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Arts & Culture Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM


Bahamian Artifacts Have A Special Place in Exuma
By Felicity Ingraham
Jan 27, 2016 - 12:54:47 AM

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Cooking outside (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

While technology improves, infrastructure increases, and the rapid pace of development seems to leave no place for the things of yester-year, one Bahamian woman has decided to dedicate herself to living the old Bahamian-style island lifestyle.

Jeneice Rolle could have been anywhere in the world. She spent time working in Canada and Turks & Caicos, working on sail boats all over the south eastern Caribbean, and living in Texas, Miami and the Virgin Islands. She was even enjoying parasailing, paragliding, jet skiing and more while living in St. Thomas. However, the place where her navel string is buried is the one most precious to her – the island of Exuma.

There is no place in the world quite like Exuma, Rolle says. For this reason, she has made it a point to invest on the island, so that her roots never grow too far away from home.

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Jeneice and her son (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

This month, Jeneice and her son Justin proudly celebrated the second anniversary of Jeneice & Son Artifacts Museum. Her museum, located in Steventon, Exuma, has encapsulated much of the items that would be fond memories for those who grew up on the Family Islands.

The old style sewing machines with the big iron pedal; glass and tin lanterns; a kerosene stove; a manual typewriter; and a corn mill are just some of the artifacts on display. Miss Rolle has managed to keep much of her mother’s and grandmother’s items, giving people a true glimpse into the old lifestyle. The china was different, washing pans and kitchen cloths, all made with the kind of quality that is neglected in today’s manufacturing techniques.

Old Coca-Cola bottles, Uncle Ben’s rice can, Eno and other brands are on display, in packaging you would not see on the shelves in stores today.

Miss Rolle invited Exuma natives and tourists to her second annual festival, where she showed off her artifacts and sold native dishes and crafts.

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Corn mill (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

At the museum, she showed off the old grass cutter that did the job before lawn mowers; and demonstrated how to clean the yard with the broom made from broom bush, indigenous to The Bahamas. Guinea Corn still grows in Exuma. Spectators watched as Miss Rolle collected the seeds from the stalk, cleaned them and then milled them for grits. Nassau visitors were shocked to learn that native grits never used to be made from the corn as we know it today, but from the Guinea corn. Guinea corn is referred to in many other places around the world as sorghum or millet. The fact that it has survived in our islands is indicative that the Africans brought their sorghum seeds with them to The Bahamas. The seeds are used to make a porridge like grits, or can be milled fine for flour.

The museum’s yard had many exhibits, including the washing area, where the washing board and tin tub sat next to a clothesline with old-style gaberdine dresses hanging out to dry. There was a school exhibit, showing an old teacher’s desk and student’s desk. Miss Rolle remembers going to school bare-footed when her shoes wore out, and her teachers having to cut the books and pencils in half for the students to share. There was also a bedroom exhibit, showing how a bed could be made from an old frame filled with seaweed, topped with crocus sacs and covered with a chenille spread. Visitors commented that they were shocked that the bed was actually not uncomfortable, but good for a daytime nap; which is exactly what Miss Rolle said it is used for when you come out of the fields.

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Typewriter and sewing machine (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

There were many craft and purposeful items for sale. There were homemade guitars made with wood and fishing line that actually has different tunes on each string; homemade fishing line reels and sinkers made by bending a nail; washing boards made out of wood; pipes made out of the mahogany tree which inhabits many Bahamian islands; sea salt; brasiletto bark for tea, and much more.

Festival-goers also enjoyed a wide variety of native dishes and treats, all cooked outdoors. Peas and rice; bean and grits with salt pork; fried fish; boiled cassava; fire-roasted sweet potatoes and corn; barbecued chicken; parched and boiled peanuts; banana and potato bread; coconut cake; and coconut water. Patrons also enjoyed Bahamian-style lemonade, called switcha, while having available to them a full service bar as well.

Children enjoyed the rope swing, hoola hoop, hoop-la table and other island games, but also enjoyed the bouncing castle which came for the festival. She took the time to share her childhood stories with the kids, letting them know that even as a little girl she had chores, including collecting fresh water from the well for tea, picking bush for tea, and setting the table for breakfast. She believes that island traditions help make for more respectful and successful children.

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Fish fry (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

The festival, Miss Rolle says, proves how viable a lifestyle on the Family Islands can be. She noted that fishing and farming are thriving industries with much space for growth – wide open for young people from the capital who are interested in exploring other avenues to make money.

Her inspiration for making crafts came after artisan Marilyn Munnings of Eleuthera paid a visit to Exuma for a coconut jewelry class. That night after the class, Miss Rolle says she just could not sleep; as her mind was teeming with ideas to turn items from the beach and the trees into artwork or useful household items.

Today, her museum boasts of her handiwork, including jewelry made from coconut, Madeira bark, nicker seeds, sea shells and more. She also collects these items in bulk and sells them to crafts makers all throughout the country. When she is not collecting craft items or making coconut and benny cakes for sale, she will plait straw and sew baskets for tourists and natives alike. She guarantees that anyone who takes the time to take advantage of natural resources, and work on perfecting their craft, can make a comfortable living this way.

“It’s very lucrative and I love it, Miss Rolle said. “I can do this 24/7!”

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Tourists (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

Festival-goer Eula Albury applauded Miss Rolle for putting on a festival of all-things Bahamian. She said it reminds her of how important it is for young people to see exhibits like these, and learn how to implement some of these fundamentals in their daily lives.

“Many of the people living in New Providence are not from New Providence,” she said.

“They need to consider going back to the island they came from. Go and live without all the stress, the murder and crime. Live in a peaceful environment where you can leave your door open and night and go to sleep. That’s the kind of place we live in - less crime, less stress, no traffic, less cars, less congestion. You can go where you want to go sit out under the trees or at the beach. It takes so much stress off you that you would live so much longer.”

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Outdoor bed (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

“Jobs may not be as much as in Nassau, but you can find employment. Some people here have two jobs. You can create your own job. I retired from teaching and came home. I got into making jewelry and sewing. You can always make a dollar. Work at your own pace. Work if you want to work and still live comfortably.”

A key lime farmer on the island said his business is lucrative and he doesn’t bother going to the capital for anything. A fisherman said there is a great need for young Bahamians to get into the industry, and it is wide open with lots of opportunities.

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Preparing peanuts (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

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Old pipes (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

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A colourful clothesline (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)

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At the bar (Photo: Felicity Ingraham)


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