Searching for Our Roots

It had been twenty years since I set foot on Jamaican soil. This was the first time for my two sons and my nephew to visit the country of their Great Grandmother's birth, Keturah. We picked up 'Grandma' Keturah from Birmingham before flying from Heathrow to Montego Bay and embarked on the longest flight the boys had ever experienced. Of course, the heat greeted our faces as we exited the airport building, along with a beautiful view of Montego Bay!

Written by: Natalie Jones

We traveled for an hour by taxi to a villa in 'Runaway Bay.' My nephew was the first to put on his swimming trunks and jump into the pool. We had all looked forward to this holiday for years, so I was a little worried that the expectations were high, and because of that, the family could have a disappointing experience. It was important to me that everyone enjoyed themselves and learned something new about their culture that they didn't know before. We were on our own journey of exploration, similar to that of Wayne Howard and his son, Connaugh, as documented in the S4C program 'Teulu, Dad a Fi' (Family, Dad, and Me).

My son Marley, exploring the home of Bob Marley

We had so much fun exploring our island! We went to Dunn's River Falls, horse riding on the beach, tubing down waterfalls, visited Bob Marley's first home and final resting place, and explored various beaches and restaurants. Dunn's River Falls, if you haven't been there, is incredibly beautiful with deep pools and huge rocks that form convenient steps, making it easy to climb. It's as if the falls beckon you to enter. Of course, you have to wear something sensible on your feet as the rocks can be slippery. The water is pleasantly warm; it doesn't take your breath away but soothes you. It's impossible to avoid the feeling that the water somehow heals you, and when you leave, you do so with a profound sense of well-being.

The kids were thrilled to have the opportunity to explore the childhood home of Bob Marley, perhaps the most famous Jamaican of all time! A Rastaman welcomed us in with nobility and a spiritual vibe that instantly put us at ease, even before sipping a sweet ganja tea. The tour included what is now a small village with gift shops, an art display, and entertainment. He spoke about the Rastafari faith, Bob's songs, how the family lived, and showed the pieces of art collected by Bob Marley's mother, Cedella Booker. It was fun to burst into song with him when 'Three Little Birds' and other famous songs were mentioned. Its beginning was clearly simple and humble but full of love, initially providing everything a growing little boy needed. Unfortunately, Bob Marley's idyllic childhood took a turn for the worse after Bob's father died, as the loss of financial support meant they had to move to Kingston. However, in the years that followed, with the help of Bob Marley's success and legacy, and the talent of his children and grandchildren, that humble first home has been developed and maintained. Small chapels have been built there since Bob Marley's passing, serving as a sanctuary for him, his brother, and mother to this day. As we explored, I remembered Bob Marley's statement, “If my life can’t help plenty of people, I don't want it.” I could see how even in death, his life continues to sustain families.

Outside the attraction, we heard children shouting and reaching their hands, holding out their phones through the gaps in the gates, begging. It was quite amusing to hear them attempting to speak with a 'cockney' accent while asking, "Can you spare any change, m'lady?" But it was also sad to see that there is still so much poverty in the area.

Our Family We had such an emotional time visiting family! My mother is an only child, so I didn't grow up with many cousins in Britain. However, Grandma was one of seven siblings, and her sister had twelve children. We went to see Grandma's only surviving brother, Cecil, who is 89 years old. Despite being completely blind now, he still knew exactly where the picture of me, my husband, and my first son was. Squeezing Grandma tightly, with tears in his eyes, he expressed how happy he was to be with her. He said he was starting to worry he would never be with her again. The boys understood the privilege of meeting their Great-Great-Uncle! We also met other family members. They live on lovely countryside land that feels like a little commune. The bungalows that have been built are not luxurious, but they provide everything that is needed. The 'ackee' trees provide food for the family and a little income when in season. After having a delicious meal with this side of the family, we went up the lane a little to St. Toolies, where Grandma's father was born and buried. It was there that we got to see Grandma's father's sister, Auntie Mary, who is 99 years old and very weak now, but still smiling. We heard stories about her doing Grandma's hair before she went to school and about stopping at her house on the way home to have a snack. She was an important friend and role model to Grandma when she was growing up, as well as being an Aunt. We had very emotional 'goodbyes' as we reluctantly tore ourselves away from Aunt Mary.

