Golden Spring in St Andrew. On entering St Mary, drive along Broadgate unto Iter Boreale before making it to Windsor Castle. continuation tradition.

The Charles Town Maroon Museum was opened in 2003 by its founders Colonel Frank Lumsden and Douglas’ father, Kenneth Douglas. It is ideal for culture and history enthusiasts, school tours, and, in Douglas’ own words, “anyone who wants to learn about Maroon culture”.

It is relatively small but holds all the components to transport you to the 18th century to experience the life of a Maroon. Artefacts like a large copper pot used to make sugar, neck shackles, irons, and weaponry are on display. Perhaps the most popular artefact, the abeng, is also an active feature of the museum and can only be blown by someone appointed by the ancestors. Douglas said that they still use the abeng in the village to send messages of births, deaths, and celebrations. Upon our arrival, the abeng was blown to summon dancers and drummers, who we would encounter later on the tour.

Another prominent feature of of the Maroon