ESPRIT KUMINA
allyTrance, music, possession, healing
Kumina is an Afro-Jamaican religion born in the nineteenth century, the direct heir of the Kongo traditions brought by captives and later by indentured labourers from Central Africa, above all in the parish of Saint Thomas. Spirits hold a central place in it. Tradition distinguishes sky spirits, earth spirits and above all ancestral spirits, often named zombi, a term derived from the Kikongo dzambi, which means god. During the ceremonies, borne by drumming, song and dance, a participant may be possessed — or mounted — by a spirit which then speaks through them, a state called myal. These rites accompany healing and funerals, notably the wakes. To speak of a Kumina spirit thus refers to these invoked presences rather than to a single personified deity.
Powers & Attributes
Role in the ROHO universe
The rhythmic breath of the Creator, keeper of the bond between body and spirit.
Sacred Mask
A mask of vibrating drum — a symbol of community bond and living memory.
Era
1600–1900 — Cycle of Drums and Trance
Spiritual Lesson
To learn the strength of communion and of shared memory.
Words of the Spirit
“The wound carries within it the secret of its healing.”
Frequently asked questions
Does Kumina designate a precise spirit?
No: Kumina is an Afro-Jamaican religion. Several categories of spirits are invoked in it — of the sky, of the earth and above all the ancestors — rather than a single personified deity.
Where does the Kumina tradition come from?
It is rooted in the Kongo traditions of Central Africa, brought to Jamaica in the nineteenth century, above all in the parish of Saint Thomas.
What is possession in Kumina?
During the drum-driven ceremonies, a spirit may mount a participant and speak through their mouth. This state, called myal, is central to the rites of healing and mourning.
Related spirits
Sources and references
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumina
- https://acij-ioj.org.jm/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/FACT-SHEET-1-KUMINA.pdf