Last weekend I got to experience a place I never even dared to dream existed in reality. A wonderful place with lots of open-minded, warm-hearted, intelligent, conscious people full of talent, freedom and respect. This place is Jamnesia.
It’s a place so welcoming and spirited, I could use it as a model to create my future home, a little piece of Zion, where I could happily grow old.
Jamnesia is a rare-to-find surf club at Eight Miles, Bull Bay in the parish of St. Thomas, Jamaica. Founded by the Wilmots, Jamaica’s first surfing family, Jamnesia offers accomodation, surfing lessons and meals in a relaxed family athmosphere.
The surf club is headed by legendary surfer and musician Billy Mystic and his wife Maggie. The rest of the family including Billy’s parents, sons Ishack, Inilek, Icah & Ivah and their own families all live on premises and help run the place.
Wilmots are deeply involved in developing opportunities for the youth through surfing and music. Every second Saturday there is a jam session where anyone can up on stage and get their 15 minutes in the spotlight.
It sounds like the dream home, right. In the morning you get up and go surf, in the afternoon chill out with the family and in the evening bring the party to your own courtyard. It definitely felt like paradise to us.
Inilek and Ivah were great surfing teachers, intuitive and encouraging for someone doing it for the first time + on a broken ankle and a dislocating knee. For me, surfing instantly stole a part of my heart and I aim to do and learn a lot more of it in the future. There is something at the same time safe and exciting about being in the water. It’s a natural experience, I get in tune with the waves and calm down out there. Calm and exciting is always sure combination of emotions to get me hooked because it doesn’t exist that often in my life.
At the Jamnesia sessions the yard was filled with a positive, enthusiastic crowd and the stage was full of bubbling talent. For me everyone was great but few deserve a special mention.
Those include the Wilmots’ sharp-minded and quick-tongued cousin Nigel Wilmot, the E-poet, a name he got because of on stage reading his text from a blackberry.
My new favourite Scandinavian talent is a Swedish group that was shooting a video at Jamnesia headed by the wonderful singer Etzia. Notice Etzia wearing I Made This earrings at the evening sessions. Can’t wait for the video !
My new favourite Jamaican talent include singers Chronixx and Kabaka Pyramid who performed together at Jamnesia. Chronixx has a music video launch next week and I intend to be there with my camera so more soon come.
Last but definitely not the least the stage was taken by enchanting singer-songwriter Kelissa. Pics of all in the following gallery.
On Sunday following Maggie’s advice we went to a mineral bath that was at the same time the weirdest place, right next to a factory, and the most pleasant experience. I’ve never felt water so gentle on my skin, it felt like healing water.
I am not a big believer in perfect as I believe personality often lives in imperfections, but I admit the weekend at Jamnesia was pretty close to perfection.
Huge thanks and respect to the Wilmots ! Big up Jamnesia !!
