V-Day Annual Report 2017 - RISE FOR WOMEN WORKERS 1 | Page 40

WOMEN’S DRUMMERS INTERNATIONAL
AFIA WALKING TREE
Women in Solidarity for a Violence Free Jamaica was held in Kingston, Jamaica on
18 February 2017. The focus of the event was to centralize culturally generated healing
practices and solidarity to strengthen the anti-violence movement in Jamaica. As
the first event of its kind, the Raise Yuh Voice event connected activists from across
Jamaica who are doing local anti-violence work. Through these connections activists
in the movement experienced decreased isolation in their work and were given the
space and opportunity to work more collaboratively. This contributed to supporting
the success of the Survivors March, which had over 2000 people in attendance on
11 March. As a percussionist, educator, facilitator, and ritualist, Afia Walking Tree’s
consultation with local organizers helped them develop better safety and healing
strategies in the face of hostile government backlash.