Hosay Festival in Jamaica

Hosay Festival, Westmoreland 1900s

This is a Muslim, East Indian Festival. Brought to the Caribbean by indentured workers in the 1840s. It is the Caribbean's verison of Moharram, an annual festival observed by Shi'a Muslims within the Islamic Faith. Moharram is the Islamic month when followers mourn the memory of the Prophet Mohammed's grandsons Hosain and Hasan.

1989: The scene on Spanish Town Road as dozen of Indian-Jamaicans celebrate the rituals of Hosay. The very expensive tabernacle, lifted at the centre, is blessed in a religious ceremony, carried through the streets and dumped on the sea.

From it's inception, it became secularized with the Hindu joining the Muslim brothers in organization and parade. There are nine days of mourning, mercia (eulogy) and meditation while people build Tazia or Tadjahs (bamboo and paper replicas of a tomb). On the tenth day, the Tazia is taken on a street procession led by a Tasa drummer playing martial music and follwed by sword, stick and horse dancers and 100s of 'mourners'. Other Jamaicans would also build Tazias and the process of creolization began. Hosay is the most popular of the Indian Festivals celebrated in Jamaica. The Clarendon Hosay is celebrated annually in the month of August.

Hosay Drummers 1970s

Hosay Drummers today

Sam Sharpe Square formerly known as 'Charles Square'

historic picture of Charles Square, Montego Bay - 1900s

This square which was once known as 'Charles Square', was officially renamed in 1976 to commemorate Samuel Sharpe's effort in the fight for freedom. In the aftermath of the 1831 rebellion, it is estimated that 312 slaves, including Sam Sharpe were hung at the gallows in the square. The square is still used for political and other local meetings.

The 5 Statues in Sam Sharpe Square

The square contains a collection of bronze statues, among them is the Sam Sharpe Monument, designed by Kay Sullivan, portrays Sharpe holding his Bible and speaking to his people. They were unveiled by then Prime Minister the most Honourable Edward Seaga on October 16, 1983 at a ceremony in the square.

The Cage in Sam Sharpe Square Today

The Signage!

At the north end of the square, you will see a brick structure called "The Cage". Built in 1806, the cage was used as a temporary prison for slaves, drunken seamen, and other vagrants. Slaves found wandering the town after 3:00pm, were locked up in the cage. About 1822 the Vestry replaced the wooden structure of the Cage with one of stone bricks. The Cage as since seen a number of uses such as, a town lock-up, latrine, a clinic, and a tourist office. It is now used as a small museum.

Sam Sharpe Square Today

Freedom Monument

Bamboo Avenue also known as 'Holland Bamboo'

Bamboo Avenue or Holland Bamboo, St. Elizabeth, 1903

The three-mile long bamboo grove, located bewteen Lacovia and Middle Quarters is quite a photogenic scene and is also a famous tourist attraction. It features an archway of bamboo growing up to 40ft in length, which lines both sides of the roadway, and meet in the air to form a canopy.


The bamboo plants were planted by owners of the Holland Estate in the 17th century to provide shade for workers from the St. Elizabeth sun.

Holland Bamboo Today 2009