As I’m going to Jamaica next week, I thought it might be fun to share some information with you about the land of my ancestors.

1. Jamaica is an island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba. It is the third largest island in the Caribbean, and the most populous English-speaking island.

2. The name of the country derives from the name Xaymaca, meaning land of wood and water, given to it by the original Arawak or Taino people from South America, who settled there between 1000 - 4000 BC.

3. The island’s population is 2.7m. The ethnic groups living there are: Black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%,, Chinese 0.2%, Mixed 7.3%, White 0.2%, Other 0.1%

4. The national motto of Jamaica is “Out of Many, One People.” Despite the racial diversity of its citizens, they are all Jamaicans.

5. Jamaica was claimed for Spain after Christopher Columbus first landed there in 1494. Columbus used it as his family’s private estate. England seized the island in 1655. Jamaica gained its independence in 1962 and is now a completely sovereign nation.

6. Jamaica’s Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II, who has visited the country six times and officially uses the title “Queen of Jamaica”.

7. Kingston has been the capital of Jamaica since 1872. Former Jamaican capitals include Spanish Town and Port Royal. It’s probably not the best place for tourists, being an excessively hot and dangerous place.

8. Jamaica is divided into 14 areas called parishes. My mum’s family are from St Ann, while my dad’s folks are from Kingston.

9. For such a small country, Jamaica has had a big influence in the world of music. Not only were the musical genres of reggae, ska, mento, rocksteady, dub, dancehall and ragga created there, but Jamaican music has also influenced the hip-hop and garage music created in America and the UK. Bob Marley was a world-famous Jamaican reggae artist.

10. The Jamaican flag was adopted on 6 August 1962, the original Independence Day. The colours of the flag symbolise the following: Black for the strength and creativity of the Jamaican people; Gold representing sunlight and the country’s natural wealth; Green representing hope for the future and agricultural richness.

11. The Rastafarian movement was founded in Jamaica. It is a religion and philosophy that accepts Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, as God incarnate, whom they call Jah.There are now estimated to be more than a million Rastafarians throughout the world.

Lenny Kravitz is not a Rasta as far as I know, but I do like this pic of him with dreads…

12. 95% of the Jamaican population has a mobile phone.

13. Famous Jamaicans include the political activist Marcus Garvey, musician Bob Marley, and the sprinter Linford Christie.

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged!

Written by PJ | Posted in thursday thirteen

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