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Caribbean Sayings
Ok so as long as we're talking about culture, how about some of those famous sayings like "Missis, she dress no puss back foot"
Trying to copy and paste !
Yuh eva si a Jamaican wey luv talk over people food ... put dem face inna it an sey dat looks and smell good? No sah! Dat wi cause fight.
Yuh eva see a Jamaican go inna di company fridge and go tek weh next person sangwige and nyam it off
Yuh eva hear Jamaican pickney tell dem madda fi shut up and di Madda go tek seat inna kitchen, tek out cigarette start smoke and seh she nuh know wah fi do wid di pickney? No. One helleba slap crass him face fi sure. An if dem live inna farign dem sen dem to Jamaica fi di summer and den di odder relatives fix dem bizniz and dem go back wid mannaz.
Yuh eva see Jamaican tek meat outta fridge and stick it inna oven widout lickle seasoning?
Yuh eva hear Jamaican inna di werk place ah talk bout how much time him wife mek him sleep pon di couch?
Crazy tings dat, cause even if she shut di door she expect him fi kick it open.
Yuh eva see Jamaican people a cook and dem stir di pot, taste di food and put di same spoon right back inna di pot an nuh wash it off??? No sah, dat a nastiness
Yuh eva si a Jamaican have dem dog a lick dem face? Yuh mad?
Yuh eva see yawd people have dem dog sleep inna di same bed wid dem? Or dawg inna di couch and when dawg get up dem go lay down innna di same couch inna di same spat? Not fi wi Jamaican!!!!
Yuh eva see yawd people kiss dem dawg pon di mout?
Yuh eva hear seh yawd people tek 5 days off from work because dem puss dead?
Yuh eva hear a Jamaican madda innna a store a tell dem
pickney 'no sweetheart, you can't have that, please put it back shelf'. Instead, yuh will hear someting like dis ..
Yuh eva see a Jamaican go inna di company fridge and go tek weh next person sangwige and nyam it off
Yuh eva hear Jamaican pickney tell dem madda fi shut up and di Madda go tek seat inna kitchen, tek out cigarette start smoke and seh she nuh know wah fi do wid di pickney? No. One helleba slap crass him face fi sure. An if dem live inna farign dem sen dem to Jamaica fi di summer and den di odder relatives fix dem bizniz and dem go back wid mannaz.
Yuh eva see Jamaican tek meat outta fridge and stick it inna oven widout lickle seasoning?
Yuh eva hear Jamaican inna di werk place ah talk bout how much time him wife mek him sleep pon di couch?
Crazy tings dat, cause even if she shut di door she expect him fi kick it open.
Yuh eva see Jamaican people a cook and dem stir di pot, taste di food and put di same spoon right back inna di pot an nuh wash it off??? No sah, dat a nastiness
Yuh eva si a Jamaican have dem dog a lick dem face? Yuh mad?
Yuh eva see yawd people have dem dog sleep inna di same bed wid dem? Or dawg inna di couch and when dawg get up dem go lay down innna di same couch inna di same spat? Not fi wi Jamaican!!!!
Yuh eva see yawd people kiss dem dawg pon di mout?
Yuh eva hear seh yawd people tek 5 days off from work because dem puss dead?
Yuh eva hear a Jamaican madda innna a store a tell dem
pickney 'no sweetheart, you can't have that, please put it back shelf'. Instead, yuh will hear someting like dis ..
R.I.P Alton Ellis
Alton Ellis OD (born Alton Nehemiah Ellis) (September 1, 1938 - October 10, 2008) was a musician best known as one of the innovators of rocksteady music, and was often referred to as the "Godfather of Rocksteady". In 2006, he was inducted into the International Reggae And World Music Awards Hall Of Fame. . . . Ellis was born in 1938 and grew up in Kingston's Trench Town district. Born into a musical family, he learned to play piano at a young age.
Ellis continued to be active on the reggae scene until his health began to deteriorate. In December 2007, he was admitted to hospital in London for treatment of cancer of the lymph glands, but he returned to live performance after receiving chemotherapy.
