Article Excerpts & Online Comments About Jamaican Revivalists Clothing & Head Wraps

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents article excerpts and comments that I've found online about the clothing and head wraps that are worn by members of Jamaica's Revivalist churches.

One video of Zion Revivalism and one video of Pocomania Revivalism are also included in this post as examples of some of the attire that is referred to in these articles and comments.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, folkloric, and religious purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the persons who are featured in this video
-snip-
Click the "Jamaican Revivalist Religion" tag below for more pancocojams post about that subject.

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
There is surprisingly little online descriptions of the clothing, turbans, and other headwraps of members of Jamaica's Revivalist religious denominations. While there are a number of YouTube videos of Revivalist Zion services, and particularly videos of their thanksgiving tables, there are very few YouTube videos of Pocomania, and none of those videos are entitled Pocomania. This is excluding videos of "Pocomania Day" and other similarly entitled Reggae music videos or sound files, although how "Pocomania members" are dressed in some of those videos provide hints about the attire that is worn by actual members of those churches.

Furthermore, most of the YouTube videos about Jamaican Revivalists have very few if any comments, and most of those comments contain no descriptive information about the attire of those churches members or their reasons for wearing that attire.

I know nothing about Revivalists churches other than what I have read online or watched in YouTube videos. My comments (given below) may not be completely or even partially accurate.

Also, the other YouTube comments that are given below may not be completely or even partially accurate.

The following articles and comments (excepting those comments that I wrote) is my attempt to compile information about this subject that I've found online. Additional information and comments, including corrections, are very welcome for cultural, folkloric, and religious purposes.

****
ARTICLE EXCERPTS & COMMENTS ABOUT JAMAICAN REVIVALISM ATTIRE
These article excerpts and comments are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

EXCERPTS
Excerpt #1
From http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20150627/spirit-revivalism-part-iii "In The Spirit Of Revivalism – Part III
Published: June 27, 2015; Paul H. Williams
"REVIVALISM IN Jamaica evolved out of Myalism, another Afrocentric religion whose purpose was to rid the land of evil charms and to heal the spiritually and physically afflicted.

The emergence of Revivalism came in the 1860s with two different branches: 60 (1860) or Zion; and 61 (1861) or Pocomania.

Revivalists believe in the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), and they see no separation between the earthly and the spiritual realms.

[...]

Because of the spiritual nature of Revivalism, Revivalists use many artefactual symbols to represent elements of the religion. From their attention-grabbing attires, adorned with sundry paraphernalia, to the objects they use in their services and rituals, Revivalism is replete with symbols.

One of the symbols of Revival is the turban, wrapped, styled, and embellished in a variety of ways. It is one of the most recognisable symbols of Revivalism and has given use to the term 'wrap-head church'. The wrapping of the head and how it is wrapped has many symbolic reasons, likewise the things with which the turban is adorned.

Early this year, Family and Religion spoke with Pastor Henry Hunter of Morant Bay, St Thomas at the first 2015 quarterly conference held at the Zion Headquarters and Jerusalem Schoolroom in Watt Town, St Ann, about the Revival turban. He said the turban represents many things. For instance, Henry said his black turban, which he calls a diadem, represents power and authority.

Turban Colours And Style
The colours and styles of the turbans are based on how the wearers are instructed by angels and the angels with whom that they are working. It is also "a spiritual covering of the head", he said. "Because, you see, as servants of God, being faithful to God, we will come under spiritual attack. It's a war that we are in - a spiritual war going on between God Almighty and the devil," he said.

Family and Religion also spoke with Revivalism scholar and researcher at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Dr Clinton Hutton. He said the influence of the turban is to attract a particular type of spirit. In this case, Hutton said the turban is like an altar, a seal, as it is adorned with objects to induce spiritual possession. In this case, the spirit takes over the head of the wearer until the possession is over.”...

****
Excerpt #2
From https://sensejamaica.com/Revival "Revival: From Sense, the Jamaican encyclopedia"
"A distinctly Jamaican Religion created by a synthesis of European and African religious influences. Revival embraces two different branches: Revival Zion and Pukumina (also called Pocomania or Poco). Revivalists are noted for their colourful dress (robes and turbans in different colours depending on the ceremony), for their powerful drumming and singing, and their characteristic wheeling dance to induce spirit possession

[...]

Revival for its adherents is a way of life. Leaders dress in long flowing robes and wear characteristically styled turbans. Members dress soberly with their heads tied turban-style. For meetings, leaders and members will wear clothing of specific colours, depending on the ceremony. Ivy Baxter has commented on the elegance of dress and regalia, and careful adornment of the table in pukumina that is ‘often in striking contrast to the stark appearance of poverty that exists in the surrounding area’."...

****
Excerpt #3
From http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/art-leisure/20150322/symbolic-revival-turban "The Symbolic Revival Turban"
March 22, 2015 | Paul H. Williams
"...like other denominations, Revivalism is replete with symbols, which are subject to various interpretations - negative and positive.

