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Jamaica
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No where else on
earth will you find a culture as dynamic as the one visitors encounter in
Jamaica. Its people are a mixture of the many ethnicities that have landed on
the island's shores over the past several centuries. Weathering enslavement and
oppression, the Jamaicans are survivors, and their past is full of fascinating
stories just waiting to be told. Language is another way in which Jamaica
demonstrates its melded culture. Although Jamaica’s official language is
English, many of its residents speak with their own linguistic style. There are
even differences from village to village. The main ingredients of Jamaica's
language stew are Spanish, African, English including Irish, British and
American idioms and even Rastafarian. On Jamaica you might hear your shoes
referred to with the Spanish word, “zapatos,” and you might talk about where to
“nyam,” an African word meaning “eat.”
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However, you may
also hear terms you’re more familiar with, like “cool” and “Irie.” The language
also has roots in slavery, as the slaves found ways to combine the language of
their owners with their own African tongues. Rastafarian is the most prominent
non-Christian religion on the island. It came into prominence as a grass-roots
religion in the 1930s and was promoted as an alternative to white-oriented
religions. Rastafarians worship the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, or Ras
Tafari. Rastafarians also believe in reincarnation and that males should not cut
or comb their hair or beards. The emphasis of the belief is on nurturing the
inner spirit in each person, which has affected the language with its addition
of “I” as a prefix for many words. Marijuana may also be used by Rastafarians as
a sacrament and a meditational aid. |
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It is an evolving
religion and culture, and not every member believes in all of these things. Its
popularity, however, has spread to many other countries in the region and around
the world. The most popular form of Jamaican music is reggae, which has a sound
is so easy to enjoy that it has gained popularity throughout the world. Many
reggae musicians have grown to international fame, most notably Bob Marley, who
worked with and influenced many other local musicians before his death in 1981.
The popularity of this genre has continued to this day. Dancehall, a variation
of reggae, is also growing in popularity. Reggae is the most well-known style of
music, but there are many more. Jamaican folk music has come from many sources
over the years. The most notable influence on many of the sounds found here is
from Africa use in many celebrations. |
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However,
the different types of music performed now fall into three groups: dance,
religious, and work and entertainment. Jamaica's rich economic history has
shaped the population's unique strength of character. From leading the world's
economy in sugar production to bankrupt socioeconomic turmoil, the Jamaica you
see today is a country shaped by a tumultuous economic past. Jamaica is also the
world’s largest supplier of pimento, also called allspice. Blue Mountain Coffee,
one of the world’s finest and most expensive coffees, is grown in the Blue
Mountains of Jamaica. Other agricultural products that the economy depends upon
include arrowroot, cacao, citrus, corn, ginger, mango, potatoes, and tobacco. As
with many other islands, in the Caribbean, rum, distilled from sugarcane, is
also a significant export and is considered a byproduct of agricultural
production. |
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