This blog post was originally written for the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank (ACIJ/JMB) & may also appear on their platforms. I’m sharing it here on my personal blog as well..
What is the ACIJ/JMB?
Once two separate organisations that became one in 1990, the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank (ACIJ/JMB) is a pivotal institution dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage & collective memory of Jamaica’s African-ness in relation to other ethnic groups. It is dedicated to the research, preservation, & promotion of Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage, particularly the intangible aspects, utilising a range of multimedia such as audio-visual resources, a library & exhibitions to illustrate the vibrant tapestry of the island’s history & its people. ACIJ/JMB is a division of the Institute of Jamaica which is an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sports.
Why ACIJ/JMB Was an Excellent Fit for Me
As a scholar with a deep interest in African-Caribbean culture, history & heritage, particularly those of enslaved African people in Jamaica & their descendants- as is the focus of my current fellowship- the ACIJ/JMB was an excellent fit for me. The institute’s mission aligned perfectly with my academic pursuits, providing me with a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the cultural nuances that have shaped Jamaica & the wider Caribbean region. I was also really looking forward to exploring its extensive library & being active in its community engagement.
Renewed Connections
Becoming a visiting fellow at ACIJ/JMB was a fortuitous professional engagement. In fact, little did I know that when I first met Dr Kirt Henry a few years ago when I participated in the University of the West Indies (UWI) & the University of Leicester’s (UoL) International Summer school, that he would become the director of ACIJ/JMB & be hosting me! This is the story of how I evolved from a summer school visitor to a ACIJ/JMB visiting fellow!! A big thanks to my dear friend & colleague, Dr Annabel Wilson for drawing my attention to ACIJ/JMB too.
During my time at ACIJ/JMB, it was a wonderful experience reconnecting with other colleagues from my previous stint in Jamaica which reminded me of the power of enduring professional networks. These renewed connections allowed me to reconnect with my Caribbean roots, engage with local scholars, & participate in cultural exchanges that enriched my understanding of the region’s dynamic history & its global impact. Ultimately, these interactions enriched my understanding of my subject matter & provided fresh perspectives that have been invaluable in my research.
Office Life in Jamaica 🇯🇲
As part of my one-month visiting fellowship at ACIJ/JMB, I was officially provided with furnished office space, internet & unrestricted research access to the institute’s library & audio-visual collections. I also got to experience life in a Jamaican office which is unlike any other. It’s a vibrant mix of professionalism (everyone is addressed & addresses others with their titles & last name e.g. Mr Jones or Dr Pennant) & laid-back island culture (sometimes meetings get pushed back at the last minute & that’s ok).
Each day was made unique & memorable by the warm morning greetings, the fresh fruit salad delivered to my desk by a vendor I nicknamed Mr Fruit Man 🤣, the sounds of Jamaican patois, the aroma of well-seasoned Jamaican cuisine in the lunchroom, & the lively discussions, advice, & stories shared throughout the day & during the carpool after work.
Office life in Jamaica was a refreshing change from what I was accustomed to. For one, I was finally part of the majority group & I was no longer the only one or one of very few Black staff members, as is often the case in the spaces I occupy in the UK. Literally everyone was Black like me, from the director to the security guard to the cleaner & everyone in between which was refreshing to see! Why is this important? Well, I could eat my food in peace as no-one was asking me what my food was or commenting on the supposed ‘smell’! Obviously the fact that over 90% of Jamaica’s population has African heritage makes it easier to have workplaces like this but, as previously demonstrated here & here, in UK & US societies where Black people are a smaller numerical minority, there are real implications to our workplace experiences.
The ACIJ/JMB office is a hub of creativity & dedication, & it was invigorating to be part of such a dynamic team.
Benefits of Being Hosted by a Jamaican Organisation
Being hosted by a Jamaican organisation offered a plethora of benefits. As noted by InterNations:
“doing business in Jamaica is all about relationships & contacts, rather than following the rules.”
Having ACIJ/JMB as my host institution provided me with invaluable institutional support & a great base from its downtown Kingston location to access other relevant organisations for my research like the National Gallery of Jamaica, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust & the National Library of Jamaica, amongst others. Additionally, I was so grateful to my ACIJ/JMB colleagues who provided me with great advice & guidance about how to navigate the wider organisation & Jamaica as a whole to achieve my aims.
As someone who was once a civil servant in the Welsh Government for two years, it was also interesting to see the inner workings of a Jamaican governmental organisation like ACIJ/JMB which allowed me to immerse myself in the local culture & to gain invaluable insights into the challenges & triumphs of the Jamaican cultural/ heritage sector. In this way, my visiting fellowship gave me a unique perspective that only a local institution could offer. It also grounded my research in the reality of the Jamaican experience, lending authenticity & depth to my work along with an immersive experience that would have been impossible to replicate from afar.
