The Creative Caribbean Project, implemented by UNESCO, CARICOM and the University of the West Indies with funding from the ACP-EU Culture Programme, will support the upcoming Accompong Maroon Festival, a historic and culturally significant celebration that honours the legacy of Jamaica’s Maroon heritage. 

The festival, held annually on January 6, commemorates the signing of the Peace Treaty of 1738 and the birthday of legendary Maroon leader Captain Cudjoe.

This year’s festival promises a continuation of the vibrant display of Maroon traditions, including ancestral rituals, drumming, dance, and storytelling, drawing thousands of attendees from around the world. The Creative Caribbean Project’s support will be instrumental in supporting the organizing capacity of the Accompong Maroon Festival, and to enhance its commercial impact, by expanding the programming of the festival itself, and staging an Accompong Business Exchange Forum, which will be ongoing through the first quarter of 2025. 

The Accompong Business Exchange Forum will engage other Maroon and indigenous communities, media representatives and key representatives in tourism, cultural and the creative industries in the local, regional and international spheres. 

“The Accompong Maroon Festival is a cornerstone of our cultural identity, and we are happy to be supported by the Creative Caribbean Project to elevate this event,” said Richard Currie, chief of the Accompong Maroons. “Their support is integral in the first staging of the Accompong Business Exchange Forum, through which Indigenous and cultural communities can form partnerships, access local and international markets, and expand the creation and production of quality goods and services. This initiative contributes to economic growth, job creation, and the 

development of competitive cultural products within the Accompong community.”

The Creative Caribbean Project, which seeks to strengthen the cultural and creative industries in the Caribbean, aligns closely with the festival’s mission to preserve and advance Maroon cultural traditions while fostering community development. 

“This collaboration highlights the vital role of investing in culture as a means to preserve and celebrate our rich cultural heritage,” said Dr Hilary Brown, Programme Manager Culture and Community Development at CARICOM Secretariat. “The Maroon Festival is more than a celebration; it’s a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Jamaican maroons and a beacon for cultural heritage worldwide.”

The Accompong Maroon Festival and Business Exchange Forum aims to deliver a first-class Accompong Maroon Festival, in honour of Maroon culture and ancestry, preserving and promoting the fabric of the communities through collaborative engagement locally, regionally, and internationally. Specifically, the project will ensure improved event features and overall management while fostering economic opportunities and long-lasting collaborations among Accompong Maroons and other indigenous communities. 

As the Accompong Maroon Festival continues to grow in stature and impact, funding support like that of the Creative Caribbean Project and the European Union will ensure that the festival remains a vibrant tribute to the Maroons’ enduring legacy.