“Jumbie Corner” The Mango Ambassador

I think you would have been proud of me Mum, if you could have seen me standing in the classroom, first week in secondary school, talking of St. Kitts and Nevis. In a class of thirty, only two had heard of your homeland.

You see, we were in Geography and talking of food festivals. One boy, of Italian parentage, spoke of a lemon festival; a Jamaican girl, of ackee; a Filipino boy of banana and so on. Then I remembered a conversation, one of our last, you telling me of a new annual celebration. So, first I explained that Nevis is the smaller of the two islands, that make up the country of St. Kitts and Nevis. Then I got into the item of the festival, which about half of the class had tried, mainly as juice. Finishing my talk, I got them voicing the chant you taught me that day, called Amory Polly: words I'll never forget. I spoke of mango and we sang of the fruit.

They say there's forty-four, Many varieties. For sherbet and slaw, Juice and sauce: Everybody talking Amory Polly.

All over the islands, A great utility. For cocktails and puree, Jellies and salsa: Everybody talking Amory Polly.

A new summer fixture, June July jamboree. On skewers and ice cream, Chutney and biscuits: Everybody talking Amory Polly.

I remember you telling me of the yam festivals of Ghana and Nigeria, centuries old. Although it's a recent addition to your traditions, one of your grandchildren, or greatgrandchild, may one day win the bronze mango trophy, for the best example of Nevisian mango cuisine.

It felt so good Mum, introducing them to Charlestown, Basseterre and the national flag. I remember you saying that the colours in the flag, were a reflection of mango; and that the two stars in it, represented two kisses from you to me, one on each cheek. I think you would have smiled throughout and maybe shed a tear, as I stood and spoke of your country. I put the homeland on the map! They gave me a round of applause and the teacher gave me a credit. I felt like the Mango Ambassador.

©Natty Mark Samuels, 2023. African School. Rootical Folklore