He was the older brother of the late Hortense Ellis, and the father of more than twenty children including Noel Ellis and Christopher Ellis, who are both reggae singers.
Ellis died on 10 October 2008 at Hammersmith Hospital, West London, after collapsing during a show in London in August of that year.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
OD means: Order of Distinction
Ellis continued to be active on the reggae scene until his health began to deteriorate. In December 2007, he was admitted to hospital in London for treatment of cancer of the lymph glands, but he returned to live performance after receiving chemotherapy.
He was the older brother of the late Hortense Ellis, and the father of more than twenty children including Noel Ellis and Christopher Ellis, who are both reggae singers.
Ellis died on 10 October 2008 at Hammersmith Hospital, West London, after collapsing during a show in London in August of that year.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
OD means: Order of Distinction
Centenarians-Did you know that....
Barbados has the second highest occurrence of Centenarians in the world. Most Centenarians are people who have worked very hard in their younger days, e.g working in the Sugar Cane fields, walking many miles, in many instances from the Country to the City. Transportation in those days was not like it is today, where there are at least 3 cars in every household. It was also the practice to start the day with a good sea bathe, which is still common today among most Barbadian & other Caribbean folk.
Following is an article which you may find interesting. I'll also follow up with an update on this subject within the next few months.
Bajan secrets to living long
Published on: 9/4/05.
by TONY BEST
HOW COME BARBADOS? Ever since Japan and Barbados were placed at the top of global rankings of nations with most centenarians per capita, people have been asking that question.
After all, while it is understandable that Okinawa in Japan with its sophisticated medical care, vast resources, and enviable lifestyle can be number one the answers to why an upper middle income Caribbean country with a population of 270 000 people would have about 108 centenarians, giving it a per capita rate of one for every 2 500 –people seem elusive.
What makes the issue so compelling is that the two wealthy North American nations, the United States and Canada, have a per capita rate of one centenarian per 10 000 people.
Now a leading Canadian newspaper, the National Post, has come up with some possible answers.
"A good start might be Bajan water," suggested the Post in an article headlined: Many Rivers To Cross, Why So Many Barbadians Live For More Than 100 years?
The paper stated, "the only volcanic island in the Caribbean, Barbados' coral limestone filters water to a healthy state of 'hard' calcium rich drinking water similar to that of Okinawa."
Next, it may be the fish Barbadians like to eat, "a plentiful harvest of fresh fish".
Of course, the secret may also be in the "early morning visit(s) to almost any beach on the island" where you would see elderly people exercising in the ocean.
"Everyone agrees that staying active is a good route to longevity," argued the Post.
But that's not all.
"Bajans are famous for their laid-back attitude, another core ingredient to a long life," the paper went on.
As if to deepen the mystery about the Bajan centenarians, the Post believes "somewhere amidst the warm tropical breeze, the delicious rum punch and the relaxed attitude is the answer to why so many residents of Barbados live to be centenarians".
But what do some of the 100 year-olds think about their longevity?
When 108-year-old Meta Montelle Harper was asked that question, her response was pretty straightforward: "I gave myself to the Lord many years ago," she said.
"I fear no evil because I have done no evil. I have lived an honest life and have never done anything wrong. I can go to my grave knowing that I lived well, treated people well and never lied or cheated."
Anything else? "I had eight children. I have worked very hard and I mind my business."
Amy King-Cumberbatch, 101, who lives alone, still takes the bus, goes into Bridgetown and cashes her pension cheque, points to her good memory, recalling some of the things that happened in her life as a young girl.
"I remember the school dances and the boys fighting over the girls. I remember chasing a boy through the canfields with my gillette (her cane cutting knife) because he tried to come on to me."
Cardinal Torrence Trotman, 102, gives a glimpse into his life.
Question: Do you still exercise to stay healthy?
Answer: Yes, I do. Three times every week. I walk to the beach where two lovely young ladies help me into the ocean.
