Revival Zion

Myal is an Afro-Jamaican spirituality. It developed via the creolization of African religions during the slave era in Jamaica. It incorporates ritualistic magic, spiritual possession and dancing. Unlike Obeah, its practices focus more on the connection of spirits with humans. Over time, Myal began to meld with Christian practices and created the religious tradition known as Revivalism.

History

Origin

The practice of Myal as a spirit possession originated in Jamaica. It derived from the Kongo religion. It was once theorized to be of Akan origin, because of its popularity with enslaved Akans. However, Myal was also popular with enslaved Bakongo. The centrality of spirit possession is a core component of both Myal and Kongo religion. This evidence suggests that Myal is more closely related to Kongo. Myalism resulted from the cooperation of ethnically diverse enslaved Africans. The term "Myal" was first recorded by Edward Long in 1774 when describing a ritual dance done by enslaved Jamaicans. At first, the practices of Obeah and Myal were not distinguished. Over time, "Myal-men" involved in spirit possession became involved with Jamaican Native Baptist churches and incorporated Myal rituals into them. Over time, these Myal-influenced churches began preaching the importance of baptisms and the eradication of Obeah, thus separating the two traditions.

However, an Akan origin is far more likely with colour codes used by the Akans, Bakongo and other Africans. Myal practitioners wear white, Bakongo spiritualists wear black. Many Akan iconography was used and is still used by its derivative of the Zion Revival church: Such as religious symbols of the Nyame Dua, a brass pan with rain water outside of a church, Tano's brass pan containing river water and rocks from the river on top a stool with his two swords with his herbs of the leaf of life plant and aloe vera. The Leaf of Life in Ghana is called "Tan me wo wuo" (hate me and die, in english) a play on the Jamaican name Leaf of Life. The plant symbolizes Tano multifaceted nature of "doing it all", like how the plant is universally accepted. Martha Beckwith in the 1920's documented Myal practitioners dressed like the Akan with their white cloth over their shoulders and tie heads on their heads. This is the regalia of the Akan royal and priestly elite. Dances include a spin what Jamaicans call "wheel and come again." Asante-Akans say: "Me kɔ, me ba." (Go and come again, in English). Bakongo origin, rejected.

Christianization

After the abolition of slavery, conservative Christian churches began to lose followers to Bedwardism and Myalist Native Baptist Churches. After 1814, the Myalist chapels started to become more visible. By the 1840s, many Congolese indentured laborers arrived in Jamaica where they revitalised Myal practices and the Kumina religion.

Myal was generally tolerated by white enslavers because of its stance against Obeah and its adoption of Christian elements. By the 1860s, Myal-based churches became referred to as "Revivalist" churches and were established as Baptist churches. From 1858 to 1859, a Christian revival swept Jamaica, adding energy to local religious life. Two branches of this revival, the 60 Order or Revival Zion and the 61 Order or Pocomania, emerged. Revival Zion adopted more orthodox Christian practices, while Pocomania continued more African practices.

Myal as a separate religion is no longer practiced, its rituals can be found in Revivalism, Kumina, and Convince.

The folklorist Venetia Newall noted that Pocomania "has rarely been recorded in England, and evidently tends to Peter out quickly" on arrival.

Practices

Early Myalist religion

Myalists honor a creator god and ancestor or African spirits. These spirits are invoked in Myal rituals. It holds that a human has two souls: the duppy

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