Jamaica

Introduction to Jamaica

Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, 240 kilometres in length and as much as 80 kilometres in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is 630 kilometres from the Central American mainland, 150 kilometres from Cuba on the north, and 180 kilometres from the island of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated, on the east. Its indigenous Arawakan-speaking Taíno inhabitants named the island Xaymaca, meaning either the "land of springs," or the "Land of wood and water." Formerly a Spanish possession known as Santiago, then the British West Indies Crown colony of Jamaica, the country's population is composed mainly of the descendants of former African slaves. It is the third most populous Anglophone country in the Americas, after the United States and Canada.

The island of Jamaica has mountainous inlands surrounded by a narrow coastal plain. For this reason, most major cities are located on the coast. Chief towns include the capital Kingston, Spanish Town, Mandeville, and Montego Bay. More satellite maps which allow zoom in and zoom out are available from Google's map server. A live webcam atop the Gleaner Newspaper building on 7 North Street in Kingston is available.

The climate in Jamaica is tropical, with hot and humid weather, although inland regions have a more temperate climate. Some regions on the south coast, such as the Liguanea Plain and the Pedro Plains are relatively dry rain-shadow areas.

Cultural notes about Jamaica

As the original Arawak Indians all died, Jamaican culture represents a rich blend of cultures that have since inhabited the island. The many people that make up the island include Europeans, Africans, and immigrants from the Middle East and Asia. Many different European influences were felt during the colonial period, and much of the island patois was influenced by Spanish, African, and Arawak words, despite Jamaica's status as a British colony.

The culture of Jamaica has been deeply influenced by the disparate societies that at various times colonized the island. Today, Jamaica's people blend traditions from African, European, Arabic, East Indian, Chinese, and East Mediterranean descent. The indigenous Arawak never rooted their culture in Jamaica, because they were largely wiped out by disease introduced by Spanish settlers. Britain's 300-year occupation is reflected in both language and customs of Jamaica.Edna Manley, wife of Norman Manley, Jamaica's first prime minister, was instrumental in bringing Jamaican art to the world's attention. From the 1920s until her death in 1987, Manley worked tirelessly to promote Jamaican music, sculpture, dance and other art forms.

It is perhaps reggae that first comes to mind when people think of Jamaica. Reggae, a distinctively syncopated style of Jamaican music, much of it highly political, is a music form that emerged from traditional indigenous Jamaican music with African and Black American roots, and was popularized in the 20th century by Bob Marley and others. It was a pervasive influence on rock music in the 1980s, especially in Britain. For his cultural contributions, Marley received Jamaica's third highest national honour -- the Order of Merit -- and was posthumously enshrined in the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the late 1990s.


Since the inclusion of a reggae category in the United States of America Annual Grammy Awards organized by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences in 1989, several Jamaican artists have won awards.

Jamaicans invest a great deal of trust in the wisdom of folktales and proverbs. Some are handed down for many generations. The use of proverbs among Jamaican slaves was common. They would use this form of language to convey messages to each other while preventing their masters from understanding what they were saying. Some, such as "Mi come here fi drink milk, mi noh come here fi count cow". are intended as a reminder to conduct business in a straightforward manner. For examples of Jamaican proverbs, see the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica. Traditional Jamaican music, as well, often contains elements of proverbs.

Official Canadian government advisories for travelling to, in and around Jamaica

Violent crime and petty theft occur, particularly in the Kingston metropolitan area. Gang-related violence, including shootings, occurs and can result in death, injury, and destruction of property. The number of murders in Jamaica has soared in 2005. Some murders take place outside the downtown gang areas in Kingston, but most continue to be gang-related. Visitors should exercise caution in urban areas and avoid the downtown area of Kingston after dark. Areas to be avoided include inner-city and poor neighbourhoods such as West Kingston, Grant's Pen, August Town, Denham Town, Hannah Town, and Tivoli Gardens in Kingston, as well as Flankers and Mount Salem in Montego Bay (not the resort areas) and Spanish Town. Stay on main roads as much as possible. Do not walk alone or visit beaches after dark, ensure hotel room doors and windows are secure, and ensure personal belongings and travel documents are secure at all times.

Demonstrations, protests, marches, and strikes, some violent, may occur at any time in the capital, throughout the country and on main highways. Local transportation services can be disrupted. Roadblocks may occur on main roads at any time and often cause traffic disruptions. Canadians should not attempt to cross blockades, even if they appear unattended. Curfews may also be in effect.

Because of the unpredictable nature of these demonstrations and the potential for violence, Canadians in or travelling to Jamaica should exercise caution, avoid large gatherings and demonstrations, and monitor local news reports.