A historic petition has been formally presented to the British monarch, who retains the role of Jamaica’s head of state, during a high-profile visit by Jamaican officials to the UK. The move follows a deeply symbolic religious service in London, where a congregation gathered to commemorate the 1781 Zong massacre, a brutal incident in which enslaved Africans were deliberately thrown overboard by ship owners to collect insurance. The emotional gathering included performances of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, underscoring the enduring legacy of slavery and its impact on Jamaican identity. The visit marks a significant moment in discussions over colonial-era injustices and their lingering consequences.
Petition to king, who remains Jamaica’s head of state, is formally lodged in landmark visit to UK by officialsA palpable surge of emotion swept through Brixton’s New Park Road Baptist church as the packed congregation rose to sing Bob Marley’s Redemption Song.The service on Sunday marked the anniversary of the 1781 Zong massacre, when more than 100 enslaved Africans were thrown overboard so the ship’s owners could claim insurance for “lost cargo”. Continue reading...