Question: How much a part has diet played in your good health and long life?
Answer: Oh, I don't know. My mother was a good cook, she fed me well and made me eat what was on my plate.
Question: To what do you attribute your long life?
Answer: Hard work. I worked 16 hours a day with only a two-hour break, every afternoon, when business was slow, to play tennis.
Question: You must have seen a lot of changes in Barbados over your lifetime?
Answer: Yes, but nothing like what's coming. When the world cricket tournament comes in 2007, it will change things forever. We don't have the roads, hotels or infrastructure to manage it, and once tourists see how nice our island is, they'll want to come back again and again.
Question: Is that a bad thing?
Answer: Doesn't matter if it's good or bad, there's nothing I can do about it.
Following is an article which you may find interesting. I'll also follow up with an update on this subject within the next few months.
Bajan secrets to living long
Published on: 9/4/05.
by TONY BEST
HOW COME BARBADOS? Ever since Japan and Barbados were placed at the top of global rankings of nations with most centenarians per capita, people have been asking that question.
After all, while it is understandable that Okinawa in Japan with its sophisticated medical care, vast resources, and enviable lifestyle can be number one the answers to why an upper middle income Caribbean country with a population of 270 000 people would have about 108 centenarians, giving it a per capita rate of one for every 2 500 –people seem elusive.
What makes the issue so compelling is that the two wealthy North American nations, the United States and Canada, have a per capita rate of one centenarian per 10 000 people.
Now a leading Canadian newspaper, the National Post, has come up with some possible answers.
"A good start might be Bajan water," suggested the Post in an article headlined: Many Rivers To Cross, Why So Many Barbadians Live For More Than 100 years?
The paper stated, "the only volcanic island in the Caribbean, Barbados' coral limestone filters water to a healthy state of 'hard' calcium rich drinking water similar to that of Okinawa."
Next, it may be the fish Barbadians like to eat, "a plentiful harvest of fresh fish".
Of course, the secret may also be in the "early morning visit(s) to almost any beach on the island" where you would see elderly people exercising in the ocean.
"Everyone agrees that staying active is a good route to longevity," argued the Post.
But that's not all.
"Bajans are famous for their laid-back attitude, another core ingredient to a long life," the paper went on.
As if to deepen the mystery about the Bajan centenarians, the Post believes "somewhere amidst the warm tropical breeze, the delicious rum punch and the relaxed attitude is the answer to why so many residents of Barbados live to be centenarians".
But what do some of the 100 year-olds think about their longevity?
When 108-year-old Meta Montelle Harper was asked that question, her response was pretty straightforward: "I gave myself to the Lord many years ago," she said.
"I fear no evil because I have done no evil. I have lived an honest life and have never done anything wrong. I can go to my grave knowing that I lived well, treated people well and never lied or cheated."
Anything else? "I had eight children. I have worked very hard and I mind my business."
Amy King-Cumberbatch, 101, who lives alone, still takes the bus, goes into Bridgetown and cashes her pension cheque, points to her good memory, recalling some of the things that happened in her life as a young girl.
"I remember the school dances and the boys fighting over the girls. I remember chasing a boy through the canfields with my gillette (her cane cutting knife) because he tried to come on to me."
Cardinal Torrence Trotman, 102, gives a glimpse into his life.
Question: Do you still exercise to stay healthy?
Answer: Yes, I do. Three times every week. I walk to the beach where two lovely young ladies help me into the ocean.
Question: How much a part has diet played in your good health and long life?
Answer: Oh, I don't know. My mother was a good cook, she fed me well and made me eat what was on my plate.
Question: To what do you attribute your long life?
Answer: Hard work. I worked 16 hours a day with only a two-hour break, every afternoon, when business was slow, to play tennis.
Question: You must have seen a lot of changes in Barbados over your lifetime?
Answer: Yes, but nothing like what's coming. When the world cricket tournament comes in 2007, it will change things forever. We don't have the roads, hotels or infrastructure to manage it, and once tourists see how nice our island is, they'll want to come back again and again.
