Kananga Water
Encyclopedia
Kananga Water is a cologne based on a foundation of the essential oil of Ylang Ylang (also known as Cananga odorata). Plantations for producing Kananga Water were established by the British in Jamaica
in the 19th century. Kananga Water, like Florida Water
, is used in various rituals including spiritual cleaning, and appeasing the spirits of the dead. Its use is particularly common among people of the African diaspora
.
Peter L. Patrick in his list of "Some Recent Jamaican Creole Words" (An earlier version of which appeared in the journal American Speech in Fall 1995, 70(3):227-264.) suggests that the origin of the word is possibly from Kikongo kalunga '(Angolan) for lake, sea, ocean', Laman 1936, 207; but also in senses 'proper name' and 'in the depths, right at the bottom,
in the heart of the earth'. Patrick also notes Bettelheim (1979, 323), as quoted in Ryman (1984, 84), that "kalunga is also the name of an underworld deity and/or the home of this God".
As far as reporting on the use of the water is concerend Patrick reports that it has be quoted by Patterson (1964) as being a type of "holy water" that is used for purification in Revival ceremonies. Quoting Patterson "male church leader, Shepherd John, cleansing a sinful woman: " 'Bring de robe an' de cananga water an' call de Water Mother'. The period of cleansing began with a purity bath. [Shepherd John] sprinkled some of the cananga water over the room, then poured the rest in the tub. Then the Water Mother came forward, helped her in the tub, and bathed her from the neck downwards."
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
in the 19th century. Kananga Water, like Florida Water
Florida Water
Florida Water is an American version of Eau de Cologne, or Cologne Water. It has the same citrus basis as Cologne Water, but shifts the emphasis to sweet orange , and adds spicy notes including lavender and clove...
, is used in various rituals including spiritual cleaning, and appeasing the spirits of the dead. Its use is particularly common among people of the African diaspora
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
.
Peter L. Patrick in his list of "Some Recent Jamaican Creole Words" (An earlier version of which appeared in the journal American Speech in Fall 1995, 70(3):227-264.) suggests that the origin of the word is possibly from Kikongo kalunga '(Angolan) for lake, sea, ocean', Laman 1936, 207; but also in senses 'proper name' and 'in the depths, right at the bottom,
in the heart of the earth'. Patrick also notes Bettelheim (1979, 323), as quoted in Ryman (1984, 84), that "kalunga is also the name of an underworld deity and/or the home of this God".
As far as reporting on the use of the water is concerend Patrick reports that it has be quoted by Patterson (1964) as being a type of "holy water" that is used for purification in Revival ceremonies. Quoting Patterson "male church leader, Shepherd John, cleansing a sinful woman: " 'Bring de robe an' de cananga water an' call de Water Mother'. The period of cleansing began with a purity bath. [Shepherd John] sprinkled some of the cananga water over the room, then poured the rest in the tub. Then the Water Mother came forward, helped her in the tub, and bathed her from the neck downwards."
Sources
- Laman, Karl E.Karl Edvard LamanKarl Edvard Laman was a Swedish missionary and ethnographer active in Kingdom of Kongo during the period of 1891 through 1919...
1936. Dictionnaire Kikongo-Francais. Brussels. Rpt. 2 vols. Ridgewood, NJ: Gregg, 1964. - Patterson, Orlando. 1964. The Children of Sisyphus. Essex: Longman. Rpt. 1982.
- Ryman, Cheryl. 1984. "Kumina: Stability and change." Afro-Caribbean Institute of Jamaica Research Review 1: 81-128. Kingston: ACIJ.