Standout moments
There were many standout moments during my ACIJ/JMB visiting fellowship, but here are three that particularly resonated with me:
Honouring the Windrush Legacy
On the first day of my fellowship, I had the privilege of representing ACIJ/JMB with the director, Dr Kirt Henry, participating in a poignant ceremony at Kingston Harbour. There, alongside the esteemed Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment & Sport, the Honourable Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, & representatives from the Windrush National Organisation & Windrush Generations UK, we commemorated the 75th anniversary of the departure of the HMT Empire Windrush vessel from the Caribbean to Tilbury, Essex, in England. This event at Kingston Harbour in Jamaica marked the first of several stops made by the UK Windrush organisations, across the Caribbean, paying homage to the Windrush generation from each locale.
The ceremony provided a profound insight into the enduring ties between the Caribbean diaspora in the UK & Jamaica, facilitated by organisations like the Windrush National Organisation & Windrush Generations UK. It was a momentous occasion to witness the unveiling of their new Windrush flag & to learn about the Minister’s plans for a permanent Windrush storyboard at the harbour to memorialise this significant history.
As I listened to the speeches, I learned about Kingston Harbour’s historical significance. It was a hub where enslaved African people were trafficked to Jamaica centuries ago. Nearby auction blocks served as grim reminders of the brutal trade, where enslaved individuals were bought & sold, their lives uprooted & transported across the island. Interestingly, not only did the HMT Empire Windrush depart from Kingston Harbour, but many subsequent boats also set sail from this same location. Reflecting on this, I couldn’t help but think of my paternal grandparents, who left Jamaica from that same spot in 1952 to begin a new life in England.
Attending this ceremony allowed me to re-connect the dots between the legacies of slavery, the post-World War II Windrush migration to the UK, & how my personal family & ancestral history is intricately interwoven into this tapestry- just like my research which had bought me back! It was a memorable first day & confirmed that ACIJ/JMB was where I was supposed to be!
Featuring in the ACIJ/JMB “Curating Culture” Monthly Seminar Series
The ACIJ/JMB is dedicated to exploring, preserving, & promoting the African elements within Jamaican culture. As part of their mission, they host a monthly online seminar series titled ‘Curating Culture,’ which is broadcast live on their YouTube channel. In recognition of my scholarly work, I was honoured with an invitation to present my ongoing research during one of these sessions. This opportunity was particularly thrilling for me as it allowed me to engage with ACIJ/JMB’s vibrant intellectual community & introduce my findings to a broader audience. Witnessing my ACIJ/JMB colleagues transform into an expert TV production crew & being interviewed by my esteemed colleague, Mrs. Georgette McGlashen-Miller, was a delightful experience. To view my presentation, along with other seminars, please visit the ACIJ/JMB YouTube channel.
Mounting the ‘Journey to Independence’ Exhibition
ACIJ/JMB regularly organises various exhibitions as part of their initiative to invite the public into their space, with the aim of educating & enlightening them about specific aspects of Jamaica’s rich cultural heritage & identities. During my fellowship, I had the privilege of collaborating with my colleagues to set up the ‘Journey to Independence’ exhibition. True to its name, the exhibition employed texts & artefacts to illustrate pivotal events leading to Jamaica’s independence in 1962.
Assisting in the assembly of the exhibition was an enriching experience, offering me hands-on insights into the essential components of a physical exhibit, the art of curation to narrate a story, & strategic placement of items & information to effectively convey the exhibition’s narrative to a diverse audience.
As evident, my brief one-month tenure as a visiting fellow at ACIJ/JMB was brimming with a diverse range of enriching & priceless experiences, all while carrying out my research!
How this experience has impacted my future projects
The experience as a visiting fellow at the ACIJ/JMB has profoundly impacted my future projects in several ways:
Cultural Sensitivity: It has heightened my awareness of the importance of cultural sensitivity & the need to approach research with respect for local knowledge & traditions.
Collaborative Approach: This visiting fellowship has reinforced the value of collaboration, encouraging me to seek partnerships with local institutions & communities in my future work.
Expanded Network: The professional relationships established during this visiting fellowship have expanded my network, opening doors to new research opportunities & interdisciplinary projects.
Authentic Narratives: My time in Jamaica has underscored the importance of authentic narratives, which I plan to prioritise in my storytelling & academic endeavours- particularly when retelling the history of the Pennant family of North Wales, Penrhyn castle & the surrounding estate.
Overall, the fellowship has been a catalyst for growth, shaping my approach to the remainder of my research project as well as future ones with a renewed commitment to African cultural heritage (in Jamaica & beyond) as well as community engagement.
The Start of a Lasting Professional Relationship
Now that my visiting fellowship has drawn to a close, I am confident that this is just the beginning of a lasting professional relationship with ACIJ/JMB. It has been an enriching journey of growth, learning, & connection.
The ACIJ/JMB has not only been a place of work but a source of inspiration. The connections I’ve made & the experiences I’ve gained here have not only enriched my journey but also opened new avenues for future collaboration & research. I am eager to build on this partnership in the years ahead.
Gratitude & Thanks
This blog post is a testament to the transformative power of cultural exchange & the enduring value of institutions like ACIJ/JMB in preserving Jamaica’s diverse African heritage.
I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have been a visiting fellow. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to Dr Kirt Henry & all the staff at ACIJ/JMB who made my stay both productive & enjoyable. I look forward to continuing our work together in promoting & preserving the rich cultural heritage of Jamaica & the Caribbean by centring African people!
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