The ‘magical waters’ of Mali Spring

Anyone who drinks or bathes with the water at Mali Spring in Sturge Town, their lives will be positively changed forever.

At least that's what residents of the St Ann community say. According to them, the water contains healing powers, and has attracted thousands of visitors from all walks of life.

In addition to adding to your youthfulness, one man claims that the water is perfect for skin lightening.

"Yuh see all on Sunday, car line up and people form line a wait to catch water. It taste different and it natural. It clear up yuh complexion to, eno. You see if yuh all black and come here and bathe with it for a couple months, by the year end yuh turn inna 'browning', because the water do something to yuh complexion," he said.

Legend has it that the spring, that is located beside a National Water Commission pump house, was discovered by a runaway enslaved man named Mali.

She got injured while escaping the great house where she was held, so she bathed in the spring and her wounds were healed. She then shared her discovery with other sick slaves, who all took baths and were healed.

Jerry Guy, who was at the spring for the second time in a week, said he was a bit doubtful when he heard about its magical qualities. But he said the proof was in the tasting.

He stated that from now on, he will be filling his car trunk with containers, driving from Runaway Bay, an approximately 40-minute trip, from his home to the spring to get his regular supply of drinking water.

"A last week a the first time mi drink it and mi body start feel different. Dem say it make yuh look youthful and a that mi a aim fa," he laughed.

Another man also testified that the Mali Spring was one of Jamaica's best-kept secrets. He is confident that the spring's water is the main reason the majority of the residents in the 108-year-old Sturge Town live to be over 100 years old.

"In this part of world, yuh don't see people with nuh bag a disease, and that is why COVID and dem ting deh nuh affect we. Everyone here uses this water, and it helps to keep them healthy and strong. That is why there was a lot of centenarians here. There are a lot of residents who are in their 90s here now, and they are strong and healthy," he said.

Renne Allen, a cab driver, spent almost an hour enjoying one of the showers. He told THE WEEKEND STAR that he has been visiting Mali Spring for the past 15 years and has experienced the benefits.

"If I could bathe here every day, I would. A lot of times when mi done play football and mi pain up and come hold a bathe here so, the pain just leave mi body. This water really special. A lot of times when there is drought, this pipe never stop flowing. It never dry up yet," he said.