The “Blond and Blue-Eyed” Germans of Jamaica
Seaford Town, located in the parish of Westmoreland is also known as ‘German Town’.
Almost 200 years ago, a group of Germans settled there. Today about one-third of the roughly 300 inhabitants are still white, with some being even blonde and blue-eyed. They don’t speak German. Only a few words like ‘auf wiedersehen’, ‘goodbye’ or ‘guten tag’, ‘good afternoon’, remain in their vocabulary.
After “slavery” was abolished in Jamaica, labourers were sought from European countries, most notably Germany and Ireland. Five hundred acres of land were given for German settlement in 1835. The settlers were promised cottages to occupy and an allowance to be paid to them until they were able to support themselves. However, when the Germans arrived there was insufficient accommodation and many had to build their own homes. The working conditions were also very harsh and long hours were demanded.
Some residents of Seaford Town are media shy as a result of the many negative stories of the past. Some articles even dubbed the residents ‘lost’, hinting at a certain degree of poverty and alleged inbreeding. The community’s image suffered.
Now, some residents who migrated to North America have returned to the town and will lead on its restoration. One person, Vieira, 72, is proud of her maiden name – Hacker, as she thinks it is German. She left Seaford Town at the age of 15 and stayed more than 50 years in Canada working as a florist. Since retirement four years ago, she returned home.
“This is where I come from, these are my roots”, Vieira said in response to why she returned after so many years – and even owning a Canadian passport. “I’m a German-Jamaican”, she emphasized.
By Neo Makeba
Curated from: The Gleaner
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