Nine Nights – Caribbean funeral traditions in the UK: educating visitors on Caribbean funeral traditions and how Caribbean people celebrate the life of the deceased. The film won an award in the Documentary Category at the Nottingham International Microfilm Festival 2015

This exhibition explores Caribbean funeral traditions – the time between a person’s passing to their funeral via an uplifting short film and exhibition. The film won in the Documentary Category at the Nottingham International Microfilm Festival 2015, and the exhibition features objects shown in the film, including a spade and boots from the burial, photographs of the deceased and a hipflask of rum. Rum is poured on the grave as well as drunk by family and friends.

The film and exhibition shows how the life of a deceased loved one is celebrated in the nine days leading up to their funeral via feasting, dancing, singing and playing games, such as dominoes. On the ninth night, the deceased’s spirit (or ‘duppy’ in Jamaican patois) leaves their body at midnight and the funeral can take place the next day. In Caribbean culture a loved one’s passing is one of the most social and celebratory events in their life, as this is when their life, achievements and stories are shared between family, friends, neighbours and colleagues, so the notion that this should be a happy reunion, rather than a sad occasion is reflected in the exhibition.