Interesting Facts About Jamaica and its Culture

Jamaica is the third largest island in the Greater Antilles and the largest English speaking island in the Caribbean.

We were also among the first English speaking Caribbean countries to gain independence.

We are a proud nation despite our numerous socio-economic problems and have excelled and led the world in many areas on the global stage.

Sports

Jamaica made history in 1997 becoming the first English-speaking Caribbean country to qualify for a World Cup.

Our tiny island has managed to accrue a total of 67 gold medals in the Olympic games dating from 1948 – 2012.

Our tally of gold medals in the most recent Olympic games is a testament to the phenomenal feats Jamaicans are capable of achieving. Sprint mega stars such as Shelly Anne Fraser, Usain “Lightning” Bolt,  and Yohan Blake are now household names across the globe. It should be noted that we are not only fast on the track. Jamaicans are spirited drivers – both males and females. 🙂

Music

With regards to music, we have produced such an extensive list of prominent  and influential names that even attempting to list a small fraction of them would require too many pages. The name “Bob Marley” is sure to be recognized on every facet of the planet. Besides the obvious Reggae music, Jamaicans have played major roles in the creation of other genres of music namely, Hip- Hop and Reggae-ton.

The Jamaican Attitude

If you are unfamiliar with life in Jamaica you will quickly realize upon your arrival here that Jamaicans are very easy going. Despite the stresses and hardships being faced by a lot of Jamaicans on a daily basis, you will still get a warm smile from many people. The popular saying “No Problem Mon” is not a marketing stunt. It is an oft used saying here. Having said that, Jamaican people do not take kindly to disrespect or condescending remarks. The average Jamaican is not afraid to “step to yuh” (approach or accost in an aggressive fashion) if he or she is being threatened.

We as Jamaicans tend to follow our own ‘Jamaican time’. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is not adhered to as strictly as it should be which is not a good thing – but being laid back has its drawbacks. 🙂 (Note many Jamaicans are punctual people)

Nyammings AKA Food

Jamaican cuisine is infused with influences from all over the world as our inhabitants arrived from various places around the world. The validity of  the country’s motto “Out of Many One People” is showcased not only by the varying ethnic groups that reside here but also by the variety of  mouth watering foods available. Our national dish is Ackee and Saltfish. When prepared properly, this delicacy will leave anyone yearning for more.

Other popular dishes include, Brown Stew Chicken, Curry goat/mutton, Jamaican patties (beef, chicken, vegetarian), Oxtail with broad beans, rice and peas, and jerk chicken just to name a few but you get the gist. There is no shortage of tasty meals in Jamaica.

There is  literally a plethora of topics I could have touched on regarding this tiny island and its culture but I chose to briefly highlight just a few areas to spare my fingers from typing an epistle and also to spare you, the ‘loyal’ visitors from reading one. 🙂

I LOVE MY COUNTRY  and I view myself as an ambassador for Jamaica. I always try to enlighten foreigners about this wonderful nation and invite them to visit as their arrivals are beneficial to the continued growth of our tourism industry. If you haven’t decided on the destination for your next vacation, make the decision now and hop on over to the land of wood and pristine WATA.

Jamaica is unlike any other country not only because of its spectacular beauty. What sets us apart are the People. We have an infectious way of speaking and doing things that is adored and emulated all over the world. Regardless of where you’re from, when you’re  here, you instantly get that ‘IRIE’ vibe.

You know “Every Little Ting is Gonna Be Alright”.

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