Jamaica

Hello everybody! We still deal with the Caribbean and today we'll focus on Jamaica. Jamaica belongs to the Greater Antilles. It is located at the north, and   lies about 145 kilometres (90 mi) South of Cuba and  191 kilometres (119 mi) west of Hispaniola (the island containing Haiti and Dominican Republic. Jamaica has becomed independent since 1962. It belongs to the Commonwealth with Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State. The official language is English, and as every island in the caribbean, Jamaica has a local language named Jamaican Patois. The capital is Kingston. With a population of  2,889,187 people, Jamaica is the 3rd most populous Anglophone country in America and the 4th most populous country in the Caribbean.

 

Jamaica Flag

 

 

Jamaica Map

 

 

First of all, about Jamaica Culture, let's deal with Food.  Jamaica national food is Ackee and Saltfish. Ackee is a  nutritious fruit with a buttery-nutty flavor, ackee resembles scrambled egg when boiled. Jamaicans sauté the boiled ackee with saltfish (salt-cured cod), onions, and tomatoes. There are another known jamaican dishes as  the Jamaican jerk spice, that famous dish, or chicken foot soup, indeed,  The feet of the chicken are used to make soup. We use pumpkin, carrots, potatoes, cho-cho, yellow yam and a packet of soup powder mix that comes in different flavors.

 

Ackee and Saltfish

 

Moreover we'll deal with Music. Jamaica is really known for its music genres such a reggae, ska, mento, dub, and more recently dancehall and ragga. Jamaica even played a role in the creation of punk rock. No need to tell you that the best known artist of Jamaica is Bob Marley, his music is still listened even through he has been dead for 34 years. Other well known artists from Jamaica are Bennie Man, Shaggy, Sean Paul and even The notorious B.I.G.

 

Bob Marley

 

Furthermore we'll concentrate on Sports And Litterature. Concerning sports there are lots to say ! but to not make the article look too long we'll only talk about three important sports in Jamaica : Cricket, Athletics and Football :

 

- Cricket: The country was one the venues of 2007 Cricket World Cup. The Jamaican national cricket team competes regionally, but also provides players for the West Indies. The most renowned batsman from Jamaica is Chris Gayle and he currently represents the West Indies Cricket team.

 

- Athletics : Usain Bolt, as World Champion and  world record holder in the 100m for men at 9.58s, and 200m for men at 19.19s is the best known Jamaican athlete. There are Other famous jamaican  sprinters as the first Jamaican Olympic Gold Medalist and former 200m world record holder, Donald Querrie, or Roy Anthony Brigde, part of the International Olympic Committee, etc...

 

-Football : beecoming very popular in Jamaica, the national team even qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

 

About Literature, Jamaica many represented in Ian Fleming James Bond novels, for example Live and Let Die (1954), For your Eyes Only (1960)  and The Man With The Golden Gun (1965), Moreover, the James Bond film adaptation Doctor No have been set in Jamaica. Jamaica is the birthplace to the author and journalist H.G de Lisser. He used his native country at set to many of his novels. One of his best known novels is The White Witch of Rosehall .

 

Usain Bolt

 

The White Witch of RoseHall

 

In a nutshell, Jamaica is an island with lots of cultures and it is very known for its music and sport. Great Island to visit as Well.

 

Peace ! :)

 

More articles coming soon.