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"KING
BANANA"
There
are many songs and poems in Jamaica's heritage that reflect
a period in the country's history when the Banana reigned
supreme. These include the popular "Banana Boat Song"
by Harry Belafonte part of which says:
Come
Missa Tallyman, tally mi banana
Day da light an me wan go home (rep)
There
is also a popular Mento song with the refrain:
Banana,
banana, banana
Ripe an green, banana, short an long, banana
Jamaicans like it, banana
Foreigners like it, banana
 In
plotting the path of Jamaica's development from the time of
slavery, one significant milestone along the way would be
the implementation of the banana trade. This trade played
an integral role in Jamaica's economic development and also
served as a catalyst for the tourist industry. The exploring
of the history behind this versatile crop in Jamaica allows
for much 'food for thought'.
The
name 'banana' is said to be of African origin and its Latin
name 'musa sapientum' is translated to mean 'food of the wise'.
Data suggest that the banana was brought to the West Indies
by the Spaniards and later reached Jamaica circa 1520s. The
slaves on the island first planted this crop, as it was an
important staple in their diet. Later, the small settlers
planted the banana as a subsistence crop.
In
the years that followed, banana became increasingly significant
to the society as it became a chief export crop. The banana
trade began around late 1800s with the crop being shipped
mainly to other Caribbean countries and the U.S.A. The banana
trade proved to be a very profitable one as the crop was anxiously
sought after by the foreigners. The trade also led to the
establishing of many estates, mainly in the parishes of St.
Thomas and St. Mary. These estates provided employment for
the persons in surrounding communities and others; from the
reaping of the crop to the loading of the merchandise unto
the ships for export. The banana industry was such a successful
venture that in 1927, bananas represented 50% of the total
exports out of the island.
The
banana trade led to the beginning of the tourist trade. This
was so as with the advent of the banana boats, there was an
increase in the number of visitors to the island. The boats
not only carried cargo but passengers as well. The banana
trade even brought about the popular tourist attraction of
rafting down the Rio Grande. The rafts were initially made
to transport the bananas from the estates to the ports on
the coast where the ships were docked.
The banana is an interesting food to study. There are hundreds
of varieties of which only twenty-seven have been identified
in Jamaica. The varieties that are grown for export purposes
are the Lacatan, Robusta, Gran Nain, Williams and Valery.
Probably the most interesting fact about the banana is that
it may be eaten as either a vegetable or a fruit. When green,
the banana is cooked as a vegetable and used as an accompaniment
to meats and other vegetables. When ripened, the banana is
eaten raw as a fruit.
The
banana is also high in nutritional value. In its ripened state,
the fruit is high in Potassium and Vitamins A, B6 and C and
is a good source of fibre. When green, the vegetable is high
in magnesium and iron.
The
banana is not only useful as a food source but it is also
used in many other processes. The skin of the green banana
is often used as feed for animals, especially pigs. Traditionally,
the green banana skin was mixed with kerosene oil for making
a treatment in order to remove poisons or infections from
the human skin. The skin of the ripe banana can be used as
a shoe polish for leather shoes.
All
the parts of the banana seem to be useful. The bark and the
spine of the leaves are used in craft making. The leaves are
also used in the making of duckunoo, which is a traditional
dish in which the mixture is tied in banana leaves and boiled.
The leaves of the tree also provide shelter and are used for
roofing purposes. Sometimes too, strips of the bark are plaited
to make ropes.
Interestingly
enough, in some parts of the country, persons cook what is
known as the heart of the banana. This is the soft core that
is found in the centre of the bark when it is split open.
The heart is cooked like cabbage. The blossom of the banana
is also sometimes boiled to make a tea.
The
banana was once referred to as the 'green gold' of Jamaica
because of its economic value; however, the banana is far
more than just economically valuable to the society. It has
helped to provide a way of life for the Jamaican people socially
and culturally.
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