Question: Is that a bad thing?
Answer: Doesn't matter if it's good or bad, there's nothing I can do about it.
The Chase Vault of Barbados
WARNING: Not to be read at night if you are faint hearted.
One of the things that makes the Caribbean unique are the host of folklore stories that we grew up hearing about....things that made you afraid to go to bed as a child. I think that we could all share ours from the various islands....tales of La Jablesse (is this spelt correctly?), Soucouyant, Papa Bois etc.
I'm starting off with a story of a vault which lies in the Christ Church cemetery, Barbados. I did some research on this one from the internet.
The Chase Vault
The Chase Vault was originally built in 1724 for James Elliot. He had it built partially underground 12 feet deep and 6 1/2 feet wide although he was never laid to rest there. The vault stayed empty until July of 1807, when Thomasina Goddard was laid to rest there.
In 1808, the Chase family came to own the vault. The Chases were a wealthy family and were considered an important clan in Barbados. Thomas Chase the head of the family was not very much liked. Well actually, he was considered to be one the most despised men on the island.
The Chase family began to use the vault in February of 1808 when Thomas's infant daughtered was taken to the vault to be buried. When the infant was laid to rest, the coffin of Mrs. Goddard was found to be undisturbed. Thomas lost another daughter in 1812 and she was also laid to rest in the vault. Both girls were laid in heavy lead caskets.
One month later, Thomas Chase himself died and was taken to the vault. When the vault was opened to accept Thomas's body both of his girls caskets and been thrown all over the place but Mrs. Goddard's casket was just as always. The family assumed this was the work of thieves and reordered the girls caskets and put everything back in place.
In September of 1816, the vault was again opened to except another infant. Again the girls caskets had been tossed all around but now Thomas's casket had been disturbed to. But still, Thomasina Goddard's casket remained perfectly on place. Once again Thomas and his daughter's caskets were reordered and put back in place.
In November of the same year the vault was again opened to accept another body. Same story Thomas and daughters had again been violated but there resting neighbor Thomasina was unbothered. News of these happenings finally reached the Governor who ordered the Chase Vault to be fully examined. No secret entrance to the vault could be found and the officials sprinkled sand across the floor to detect any footprints. Again the caskets were reordered and everyone put back in place to rest in peace. Then the Governor had the vault sealed again and placed his sea; on the entrance to assure no disturbances.
Eight months after the Governor had the vault fully examined and resealed it was opened again to accept another body, at which point the same sight was to be seen Thomas and his family members had been tossed all around and Mrs. Goddard was right where left. The sand sprinkled on the floor showed not one footprint. The Chase family decided to abandon the vault and moved their loved ones elsewhere. Even Mrs. Goddard was moved. Hopefully no where near Thomas Chase because I believe that maybe Thomasina knew what kind of man Thomas was and was upset that he was laid to rest with her.
The vault still exists today at Christ Church Parish Church and still remains vacant.
One of the things that makes the Caribbean unique are the host of folklore stories that we grew up hearing about....things that made you afraid to go to bed as a child. I think that we could all share ours from the various islands....tales of La Jablesse (is this spelt correctly?), Soucouyant, Papa Bois etc.
I'm starting off with a story of a vault which lies in the Christ Church cemetery, Barbados. I did some research on this one from the internet.
The Chase Vault
The Chase Vault was originally built in 1724 for James Elliot. He had it built partially underground 12 feet deep and 6 1/2 feet wide although he was never laid to rest there. The vault stayed empty until July of 1807, when Thomasina Goddard was laid to rest there.
In 1808, the Chase family came to own the vault. The Chases were a wealthy family and were considered an important clan in Barbados. Thomas Chase the head of the family was not very much liked. Well actually, he was considered to be one the most despised men on the island.
The Chase family began to use the vault in February of 1808 when Thomas's infant daughtered was taken to the vault to be buried. When the infant was laid to rest, the coffin of Mrs. Goddard was found to be undisturbed. Thomas lost another daughter in 1812 and she was also laid to rest in the vault. Both girls were laid in heavy lead caskets.
