Saturdays in Jamaica are almost always the same in every household, you can bet on it. There is cleaning, going to the market, cooking soup (a must and preferably beef soup) for dinner and laundry. Depending on the age of the children in the home, there may be slight variations — a birthday party invite, choir practice for another and if you’re the youngest like myself, it is a time for hair washing and “chiney bumps”, best known as bantu knots, to function as both a hair styling and drying method. In addition, you can be sure that the sound systems in each neighbourhood are blasting R&B and classic Reggae hits and everyone is cleaning. This Saturday is all too timely and fitting as it is our Labour Day holiday. Yes, a holiday to celebrate cleaning!
Don’t get me wrong, Labour Day is also about community spirit and national pride in our appearance, as well as social values — things that are very much the fabric of Jamaican culture. As a child, I enjoyed Labour Day and to be honest, maybe a little too much as it’s really just physical labour, but it felt good seeing how pristine our surroundings looked after the job was done.
It’s lovely being a part of a community actively working together and a marvel to witness the reveal of what’s possible when minds align. From an outsider’s perspective, a weekend day spent on maintaining order and “readiness” does not appear all that enticing. Drinking soup in 80+°F weather to sweat around the dinner table is far from the luxury beachfront and tranquility sights Jamaica is known for, but for us, it’s the best part of the day for so many of us. Being together and enjoying a flavor packed meal is all that matters.
As much as I enjoy being together at the end of the day’s tasks, today, I still struggle with the thought of cleaning. It’s not an activity I enjoy, but I appreciate it for what it is as it’s one of the few times where I can see the fruit of my work instantaneously and that gives me joy. It’s indicative of what hard work can do and surprisingly, it is during these times some of my best thoughts and ideas present itself. The idea for Jamoji App manifested itself on a Saturday morning, cleaning. Clean on Jamaica, clean on.
Happy Labour Day!
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