My mother's cousin,Barry (left) Grandma Keturah and her brother Cecil who is 89 in my in-laws home. Porus.

I know that everyone there sees me as a 'foreign' person, yet has welcomed us as family.

This was probably the last time we will see Uncle Cecil and Aunt Mary, and Grandma belives it is the last time she will go home. I intend to keep in touch with the family and the young members who are growing up there. I'm looking forward to going back there, and going to the National Archives to research and learn even more about our family's history. It's a strange thing, to feel like I'm at home in a country I've visited twenty years apart. I know that everyone there sees me as a 'foreign' person, yet has welcomed us as family. Although I feel Welsh, I also feel strongly, that I am part of this island.

Stacian was full of fun and excited to introduce us to her 5-year-old daughter. She herself was only 3 years old when I first met her. Four months after we returned home to Wales, Diane was excited and clearly proud to tell us that Staci had just been successful in applying for a job at the bank, an opportunity to improve life for her and her little girl. Less than a month after that, we heard that Staci had been to dinner with friends and developed stomach pains the next day. As time went on, Stacian's energy and pain worsened until Diane, her mother, decided to take her to the hospital. There is no free Health Service in Jamaica, and therefore, the wealthiest people get the best healthcare. When Diane couldn't bear to see her suffer any longer, she asked the staff why they weren’t giving her pain relief. The answer was that there was none available – in a hospital! So, Diane left her daughter’s side and went to a pharmacy to get her some much-needed pain relief. Staci took the pain relief and slept. She never woke up again. The news of this healthy, beautiful young woman's death hit like a sledgehammer! Just a few days earlier, she was a perfect picture of health. It's ironic now, but the last time I saw her, she was wearing a vest that said, "Let me sleep." Following a post-mortem review, Diane was told that Staci's heart was enlarged, and a toxicology report revealed she had the worst form of dengue fever. However, they had been treating her for food poisoning. In short, she died due to poverty. And that's the most significant lesson I've learned from following our roots to Jamaica - Jamaica is a paradise for those with enough money to enjoy it.

Stacian Vernon, 23 years old - mum's cousin's youngest daughter

Fersiwn Cymraeg:

Chwilio am ein gwreiddiau

Roedd hi’n ugain mlynedd ers i fi rhoi fy nhroed lawr ar dir Jamaica. Hyn oedd y tro cyntaf i fy dau fab a fy nai, Lennon, ymweld â gwlad eni ein Nain, Keturah, Hen Nain y plant. Codasom ni ‘Grandma’ Keturah i fyny o Firmingham cyn hedfan o Heathrow am Bae Montego, Jamaica. Wrth gwrs, tarodd y gwres ein hwynebau fel gadawsom ni'r orsaf awyren, fel gwnaeth yr olygfa hardd!

Ysgrifennwyd gan: Natalie Jones

Teithiwn ni am awr mewn tacsi i fila yn ‘Runaway Bay’. Fy nai oedd yr un gyntaf i wisgo’i thrôns nofio a neidio i mewn i’r pwll. Roedden ni gyd wedi edrych ymlaen at y gwyliau hyn am flynyddoedd, ac felly, mi oeddwn i’n poeni dipyn bach fod y disgwyliad yn anferthol ac oherwydd hynna, gallai’r teulu cael profiad siomedig. Roedd hi’n bwysig i fi bod pawb yn mwynhau eu hunain a dysgu rhywbeth newydd am eu diwylliant nad oeddent yn gwybod o’r blaen.

Wrth i ni archwilio, rwy’n cofio fideo o Bob Marley yn dweud, “Os na all fy mywyd helpu digon o bobl, dwi ddim ei eisiau fe.” Gallaf weld sut hyd yn oed mewn marwolaeth, mae ei fywyd yn dal i gynnal teuluoedd.