One month later, Thomas Chase himself died and was taken to the vault. When the vault was opened to accept Thomas's body both of his girls caskets and been thrown all over the place but Mrs. Goddard's casket was just as always. The family assumed this was the work of thieves and reordered the girls caskets and put everything back in place.
In September of 1816, the vault was again opened to except another infant. Again the girls caskets had been tossed all around but now Thomas's casket had been disturbed to. But still, Thomasina Goddard's casket remained perfectly on place. Once again Thomas and his daughter's caskets were reordered and put back in place.
In November of the same year the vault was again opened to accept another body. Same story Thomas and daughters had again been violated but there resting neighbor Thomasina was unbothered. News of these happenings finally reached the Governor who ordered the Chase Vault to be fully examined. No secret entrance to the vault could be found and the officials sprinkled sand across the floor to detect any footprints. Again the caskets were reordered and everyone put back in place to rest in peace. Then the Governor had the vault sealed again and placed his sea; on the entrance to assure no disturbances.
Eight months after the Governor had the vault fully examined and resealed it was opened again to accept another body, at which point the same sight was to be seen Thomas and his family members had been tossed all around and Mrs. Goddard was right where left. The sand sprinkled on the floor showed not one footprint. The Chase family decided to abandon the vault and moved their loved ones elsewhere. Even Mrs. Goddard was moved. Hopefully no where near Thomas Chase because I believe that maybe Thomasina knew what kind of man Thomas was and was upset that he was laid to rest with her.
The vault still exists today at Christ Church Parish Church and still remains vacant.
New York Happenings
Poets & Passion - October 2008
Beverly Anderson Manley (Jamaica)
Merle Collins (Grenada)
In Conversation with
Beverly Anderson-Manley
Jamaica Progressive League
2230 Light Street
(Dyer Ave & 233rd St)
718-994-5496
917-860-4009
718-783-8345
WED., OCT 29
MANHATTAN - NOON
Reading & Book Signing
Beverly Anderson-Manley &
Merle Collins
St. John's University
Manhattan Campus
101 Murray Street
(Greenwich & West Streets)
718-990-1869
Reservation Required
QUEENS, NY - 3:30PM
In Conversation with
Beverly Anderson-Manley &
Merle Collins
St John's University
Queens Campus
8000 Utopia Parkway
718-990-1869
Reservation Required
BROOKLYN, NY - 7PM
In Conversation with
Beverly Anderson-Manley &
Merle Collins
St. Francis College
Callahan Center
182 Remsen Street
(Court & Clinton Streets)
718-783-8345
THUR., OCT 30
BROOKLYN, NY - 7PM
In Conversation with
Beverly Anderson-Manley
Brooklyn Public Library
Flatbush Branch
22 Linden Boulevard
(Flatbush & Bedford Aves)
718-287-8597
718-856-0813
718-783-8345
Beverly Anderson Manley (Jamaica)
Merle Collins (Grenada)
In Conversation with
Beverly Anderson-Manley
Jamaica Progressive League
2230 Light Street
(Dyer Ave & 233rd St)
718-994-5496
917-860-4009
718-783-8345
WED., OCT 29
MANHATTAN - NOON
Reading & Book Signing
Beverly Anderson-Manley &
Merle Collins
St. John's University
Manhattan Campus
101 Murray Street
(Greenwich & West Streets)
718-990-1869
Reservation Required
QUEENS, NY - 3:30PM
In Conversation with
Beverly Anderson-Manley &
Merle Collins
St John's University
Queens Campus
8000 Utopia Parkway
718-990-1869
Reservation Required
BROOKLYN, NY - 7PM
In Conversation with
Beverly Anderson-Manley &
Merle Collins
St. Francis College
Callahan Center
182 Remsen Street
(Court & Clinton Streets)
718-783-8345
THUR., OCT 30
BROOKLYN, NY - 7PM
In Conversation with
Beverly Anderson-Manley
Brooklyn Public Library
Flatbush Branch
22 Linden Boulevard
(Flatbush & Bedford Aves)
718-287-8597
718-856-0813
718-783-8345
My Roots Run Deep
Natalia this one's for you.
