Wan Love Chant
Nestled in the Bendals Valley is a family of Rastafari brethren and sistren who has lived together since 1971 led by Elder Stephen Mason (Brother Butcher), Sister Elaine Clarke, Brother Fyah and Sister Oatha. Both of the elder bredren has passed on leaving the elders dawtas. The new leader Brother Kenny was elected as the leader in 2018 by Brother Butcher before his passing in 2022.
The Wan Love Chant community initially existed in the Raeburn Estate on Buckleys main roadhowever, due to outside pressures they were forced to move.They then relocated to Ottos and later the elders were granted over 26 acres of land in Bendals by the government,where they have remained ever since.
Learning the strengths of all the members of the community so as to assign everyone with their particular roles and responsibilities which best suits their skillsets is one of the ways this new leader believes that he can build the community and develop resilience.
The Wan Love Chant community aims to continue their philanthropic work, helping especially the Fiennes Institute in keeping with the Rastafari Creed of caring for the elderly.
Since the decriminalization of marijuana the Police Force has now begun working with the community to prevent larceny and the members no longer have to look over their shoulders in fear of the officers coming in to destroy the herb plants.
The Sacramental Authorization now gives the community that extra protection as it is showing the world that Rastafari was speaking the truth all along and this now is a testimony to it. The Babylon system has now accepted our sacrament and respect it. We are now able to plant freely without having to hide the number of plants that we currently are now able to plant.
The Wan Love Chant has plans of getting into the business side at some points to make oils, creams lotions and to eventually have a dispensary.But at this time they are focusing on building the community and forging greater ties with the other Rastafari communities on island. They see this time as the dawn of a new era and would like to grow deeper in the Rastafari levity.
But in true Rastafari ibration, Wan Love Chant wants to plant food to be able to feed the nation so they are on a mission to increase food production and not only focus on the planting of the herb. They also aim to build the community to delve into some aspect of the tourism industry by having tours so that persons can have an inside view and immerse themselves into the culture of the community. The aim is also in the near future to be able to export medicinal and sacramental cannabis outside of Antigua.
Currently there are 241 family members who live in the valley and 132 friends who make up the community.