African-Caribbean Institute of Jamaica (ACIJ)

The African-Caribbean Institute of Jamaica (ACIJ, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Mon.–Thurs., 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Fri.) has been run under the direction of Bernard Jankee since 1995. The Institute's mandate is to "collect, research, document, analyze and preserve information on Jamaica's cultural heritage, through the exploitation of oral and scribal sources." The ACIJ has a memory-bank program in which oral histories are recorded around the country and then transcribed, as well as an active publications program featuring the ACIJ Research Review. There is a small library at the office where the Institute's top-notch academic publications can be browsed and purchased. The ACIJ also runs an outreach program in schools and does presentations in universities in Jamaica and abroad. The ACIJ has a tradition of collaboration with individual researchers and institutions. Projects have included studies of traditional religions like Kumina and Revival, and research on the Maroons.