The Fiwi Roots Collection is a curated archive of stories and articles that explore the traditions, histories, and lived wisdom of Jamaica. From cultural healing to ancestral memory, each piece is rooted in truth, identity, and the voices that shaped us.
Some stories were too layered, too untamed, or simply didn't fit The Timeline of Jamaica's chronological arc—but their echoes still resonate. These are Jamaica’s past stories and events that illuminate the untold or forgotten depths of our history. Check back often, as new chapters are unearthed and added regularly.
Long before Henry Cort’s fame, 76 Black metallurgists in Jamaica had already mastered a transformative iron process. This story challenges the origin myth of British industrialization.
Before Florence Nightingale, there was Mary Seacole—a fearless Jamaican healer who defied empire, war, and racism to serve on the front lines.
In 1760s Jamaica, an enslaved woman brought a case against her owner—and won. This rare glimpse into colonial justice raises questions still echoing today.
In the tapestry of Jamaica’s history, Black midwives and herbalists stand out as unsung heroines. But their stories remain largely invisible in official medical histories. Many faced persecution under “obeah” laws, which criminalized African-derived healing and spiritual practices.
Jamaica’s culture is as much about nourishment as it is about resilience. This section explores the living traditions that continue to shape how Jamaicans eat, heal, and thrive—where folklore meets science, and where health is inseparable from heritage.
From callaloo to ackee—learn which Jamaican dishes are diabetic-friendly, and how tradition plays a role in managing health today.
For individuals managing diabetes, the GI is a crucial tool because it helps predict a food's impact on blood glucose. When you eat carbohydrate-rich foods, your body breaks them down into glucose, which then enters your bloodstream.
Before Florence Nightingale, there was Mary Seacole—a fearless Jamaican healer who defied empire, war, and racism to serve on the front lines.
Used by midwives, healers, and fishers alike, this bitter bark carried more than pain relief—it carried memory. From childbirth to bush remedies, the Jamaican Dogwood tree tells the story of survival outside the bounds of formal medicine. Explore the cultural roots, scientific studies, and interactive trail map highlighting where it still grows and heals.
Once the domain of midwives, bush doctors, and Maroon healers, Guinea Hen Weed is experiencing a resurgence. This powerful Jamaican herb—long used for fever, cleansing, and spiritual protection—is now drawing global attention for its potential anticancer and immune-boosting effects. Explore the cultural roots, scientific studies, and interactive trail map highlighting where it still grows and heals.
These are the stories that have been passed down through generations—stories that keep us up at night. Whispers of things that walk the roads after dark. River guardians. Spirits. Duppies. Whether told as warning, memory, or truth, these tales still hold power. Every child grew up hearing them, and it’s that telling and retelling that keeps them alive for generations to come.
Tales of restless spirits, strange encounters, and things that move when they shouldn’t. Every Jamaican knows someone with a story.
Stories about a fire-breathing duppy with glowing red eyes and chains that rattle in the dark. Said to haunt backroads and crossroads, the Rolling Calf is one legend Jamaicans don’t take lightly.
Stories about a mysterious spirit said to guard Jamaica’s rivers and hidden treasures. Often seen combing her hair by moonlight—then vanishing without a trace.
Feared, respected, and whispered about for generations, obeah lives at the edge of the visible world—woven into ritual, remedy, and silence. This piece explores it through story shaped by belief and oral tradition.
An exploration of Jamaica’s spiritual traditions rooted in African belief, shaped by struggle, and practiced through ceremony, healing, and praise. These are living systems of faith—still guiding, still evolving, still deeply woven into everyday life.
A sacred tradition born of struggle and spirit, Revivalism blends African spiritual roots with Christian faith in uniquely Jamaican ways. This four-part series explores its origins, beliefs, rituals, and lasting cultural power—still practiced, still evolving.
