Communities

To support the development of community tourism in Jamaica and internationally and to educate all stakeholders of its importance to the cause of peace, poverty alleviation and sustainable development and to offer local and foreign visitors diverse ‘community experience’ vacations and tours.

Featured Communities

One of our most diverse and unique communities is Accompong Town. Each year on January 6 the Maroon Community of Accompong celebrates the birthday of its Founder Kojo, famed military strategist and brother of National Heroine Nanny of the Windward Maroons. Relive the signing of Peace Treaty with the British and to pay homage to the ancestors.An official ceremony is held at around 3 pm.

Thousands of people from all walks of life, Jamaicans and foreigners visit the town on the day of the celebrations. The celebration begins with the sound of the abeng, the Maroon War Horn which has been in use in Jamaica for over three centuries. This instrument is made from a cow horn and at full blast can be heard clearly over a great distance. The horn was used to communicate messages between Maroon communities.

The Maroons are descendants of Africans brought to the island by the Spaniards during their occupation of the island form 1494 to 1655. These Africans were brought to the island to serve as cattle hands, hunters and as a military defense unit.

In 1655 the British invaded Jamaica. The resulting battle provided the African slaves with an opportunity to flee their captures. They took refuge in the hills and were termed Maroons.

Some slaves remained on the flatlands and formed an alliance with the Spanish in an attempt to take back the island from the British. The British offered them freedom, as well as rewards for their defection, in a bid to undermine the effort of the Spanish. This proved to be a successful strategy and, eventually, the Spanish resistance would collapsed.

The movement continued and these early Maroons were later joined by other runaway slaves. The Maroons soon became problematic for the British. As they were armed with the guns and ammunition left behind by the Spanish. They fought aggressively for freedom from slavery.

With their knowledge of the countryside, effective methods of communication and strong leaders the Maroons were able to withstand the British.

Unique Jamaica offers special tours to Accompong Town and many other unique communities make sure you add these special places to your itinerary.