Hwyl Gawsom ni gymaint o hwyl yn fforio ein hynys! Aethom ni i Dunn’s River Falls, reidio ceffyl ar y traeth, mynd lawr rhaeadrau mewn tiwbiau rwber, ag ymweld â chartref cyntaf a gorffwysfa derfynol Bob Marley, heb son am y traethau a bwytai. Mae Dunn’s River Falls, os nad ydych chi wedi bod yna, yn mor hardd gyda’i phyllau dwfn a chreigiau anferth sydd rhywsut yn eistedd mewn grisiau cyfleus yn gwneud hi’n hawdd dringo, ac yn croesawu chi i mewn. Wrth gwrs mae’n rhaid gwisgo rhywbeth gall ar eich traed gan fod y creigiau yn gallu bod un llithrig. Mae’n beth rhyfedd, ond mae’r dŵr bron yn gynnes. Does dim sioc i’r corff wrth lithro i mewn, mae’n gyfforddus, dymunol. Pan mae’n dawel mae’n amhosib osgoi’r teimlad bod y dŵr yn iachaol ac wrth adael, chi’n mynd a theimlad o les gyda chi.

Roedd y plant wedi gwirioni i gael busnesu o gwmpas tŷ plentyndod Bob Marley, ella’r Jamaican fwyaf enwog erioed! Gawsom ni ein croesawu gan Ddyn Rasta pwy wnaeth arwain taith o gwmpas beth sydd bellach yn bentref bach gyda siopa anrhegion, darnau o elf diddorol, gydag adloniant. Mae o’n siarad am y credwyf Rastafari, caneuon Bob, sut oedd y teulu yn byw ac yn dangos darnau celf sydd wedi cael eu casglu gan fam Bob Marley, Cedella Booker. Roedd hi’n hwyl i fyrstio mewn cân efo fo pan soniwyd am ‘Three Little Birds’ a chaneuon eraill gan Bob Marley sy’n enwog. Mae dechreuad Bob Marley yn amlwg wedi bod yn un syml a gostyngedig, ond llawn cariad, gyda phopeth oedd angen ar foi i dyfu’n iach. Ond, yn anffodus, ar ôl i dad Bob marw, a chollen nhw’r incwm yna, roedd rhaid iddyn nhw symud i’r ddinas, sef Kingston. Yn flynyddoedd i’w dilyn mae’r cartref gostyngedig cyntaf wedi cael ei datblygu gan y teulu, diolch i lwyddiant ac etifeddiaeth Bob Marley, ei blant â'i wyrion. Mae yna gapeli bach wedi adeiladu yno ers i Bob Marley farw sy’n cadw cysegr iddo fo a’i frawd a mam hyd yn hyn. Tu allan i’r atyniad, roedd yna blant yn gweiddi a gwthio pocedi ar ffonau drwy’r bylchau yn y giatiau yn cardota. Roedd hi’n eithaf doniol i glywed nhw yn ceisio siarad gydag acen ‘cockney’ wrth ofyn, “Can you spare any change m’lady?” Ond hefyd yn drist bod yna dal gymaint o dlodi yn yr ardal.

Fy mab Marley, yn archwilio cartref Bob Marley

Teulu Ni Gawsom ni amser mor emosiynol wrth ymweld â theulu. Mae mam fi yn unig blentyn, ac felly, wnes i ddim cael fy magu gyda chefndryd ym Mhrydain. Ond roedd Grandma yn un o 7, a gafodd ei chwaer hi 12 o blant. Aethom ni i weld brawd Grandma, Cecil sy’n 89 a hollol ddal nawr, er roedd o wybod yn union ble oedd llun fi, fy nghwr a fy mab cyntaf. Wrth wasgu Grandma yn ddyn, ddeudodd bod o wedi dechrau poeni na fuasai byth weld hi eto. Roedd y bois yn deall y fraint mewn cwrdd â’u Hen Hen Ewythr! Nid jyst fo gawsom ni weld, ond rhai o gefndryd fy mam a rhai o wyrion nhw. Maen nhw’n byw ar dir hyfryd, yn gefn gwlad sy’n teimlo fel comiwn bach. Does dim byd.

moethus am y byngalos sydd wedi adeiladu yno, ond maen nhw’n darparu popeth sydd angen. Mae’r coed ‘ackee’ yn darparu bwyd i’r teulu ac ychydig o incwm pryd mae’r tymor iawn iddynt. Ar ôl cael pryd o fwyd blasus gydag ochr hyn o’r teulu, aethom ni i fyny’r lon tipyn bach i St Toolies, lle gafodd tad Grandma ei eni a chladdu. Hefyd, wnaethom ni ymweld â chwaer, dad Grandma, Auntie Mary, sy’n 99 ac yn wan iawn nawr, ond dal yn gwenu. Clywon ni straeon amdani hi’n gwneud gwallt Grandma cyn iddi fynd i ysgol ac am stopio yn dŷ hi ar y ffordd adre i gael amheuthun. Roedd y fenyw yma yn berson pwysig ym mywyd Grandma - ffrind a rhywun oedd yn difetha hi gyda moethau ac ysbrydoli hi yn ogystal â bod yn Anti iddi hi.

