Watt Town

Watt Town is a small village in the Saint Ann hills and the most important site in Jamaican Revival, the religion that grew out of African practice and Christianity in the nineteenth century. Several times a year, Revival bands travel here from across the island in their coloured robes and turbans, and the day runs through drumming, trumping, singing and testimony at the church and the yard around it. UNESCO inscribed the pilgrimage on the Representative List in 2024.

What you actually see

• The pilgrimage days - Revival bands arriving from across the island several times a year.
• The robes and turbans - the coloured dress that identifies each band.
• The trumping and drumming - the rhythmic breathing and percussion central to the service.
• The church and yard - the site the bands converge on.

When to go

The pilgrimage happens on set days several times a year, and outside those the village is quiet with nothing to see. Dates are known locally and should be checked before travelling. The main gatherings draw the largest numbers.

Honest expectations

This is a religious observance, not a performance, and visitors are present at the community's discretion; photography is often not welcome. Outside pilgrimage days there is nothing to visit. Asking permission before attending matters.

Nearby

Brown's Town is nearby, and Nine Mile is east in the Saint Ann hills.