Full Steam Ahead! – Locating The Barbados Landship

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by Dr. Editha (Nancy) Fergusson-Jacobs

The African-based institution known as the Barbados Landship celebrated 153 years in October this year. The earliest mention of this quasi-naval group in uniform performed as entertainment for the Barbadian public, demonstrating theatrical/performance aspects for which they are best known. This group demonstrates many similarities to the Asafo Fante groups from Anamabo. Hence, research carried out over the last twenty years, indicates that the enslaved peoples brought to Barbados during the late seventeenth century were strongly influenced by the Akan/Fante peoples from the Gold Coast. The importance of the Asafo and the retentions found in the Barbados Landship perpetuate the vestiges and continuities of a people, forged together on this side of the Atlantic through slavery, colonial domination and alludes to the subterfuge and ingenuity of the African mind.  It demonstrates how the collective memory of Africa in story-telling and masquerade has been upheld through the re-enactment in theatrical performance.

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