In the tradition, Revival style, honouring the work and legacy of the late Bishop Mallica ‘Kapo’ Reynolds, a table was artistically arranged displaying traditional Jamaican food items in the ritual of feeding the ancestral spirits (grounds spirits) and the deifical spirits (heavenly and earthbound spirits). The table consisted of various fruits, coconuts, juices, milk, grains, flowers, candles, frankincense and myrrh, and alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The evening’s proceedings were executed in the typical worshipping style and format with praise and worship, consecration prayer, and the repeating of Psalms 100 by those in attendance. Following the reading of the first and foundation lessons, the persons were encouraged to share their testimonies after which an exhortation was given. Pastor Andrew Douglas, JP delivered the evening’s sermon.
The candle-lighting segment started with the Honourable Olivia Grange, OJ, CD, MP and Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, seconded by the Honourable Alando Terrelonge, State Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, other religious leaders, and members within the Jamaican Revivalist Churches.
“In 2020, my Ministry submitted Revivalism Religious Practice of Jamaica, to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for inscription on its prestigious Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Everyone would remember the worldwide celebrations after Reggae was inscribed at the meeting in Mauritius. We are hoping for the same result with our file on Revivalism,” said Olivia Grange, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.
Minister Grange further noted “Mr. Seaga told me this story many times that Kapo gave him the first piece of sculpture he ever carved. It was with a penknife, and he made it from Jamaica’s national tree, the lignum Vitae which is a very hard wood. This a true representation of saying, ‘start where you are, use what you have, do what you can’.”
“Kapo’s work came to prominence through the efforts of Edward Seaga, who was then a young anthropologist in African retentions in Jamaican society and who would help Kapo to exhibit his work locally and internationally which is to promote it to collectors, then interested so-called ‘primitive’ art,” Minister Grange shared.
“Kapo’s life demonstrates what it means to be resilient and to stop at nothing to defy all odds. Kapo showed us the power of action; of taking risks on behalf of our ideals. It may be argued that he led a resistance movement during the sad time in our history when revivalists and other unorthodox religious groups were prosecuted and harassed by authorities,” said Minister Grange.
The Cultural Minister further highlighted that Kapo’s life encourages us to have pride in our African heritage. He was true to himself. He was not ashamed to use his work to depict our authentic African heritage. His work helped to break down some of the stereotypes. “The onus is on us now, sisters and brothers to carry on and search for his largeness of spirit somewhere inside of ourselves and teach and inculcate the spirit of Africanism into existing and upcoming generations,” said Minister Grange.
Mallica ‘Kapo’ Reynolds’ work is highly praised and was most influential throughout the 1970s, with his influence continuing beyond his death in 1989. A member of the “Intuitives” artistic movement, Kapo holds many accolades and is considered one of the greatest Jamaican artists of his time. His awards include: A Gold Medal from Emperor Haile Selassie during his visit to Jamaica in 1966; a Gold and a Silver Musgrave Medal from the Institute of Jamaica and the Norman Manley Award for Excellence in the Fine Arts.
Kapo’s works have also been exhibited internationally, including six exhibitions in the United States between 1953 and 1982. In Addition, his painting “Shining and the Spring” was selected by the Jamaican Government as a wedding gift for the 1981 union between Prince Charles and Lady Diana.
The Revivalist gathering was hosted by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport to celebrate the 112th anniversary of the birth of the late Mallica ‘Kapo’ Reynolds, OD, renowned Jamaican artist and religious leader at National Heroes Park, on Friday, February 10, 2023.