The most obvious of the symbols is the uniforms that Revivalists wear. They are easily identifiable, and are embellished with a plethora of equally symbolic paraphernalia. To complement the mostly colourful tunics are turbans, worn by men and women. The turbans gave coinage to the term 'wrap-head church'. But what is the significance of these headpieces that are sometimes artistically arranged?

They are left to different interpretations based on their colour/colours, arrangement, embellishment, and the occasion on which they are worn. Because of this, turbans and their wearer are oftentimes misunderstood, unintentionally evoking fear or resentment. In essence, there is much negative attitude towards Revivalism.

Different Interpretations
...To Pastor Henry Hunter of Morant Bay, St Thomas, the turban represents many things. He is a long-time Watt Town pilgrim and schoolroom sojourner. He was also in Watt Town for the first quarterly conference. When Arts & Education bumped into him, he was wearing a long, black gown adorned with red and gold cords. His black turban, which he called a diadem, had an Arabian look. A diadem is a type of crown denoting power/authority.

Instructed By 'Angels'
Hunter said the colours and styles of the turbans are based on how the wearers are instructed by "angels", and the angels that they are working with. He also pulled a biblical significance when he said, "If yuh go back to the Bible, when Jesus Christ was laid in the sepulchre, they say the napkin that he wore was folded properly and laid aside. This (the turban) is a representation of the napkin that Jesus wore at the time."

It, he said, also represents healing, and, as a diadem, power, and "a spiritual covering of the head". "Because, you see, as servants of God, being faithful to God, we will come under spiritual attack. It's a war that we are in, a spiritual war going on between God Almighty and the Devil," Hunter explained. The turban then is a protection for the head.

University of the West Indies educator and Revival scholar/ researcher, Dr Clinton Hutton, said the Revival turban is coming out of the Revivalists own belief systems, and that the turbans mean different things. The styles, he said, are influenced by those worn in Africa, East India and in biblical times.

Another reason for the style, colour and influence of the turban is to attract a particular type of spirit. In this case, Hutton said, the turban is like an altar, a seal, as it is adorned with objects to induce spiritual possession. In this case, the spirit takes over the head of the wearer until the possession is over.

But amid all of the symbolism, the artistry of the turbans is very important, with wearers skilfully arranging them into eye-catching, if not flamboyant styles. At Watt Town, when Arts & Education visited, there was a myriad turbans, but it was those worn by the men that were most outstanding, as you can see."

****
Excerpt #4
From https://www.my-island-jamaica.com/history-and-culture.html "Revivalism in Jamaica" by Simone (Spanish Town,Jamaica)
QUESTION: How does Jamaican revivalists dress?
"How did, or how does revivalists dress?"

ANSWER: June-22-2009 by Wellesley Gayle
"Revivals attire themselves in many different ways for different occasions.
Fundamentally though, they are mostly attired with a head wrap known to many as turban -some will have various attachments in it, such as a pencil, ruler, candles etc - pleated skirts and blouse to match.

Some revivalist wears a gown as well. Even though some may be attired in this way, there are revivalist who dress like other christian protestant denominations, but traditional revivalist are normally dressed in their turban, pleated skirts or gown.

They tend to wear a lot of African type/print materials as well. (See picture above).

I hope that helps."

**
Excerpt #5
From https://imani.wordpress.com/author/imani/page/24/
"A hollow sacrifice" Posted by: imani on: October 9, 2007
"A Quality of Violence by Andrew Salkey is a strange novel. Set in April 1900 in the eastern part of St. Thomas, a rural Jamaican parish, a large part of its narrative occurs at night and involves long Pocomania rituals. (Perhaps incorrectly, I consider it to essentially be a religion built on obeah, and so I use the terms interchangeably.) I knew little about Pocomania before, only the clothes the women wore when they danced: red and white turbans with pencils inserted at the sides and long, flowing white dresses; and this information is based on an old Jamaican music video I saw when I was a child."...

****
COMMENTS
From the discussion thread for "Jamaican Revival in Watt Town", published by Aston Cooke on Mar 17, 2014*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0apj4Rybb4

*This video is given as video example #2 below.
1. Patra Harris, 2018
"Hello everyone. Does anyone know the significance of the colors and what they represent? The white red and blue?"

**
2. Kemoya Foster, 2019
"In the bible, the Hebrew word for Red is Oudem. It’s actually meaning is Red Clay. Hebrew word which mean Flesh. Thus, it is the root word for mankind as stated in the Bible.
Blue is the third primary color. It spiritually signifies the Healing Power of God. It is the most sublime subject and color which represents, biblically, the Word of God. The 15th Chapter of Numbers, verses 38-41 denote this biblical meaning of Blue (fringe of the borders a ribband of blue). The very fact that the Sky is blue stands for the presence of YahWeh. God’s chosen nation Israel is also denoted as blue from the time of David.In Matt 9: 21, the woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years says “I shall be whole again, if I touch the hem of His garment)- the garment hem is also Blue.
White- Bride of Christ, surrender, harvest, light, righteousness, conquest, victory, blessedness, Joy, Angels, saints, peace, completion, triumph."
-snip-
I think that this video and this comment are about Pocomania Revivalism. If that's not correct, please correct my mistake by posting a comment in the discussion thread for this pancocojams post. Thanks!

