10 Amazing Facts About Jamaica

Population With a population of 2.7 million people, Jamaica is the largest English speaking country in the Caribbean and the third largest in the Western Hemisphere excluding the U.S. and Canada. Music Industry Jamaica’s music industry is one of the most influential in the world. Popular dancehall artists like Beenie Man and Sean Paul constantly top charts across the world and sell out stadiums all over Europe and Asia. Music legends such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh are ranked among the most influential artists of the last century. Their socially conscious music serves as the soundtrack to various sociopolitical movements in Jamaica and the broader world. The most famous of which was the fight against apartheid in South Africa. What is also unknown to many people is that rap and hip-hop music was started by Kool Herc, a Jamaican who was deeply influenced by dancehall culture. Geo Politics Although smaller compared to countries like the U.S., Jamaica has been a global thought-leader in politics. For example, Jamaica's commitment to the principle of human rights and to a philosophy of international morality is exemplified by its stance on apartheid and racism. Jamaica was at the forefront of the international campaign against apartheid in South Africa. It was also the first country to declare a trade embargo against South Africa, as early as 1957. In addition, Jamaica has historically not been afraid to go against the grain politically. This is most evident by the election of Jamaica's former Prime Minister Michael Manley who was a leader of the non-aligned movement and pushed for economic equality for all developing nations, even when his positions were unpopular with the U.S. The iconic President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania called him “the leader of the trade union of the poor.” Cultural Influence Jamaica’s cultural influence is widespread. A small island, its culture and music is nevertheless embraced by people from across the world. Jamaica is also the birthplace of Rastafari - an Afro-Caribbean spiritual and political movement that came into existence in the 1930s, based on the teachings of Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jamaica's first national hero, and is widely popular across the globe. Diaspora Power Estimates sometimes point to there being as many Jamaicans outside the island nation as there are in it, with 1.7 million in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. alone. With such a large numbers abroad, Jamaicans have historically wielded significant influence on the world stage. Native Jamaicans and their descendants are often in influential positions internationally, such as former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, rap artist The Notorious B.I.G, Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, civil rights activist and entertainer Harry Belafonte among others. The remittances from the Jamaican Diaspora to the island totaled approximately $2.2 billion last year, making Jamaican emigrants the primary foreign capital source for the island. Heroes and Heroines The Jamaican influence on the world is not a new phenomenon. Reggae icon Bob Marley and Jamaica's national hero Nanny, have all been celebrated for their contributions in advancing the interests of African people the world over. However, no son or daughter of Jamaica has had a greater impact on the world than Marcus Garvey, who led the largest and most influential movement to advance Black people’s interests in the world. Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914, "The most dynamic mass movement across territorial borders among the African peoples the 20th century.” According to international.ucla.edu: "By the early 1920s, the UNIA could count branches on almost every Caribbean island, in Latin America, and every sub-Saharan African country, with membership swelling to 8 million.” Historical Narrative The history of Jamaica is truly impressive. It’s the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to gain independence. Jamaica obtained running water before other major cities in the world, and in 1845, it was was the third place in the Americas to build a modern railroad connecting Kingston and Spanish Town, according to jamaicaobserver.com. Wealth Jamaica’s most important modern economic activities are tourism, bauxite mining, agriculture and manufacturing. Tourism is now the country’s second largest earner of foreign exchange. Although Jamaica isn’t a particularly rich country, it has created some of the most successful business people in the Caribbean, including Michael Lee-Chin is one of the first Caribbean billionaires, and Gordon “Butch” Stewart, who revolutionized the hotel industry with his “all inclusive” luxury hotel chain Sandals. In addition, because of its location, Jamaica is primed to become the economic hub for trade between the West and the rest of the world. Check out the video below. Nature Jamaica is an island of verdant hills, majestic mountains, crystalline rivers, and white beaches edging a turquoise sea. In Jamaica, nature intertwines effortlessly with bustling towns and sleepy villages – home to the almost 3 million people. From the Blue Mountains made famous by the coffee that bears its name to Pedro Bank, one of the world’s largest suppliers of queen conch, the country’s natural heritage is its most valuable resource. (nature.org) Athletes Jamaica is well-known for its excellence in track and field and sprinter Usain Bolt is arguably the best athlete in the world right now. Jamaica was also the first English-speaking Caribbean nation to qualify for the world cup. It’s also not uncommon to see Jamaican-born athletes dominant in American sports like basketball player Patrick Ewing or sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross.

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