Gabrielle Querrard: The True Spirit of Jumbie Beads

The presence of Jumbie Beads in the Caribbean is a by-product of the transatlantic slave trade as enslaved Africans brought with them seeds and plants that were important in their traditions. The Jumbie Bead is an excellent example of this phenomena.  Enslaved Africans, who were forced to suppress their religious and spiritual practices, often used these beads covertly to maintain a connection to their African heritage.

The rosary pea quickly became widely known as a symbol of resistance and continuity for Afro- Caribbean people, many of whom believed that wearing these beads in necklaces and bracelets could bring spiritual and physical protection as well as the gift of foresight and intuition and to this day Jumbie beads continue to be a prolific part of spirituality and storytelling throughout the Caribbean region.