Award-winning Jamaican filmmaker Sosiessia Nixon has released a new suspense film, Stew Peas, that explores the controversial and enduring West African-based spiritual practice known as obeah. The movie focuses on the belief that a woman can bind a man in a relationship by adding her menstrual blood to a traditional kidney bean and meat stew.
The Plot of Stew Peas
The feature-length thriller follows Detective Tessa, who becomes obsessed with an old murder case. Her life unravels when she suspects her husband, Neil, has fallen under the spell of their new maid, Marcia. The story takes a dark turn when Tessa discovers that Marcia has been secretly adding her menstrual blood to Neil's food as a love potion.
Nixon explained that the film highlights the persisting Jamaican belief in obeah, where the stew peas dish becomes a potent love charm. She hopes the movie will open a dialogue about the tension between Christianity and obeah, which remains illegal in Jamaica despite its deep roots in African heritage.
Inspiration from Real Experiences
Nixon grew up in St Thomas, a coastal parish often called the "obeah parish," and drew on her own experiences. "I was very much exposed to a lot of obeah," she said. The filmmaker aims to explore whether the belief system actually works, noting that Jamaicans often say "belief kills and belief cures."
Cultural Significance
Producer and actor Ava Eagle Brown, founder of Jamaica's Black River Film Festival, said the film will resonate with Caribbean people everywhere. "There is so much of us in this film, the things that make us Jamaican," she said. Brown added that the film might make men suspicious of their partners, joking that she told her son to avoid eating stew peas from any woman.
Sonjah Stanley Niaah, a cultural studies scholar at the University of the West Indies, explained that the stew peas belief stems from the African view that natural elements like menstrual blood have inherent potency. The red kidney beans mask the blood, making it undetectable. She welcomed the film as an opportunity to explore African spiritualities, which are often misunderstood and have been vilified by European colonialists.
Obeah and Colonial Legacy
Stanley Niaah noted that the tension between Christianity and African spirituality persists in Jamaica, rooted in the colonial era when enslavement was sanctioned by the church. Laws like the Obeah Act, still on the books, were designed to prevent enslaved people from assembling for worship or rebellion. She argued that African spirituality is neglected and not taught in schools, leaving a void in cultural understanding.
Resilience Amid Challenges
The film's release comes as Jamaica's creative industry recovers from Hurricane Melissa, which devastated parts of the island. Brown had to postpone the Black River Film Festival after the hurricane destroyed infrastructure and equipment. She described Stew Peas as "a ray of hope" that demonstrates Jamaican resilience and sends a message that the country is still producing music and movies.
Jamaica's film commissioner, Jackie Jacqueline Jackson, praised the film as a testament to the resilience and ingenuity of the creative industry. "It's important to keep going and demonstrate that Jamaica is still open for business," she said, encouraging international productions to return to the island.
