Meet the

Negue Jadin

NEGUE JADIN or black gardener is a traditional character originating from the masquerade balls of the planter class in the pre-emancipation era that depicts a field slave. In the fancy dress parties of polite society, some aristocratic party go-ers enjoyed the freedom and liveliness portraying a field slave granted them in that setting. Like other depictions invented by the aristocracy, this character was eventually subverted and re-invented as a parody of itself in the post-emancipation era- the formerly enslaved mocking the planter class, mocking them. This newer iteration brandished a whip in a critique of the planters and in celebration of their newfound freedom.