Duane Francis

All Female Kumina group in Jamaica

Jamaica , my home is a melting pot of various cultural activities. Okay so we are the home of Reggae that sweet music that has impacted the globe … but there are other little known music forms in our culture. Today I give you a bit of information on Kumina.

Kumina is said to the most African of all Jamaica’s cults. Indigenous to Jamaica, it is a cultural form, a religion, music and dance. Its exact date of appearance in Jamaica is not clear but it is believed that around it existed around the 18th century but was fully developed in the 19th century.
It is practiced largely in the eastern part of Jamaica , St Thomas as well as further inland mainly St Catherine.

The Drumming
The drumming and dancing of Kumina come from the Bantu Speaking people of the Congo.
Kumina uses two types of drums the Kbandu and the Playin Kyas. Other instruments played include a kitchen grater or scraper, shakas and katta sticks. Also an empty rum bottle played with a a spoon will arise from time to time.
Drummers play while sitting in an east west direction and play barefooted. This they believe helps them to keep contact with the ground through which the spirits move. The lead drummer is required to know the various rhythms used to control, invoke or repel spirits.

Like many Jamaican folk forms the singing in Kumina uses an African call and response style or pattern. One line is sung then repeated by the others in response. The singing is usually in Jamaican dialect but many of the songs use Congo derived words. A queen or mother who is the lead singer has to know the songs that are appropriate for repelling and controlling the spirits. She also raises the songs and provides cues for the musicians and dancers.

Kumina Video