Suriname, Ghana maroon groups for Accompong celebrations Sunday

ACCOMPONG TOWN, St Elizabeth -- Two international maroon groups - one from Suriname and another from Ghana - are expected to join this maroon community Sunday, January 6, for the 270th commemorative celebration of the 1738 signing of the peace treaty between the British and maroon guerrilla fighters.

"We in Accompong are from the Ashanti tribe of Ghana, we are in close communication with them from time to time because they are our brothers," Colonel Sydney Peddie, leader of the Accompong maroons, told the Observer West yesterday.

Many acres of land and internal self- government were two of the benefits the maroons derived from the treaty which ended over eight decades of fierce fighting.

In the meantime, Colonel Peddie also disclosed that maroons from the two settlements in Portland, Charles Town and Moore Town; and the Scott's Hall maroon settlement in St Mary, are also expected to join the celebrations.

The colonel pointed out that a civic ceremony will commence about 3:00 pm after a gathering under the Kinda Tree where salted pork will be fed to those present as well as to spiritual ancestors.

After that there will be a sacred pilgrimage down to Old Town to feed the spirits of the ancestors there.

According to Colonel Peddie, the event will also feature "a display of art and craft; traditional food such as run-down, bammie, cassava dumpling, jerk pork, turn cornmeal and soup from dasheen leaves".

The entry fee to the event is $400 for adults and $200 for children.