Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

This woman, with eyes wide open, was one of at least three persons who became possessed at a PNP rally in Morant Bay, St. Thomas, after a kumina group performed a cultural rendition. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

People's National Party (PNP) supporters in St. Thomas on Wednesday night called on the spirits of their ancestors to deliver election victory for the party.

In what some onlookers said was just a taste of their drumming and singing prowess, members of the Lyssons kumina group engaged hundreds of party faithful in a PNP-flavoured ancestral ritual.

"It a guh bun him belly oh; Bruce neva know seh Portia a guh bun him belly oh," the group sang.

And the reception among the comrades was wild.

'Rally Portia'

The kumina group also delivered a song which seemed to be from the top drawer: "di whole a wi a rally Portia".

Again, the only thing that did not move was Paul Bogle's statue, the burnt-out courthouse behind him, and other lifeless objects.

But the kumina in Paul Bogle square was more than drumming and singing. At least three persons fell into trances and exorcism rites had to be performed to rid them of 'spirits' that entered their bodies.

Kumina is both a religion and dance that has been retained from the African heritage. It is kept alive in St. Thomas by people who drum and dance while speaking the Bantu language of theCongo.

Bringing down spirits

It is the practice of bringing down spirits of the dead to briefly inhabit the bodies of the faithful.

St. Thomas is often referred to as 'the obeah parish' because of many legends of strong beliefs in ancestral and supernatural spirits.

On Wednesday night, the kumina group had two stints on stage. The first seemed to have been structured in the programme, but the second was used to pass time. It was already 8:30 p.m. and PNP president Portia Simpson Miller was still touring sections of the parish.

Three women possessed

As the group sang and danced, 'spirits' moved through the crowd and lodged themselves in the bodies of three women. Two of them were expertly controlled and danced out of their possession, while another ripped hair accessories from her head and stood looking with eyes wide open into the skies.

She then attempted to make a run through the crowd and had to be restrained.

In performing exorcism rites, the kumina group continued the singing and dancing, while others danced the possessed persons out of the trance.

All this time, however, the language of the singers could not be discerned. One elderly man told The Gleaner this was important as they cannot call any name as the rite would be unsuccessful.

When the spirits were released, the singers interpreted for the audience.

"Bruce Golding, where are you going?" they chanted.

"Pack up, pack up."

They continued: "Yuh wrong fi trouble Portia, yuh wrong."

There are two parliamentary seats in St. Thomas. East St. Thomas is currently represented by the PNP's Dr. Fenton Ferguson, who is being challenged by the JLP's Omer Thomas.

The other seat, West St. Thomas, is held by the JLP's James Robertson who will have to fend off a challenge from the PNP's Rosemarie Shaw.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com