Mae’n debyg fod hwn oedd y tro olaf i ni weld Cecil ag Aunt Mary yn fwy, a hefyd ella y tro diwethaf i Grandma fynd adre. Ond dwi’n bwriadu cadw mewn cysylltiad gyda’r teulu a’r aelodau ifanc sy’n tyfu i fyny yno. Dwi’n edrych ymlaen at fynd yn ôl yno, a mynd i’r Archif Cenedlaethol i ymchwilio mwy am hanes ein teulu. Peth rhyfedd yw hi, i deimlo fel fy mod i adre mewn gwlad rwyf wedi ymweld â gydag ugain mlynedd o fwlch. Dwi’n gwybod bod pawb yn fanno yn gweld fi fel person ‘foreign’, ond eto roeddent wedi croesawu ni fel teulu. Ac er bod mod i’n teimlo’n Gymraes, dwi hefyd yn teimlo fy mod i’n rhan o’r tir, o’r ynys Jamaica.

Roedd Stacian yn llawn hwyl ac yn gyffrous i gyflwyno ei merch 5 oed i ni. Roed hi ei hun dim ond yn 3 oed pan gwrddais i hi am y tro cyntaf.

Cefnder fy mam, Barry (chwith) Nain Keturah a'i brawd Cecil sy'n 89 yn fy nghartref yng nghyfraith. Porus.

Gwn fod pawb yno yn fy ngweld fel person 'tramor', ac eto wedi ein croesawu fel teulu.

Pedair mis ar ôl i ni ddod adre i Gymru, roedd hi newydd wedi bod yn llwyddiannus mewn cais am swydd yn y banc. Cyfle i wella bywyd iddi hi a'i merch fach. in ddod adre roedd hi newydd wedi bod yn llwyddiannus mewn cais am swydd yn y banc. Cyfle i wella bywyd iddi hi a'i merch fach. Llai na mis ar ôl hynny, glywon ni bod Staci wedi bod am ginio gyda ffrindiau ac wedi datblygu poenau yn ei fol y diwrnod wedyn. Fel aeth amser ymlaen, wnaeth egni a phoen Stacian gwaethygu tan i Diane, ei fam, penderfynu mynd a hi i'r ysbyty. Does does dim Gwasanaeth Iechyd, ac felly, y bobl fwyaf cyfoethog sy'n cael y gofal iechyd gorau. Pan ddoedd ei fam dim yn gallu gweld ei dioddefi dim mwy gofynnodd i'r staff pam dydyn nhw ddim yn rhoi lleddfu poen iddi. Yr ateb oedd, doedd dim ar gael. Felly, aeth Diane drosodd i fferyllfa i nôl ffiseg iddi. Cymrodd Staci y lleddfu poen a chysgu. Deffrodd hi byth eto. Tarodd y newyddion bod yr hogan, iach, hardd yma wedi marw fel morthwyl sled! Roedd hi'n llun perffaith o iechyd jyst 5 mis yng nghynt. Mae'n eironig nawr, ond y tro diwethaf i mi ei gweld, roedd hi'n gwisgo fest yn dweud, "Gadewch i mi gysgu". Mewn post-mortem, dywedwyd wrth Diane fod calon Staci wedi'i chwyddo a datgelodd adroddiad tocsicoleg mai hi yw'r ffurf waethaf o dwymyn dengue. Roedden nhw wedi bod yn trin hi am wenwyn bwyd. Yn fyr, bu farw o dlodi. A dyna'r wers fwyaf dwi wedi cael o ddilyn ein gwreiddiau I Jamaica - mae Jamaica yn baradwys i rheini sydd gyda digon o arian.

Stacian Vernon, 23 oed - merch ieuengaf cefnder i fam