**
From the discussion thread for "Lovindeer POCO PARTY Music Video" by Otis wiggan, Published on Mar 7, 2013
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyV4GS1Kgb0
1. solidrockifcation, 2013
"why do they have pencils in their hair?"

**
REPLY
2. Camille Henderson, 2015
"@solidrockification dont know, but its a poco signature. Its from the Africans"

**
REPLY
3. Ohene Ifrit, 2015
"+Camille Henderson that's right, the Ashanti people when they dance, they do those same spins. They say me ko, me ba(I go , I come back), jus like wheel and COME AGAIN."

**
REPLY
4. Azizi Powell, 2019
"@Ohene Ifrit thanks for sharing that information about the source (at least partially) of Jamaican "wheel and turn" dance movements. That was very interesting!

@solidrockification, I'm an African American whose only knowledge about Jamaican Revivalism is what I've read online along with the YouTube videos such as this one that I've watched. Unfortunately, there's very little information about Revivalism customs such as women wearing pencils in their hair. However, my guess is that these wooden pencils are worn either to honor ground spirits or to help call forth (bring near) those ground spirits for protection and/or other purposes.

I reached this conclusion after reading several online articles about Pcocomania Revivalism and Zion Revivalism, and particularly this excerpt from https://sensejamaica.com/Revival Revival : ..."Poco and Zion are alike in many respects, their basic difference having to do with ritual and doctrine and with the types of spirits they invoke, Zion deals only with sky spirits, i.e. God, archangels, angels. Poco spirits are the ‘ground spirits’, i.e. human dead, or ‘earthbound spirits’, i.e. fallen angels. ... Unlike European beliefs that see ‘good’ and ‘evil’ as two separate and distinct forces, Revivalists are concerned with harnessing the unseen forces of the universe that are not good or bad in themselves but can be utilized by man for different purposes. "

**
UPDATE
REPLY
5. Bongo Zion, June 6, 2019
"Pencil is to do autonomous writing . Spirits move your hand and make you write in a type of spirit language in a book , if on the ground we use chalk. The writing would look like Arabic but it is not Arabic. I am just giving a near description."

****
From the discussion thread for the YouTube video "mother Rowe church in jamaica" by Fellowship Redeem Church, Published on May 16, 2011 [This video is given as #1 below.]
1.Carole St. louis, 2019
"Guys this looks like a traditional Church from slavery mixed with a taste of the British colons. The candles and the decor say it all. The ladies are wearing the most beautiful "afranchi dresses" which are the outfit of the free slave women. A few Churches similar to this one can be found in Casemance, Senegal. I definitely agree this is a lot of fun to sing and dance to the beat. The music is lovely and the way they dance is very graceful. Most particularly between a man and a woman. Praise be Jesus!"

-snip-
2. Here's my note that was written in response to that comment and posted on this pancocojams blog post under that video:
Articles that I've read about the two divisions of Jamaican Revivalism: "Zion Revivalist" and "Pocomania" Revivalism usually indicate that "Zion Revivalism" is less African than Pocomania. However, from the YouTube videos that I've seen, it appears to me that the attire worn by members of Zion Revivalist churches - and particularly the women- is closer to traditional West African attire than the clothing worn by members of Pocomania churches.

In particular, in this video and in some other YouTube videos of Revivalist churches that I've watched (including some other videos in this post) the women's attire-including their headwraps (geles) remind me of Yoruba (Nigeria, West Africa) women's traditional formal attire. Less often, some of the men's attire in Revivalist videos (but not their turbans) remind me of Yoruba men's fashions."...

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/04/seven-videos-of-jamaican-revivalists.html for my subsequent comments about dancing as couples in that is found in a number of Zion Revivalists videos. In those videos couples (man and woman as well as two people of the same gender) appear to spontaneously dance together in what reminds me of square dancing (quadrille) swing or promenade movements.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS
ZION REVIVAL
Video Example: mother Rowe church in jamaica



Fellowship Redeem Church, Published on May 16, 2011

****
POCOMANIA REVIVAL
Video Example #2: Jamaican Revival in Watt Town



Aston Cooke, Published on Mar 17, 2014

Labouring and Drilling. Here is a clip of Bishop Ray Foster's Band captured at the Watt Town Revival Ceremony 2014. Revivalism is an authentic Afro-Christian religious folk form that evolved during the eighteenth to nineteenth century.

****
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.