Case file · Witch trials

The Myal revival

In 1841–42, soon after emancipation, Myal practitioners across western Jamaica led dancing bands that dug up buried obeah charms and 'cleansed' estates of evil.

1842 CE · 18.38, -77.95 · status: official

The account

Missionaries and magistrates saw it as a dangerous outbreak and arrested leaders. Scholars see Myal as an African-derived healing religion opposed to harmful obeah, which later fed into Revival and Kumina.

Connections in the atlas

Sources

  1. Wikipedia: Myal
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