An adaptation from a Tatil Calendar (Trinidad and Tobago) by Mr. Hollis”Flash” Lashley
My roots run deep, and in my veins beat the rhythms of my Caribbean ancestry.
In my heart I still hear faint echoes from distant lands of African slaves, of Indian indentures, of English sea dogs, of French buccaneers, of Chinese merchants and of Dutch Privateers; all in a restless search for the elusive El Dorado.
This is my heritage.
Words fall from my lips in the creolized accent of a vernacular, blended with the lilting cadences of a patois in shades of picong and mamaguism.
My sun burnt body trembles; caught between the glinting sounds of a sweet tenor pan and the deep sweet strum of a cuatro chord.
Melodies flow through my head in sounds of Calypso and Reggae and Zouk and Spouge and Cadence making me breathless with their Caribbean rhythms.
My mouth waters in the sweet season of poidoux of caimate, of mango zabico and doudouce.
I yearn for the taste of wild meat, of lappe and gouti, of roast bake and fry dumpling, zaboca and buljol, ackee and saltfish, or fry fish or even smoked herring.
My imagination is rich in fables of douens, lagahoo, rolling calf, duppy, and la diablesse, soucouyants.
I remember the good old days when cocoa was king and Pagnola used to come from down the main to buy coffee, a shilling a fanega.
I dance between the silvery crests of Los Iron, Montego Bay, Parlatuvier. I enjoy the waves at Dunns’s River Falls, Isle Bay, Sandy Lane, Gran Anse, Richmond and Miami Beach.
I awaken to the whistle of the picoplat, the chickeechong and the semp.
I look at the morning sun and I laugh with joy and with pride because I have never seen this day before.
I am the dreams of my ancestors, for I am their tomorrow.
Now I am a child of today. I am the fabled El Dorado
And better still my friends, I am Caribbean born.
An adaptation from a Tatil Calendar (Trinidad and Tobago) by Mr. Hollis”Flash” Lashley
My roots run deep, and in my veins beat the rhythms of my Caribbean ancestry.
In my heart I still hear faint echoes from distant lands of African slaves, of Indian indentures, of English sea dogs, of French buccaneers, of Chinese merchants and of Dutch Privateers; all in a restless search for the elusive El Dorado.
This is my heritage.
Words fall from my lips in the creolized accent of a vernacular, blended with the lilting cadences of a patois in shades of picong and mamaguism.
My sun burnt body trembles; caught between the glinting sounds of a sweet tenor pan and the deep sweet strum of a cuatro chord.
Melodies flow through my head in sounds of Calypso and Reggae and Zouk and Spouge and Cadence making me breathless with their Caribbean rhythms.
My mouth waters in the sweet season of poidoux of caimate, of mango zabico and doudouce.
I yearn for the taste of wild meat, of lappe and gouti, of roast bake and fry dumpling, zaboca and buljol, ackee and saltfish, or fry fish or even smoked herring.
My imagination is rich in fables of douens, lagahoo, rolling calf, duppy, and la diablesse, soucouyants.
I remember the good old days when cocoa was king and Pagnola used to come from down the main to buy coffee, a shilling a fanega.
I dance between the silvery crests of Los Iron, Montego Bay, Parlatuvier. I enjoy the waves at Dunns’s River Falls, Isle Bay, Sandy Lane, Gran Anse, Richmond and Miami Beach.
I awaken to the whistle of the picoplat, the chickeechong and the semp.
I look at the morning sun and I laugh with joy and with pride because I have never seen this day before.
I am the dreams of my ancestors, for I am their tomorrow.
Now I am a child of today. I am the fabled El Dorado
And better still my friends, I am Caribbean born.
