My epic ‘Dab’ 💪🏽😎 at The Pinnacle, located in Spanish Town Jamaica 🇯🇲 — it’s the highest point in Rastafarianism. Destroyed multiple times by the government and many who were against it’s formation. Tons of ganja was confiscated...
The ‘most high’ place to ‘bun a spliff’ 👊🏽😁
This was in 2017 when dabbing was still a thing
Excerpts from a Jamaica Observer article about the Pinnacle and it’s history
Pinnacle was bought under the auspices of the Ethiopian Salvation Society (ESS) — formed on January 11, 1939 — in 1940. In 1945, the bailiff, accompanied by police officers "armed to the teeth", removed the residents from Pinnacle off the land due to incomplete payment for the property. In 1954, the police destroyed Pinnacle and scattered the seeds of the early Rastafari movement. How could the police have destroyed homes and broken up the commune if it was owned by the ESS? Leonard Howell lived from 1956 to the time of his passing at Tredegar Park.
Pinnacle was a place and a concept for industry and self-reliance. By and large, the early Rastafarians were characterised by self-help and industry; a vast majority were self-employed in a range of areas. In spite of this creative direction there were forces that were working against Howell and Pinnacle. After the publication of that November interview, the newspaper published "Plight of Ras Tafarians at Camp Pinnacle" (December 22, 1940), describing major health problems at the commune. The article was informed by the parish council that living conditions at the camp were intolerable. It noted also that Howell was enforcing discipline in the form of floggings. Pinnacle was now under the microscope of the police, who described it as a "sanctuary for criminals". There was a call to "break up" Pinnacle by an inspector of police at Spanish Town (dated June 8, 1941). In responding to this call, the solicitor general informed the police and cautioned the use of force, but did not support the call for destroying Pinnacle in the same manner that "King's House" — Howell's first headquarters at Harbour Head Road in Port Morant — was destroyed.
Reflection
On my visit there, it stuck me how irie the vibe was. There was no-one there but a couple Rastas using a steam challis (didn’t want to be photographed) but you can feel and see that this was a place of heavy worship. There’s remnants of old statues and structures scattered everywhere. And the higher you go the more you can imagine the buildings atop the mountain. The view is amazing and just being there makes you feel closer to nature spiritually.
It’s not as popular as Nine Mile, the home of Bob Marley but it’s definitely worth a trip (and small hike) if you’re ever in Jamaica.
Bless
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