Jamaican culture represents a rich blend of cultures that have inhabited the island. The original Taino settlers, followed by their Spanish conquerors (who were in turn conquered by the British), all made major contributions. However, it is the West African slaves who became the dominant cultural force as they suffered and resisted the harsh conditions of forced labour. After the abolition of slavery, Chinese and Indian migrants were transported to the island as indentured workers, bringing with them ideas from the Far East. The official national language is English, heavily spiced with local idioms and Elizabethan usage. The primary local language is patois, or Jamaican Creole. The Taíno are the pre-Hispanic Amerindian inhabitants of the Greater Antilles, which includes Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Bahamas. ...  Western Africa (UN subregion)  Maghreb[1] West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. ... Slave redirects here. ... Unfree labour is a generic or collective term for forms of work, especially in modern or early modern history, in which adults and/or children are employed without wages, or for a minimal wage. ... Indetured servitude is when a persons passage to America is payed for an American Colonist and then the foreigner must work for the american for a certain amount of time (usually 7 years) and then the person is free to do what they please. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Elizabethan Era is the period associated with the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558 - 1603) and is often considered to be a golden age in English history. ... Jamaican Patois, also known locally as Patois (Patwa), or simply Jamaican, and called Jamaican Creole by linguists, is an English/African-based language - not to be confused with Jamaican English nor with the Rastafarian use of English - used primarily in Jamaica and its diaspora. ... Jamaican Creole, also known locally as Patois/(Patwa) or simply Jamaican, is an English/African-based language --not to be confused with Jamaican English nor with the Rastafarian use of English-- used primarily on the island of Jamaica. ...

Arawak (Taino) natives

The original inhabitants of the Caribbean region, including Jamaica, were the Arawaks, sometimes referred to as Tainos. While it appears that some Taino survived the arrival of the Europeans,^{[citation needed]} there are no self-identified Taino communities living as such in Jamaica, and recovering traces of their original culture requires sophisticated archaeological techniques.^[1] However, modern linguistics and anthropology reveal many currently existing elements of Taino culture. For example, the words 'canoe', 'hammock' and 'barbecue' all derive from Taino words.^{[citation needed]} The Taíno are the pre-Hispanic Amerindian inhabitants of the Greater Antilles, which includes Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, Jamaica and the Bahamas. ... The European peoples are the various nations and ethnic groups of Europe. ... For the journal, see Linguistics (journal). ... Anthropology (from Greek: ἀνθρωπος, anthropos, human being; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the study of humanity. ... This article is about the boat. ... Garden hammock A couple in a hammock on the beach The hammock is a fabric sling used for sleeping or resting. ... A barbecue in a public park in Australia A barbecue on a trailer at a block party in Kansas City Pans on the top shelf hold hamburgers and hot dogs that were grilled earlier when the coals were hot. ...

Religion

By far the largest religious group in Jamaica is the Christian faith. The Anglican Church, and the Church of God are throughout the country, and many old churches have been carefully maintained and/or restored [2]. Almost every musician in Jamaica has learned his or her craft in the Christian churches of Jamaica. The Rastafarian religion is a folk derivative of the larger Christian culture, likely influenced by Ethiopian Coptic culture. There are also a small number of Jewish synagogues in Jamaica, dating from 17th century. Elements of ancient African religions remain in remote areas, most of which practices are described generally as Obeah, Kumina or Pocomania. Obeah is a term used in the West Indies to refer to folk magic or sorcery. ... Kumina is both the religion and the music practiced by the people of eastern Jamaica. ...

Rastafari

By far the best known aspect of Jamiaca's African-Caribbean culture is the Rastafari religion – particularly those elements that are expressed by reggae music, and whose practioners are recognized all over the world. The distinctively syncopated style of reggae arose from earlier ska rhythms. Bob Marley, from Kingston became Rastafari's most high-profile exponent. His reputation as an innovative musician devoted to his faith has continued to grow since his death, making him by far the world's most famous Jamaican, and one of the biggest selling artists in the history of recorded music. Haile Selassie I The Rastafari movement, or Rasta, is a cultural value system that accepts Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, as God incarnate, whom they call Jah. ... Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. ... For other uses, see SKA (disambiguation). ... This article is about the reggae musician. ... The City of Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica. ...

Rastafari is a local religion loosely based on some selected teachings of the Old Testament. The Bible is read in an Ethiopian fashion, and adherents believe in the Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as the true descendant of Solomon. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Note: Judaism... Haile Selassie Haile Selassie (Power of Trinity) (July 23, 1892 – August 27, 1975) was the last Emperor (1930–1936; 1941–1974) of Ethiopia, and is a religious symbol in the Rastafarian movement. ...

Some Rastafari wear their hair in an untended, uncut condition called dreadlocks. Some also only eat food that is Ital (natural) where certain foods are avoided. However, like most religions, there are various strands of thought and practice rather than just one written dogma of the Rastafari movement. Rastaman with long locks Dreadlocks, sometimes called simply locks or dreads, are matted ropes of hair which will form by themselves if the hair is allowed to grow naturally without the use of brushes, combs, razors or scissors for a long period of time. ... I-tal or ital means Vital. ...

Dance

Dance has always been important on Jamaica - from colonial times until the present. Early folk rhythms and movements often enhanced Christian religious celebrations, or were associated with Christian holidays. More recently, dances have become associated with the music of Jamaica, particularly dancehall styles. Jamaica is the birthplace of many popular musical genres, the most well known of which is reggae but also including raggamuffin, ska and dub music. ... Dancehall is a type of Jamaican popular music which developed around the late 70s, with exponents such as Yellowman and Shabba Ranks. ...

More than 30 distinctive Jamaican dances have been identified. According to the National Library of Jamaica, traditional Jamaican dances fall roughly under three categories: African derived, European derived and Creole.^[2] The Africa derived dance tradition is divided into two types: religious dances and social dances. Religious African dances, such as the ritualistic Kumina, Myal and Pocomania, are integral parts of worship ceremonies. The aim is to bring the dancers into the realm of the spiritual and heighten their readiness for possession. This part of Jamaica's African heritage has mainly been preserved by the Maroon Communities. Social African derived dances include Etu, Quadrille and Maypole (originally religious but now mainly social).^[2] Kumina is both the religion and the music practiced by the people of eastern Jamaica. ... Body of Ndyuka Maroon child brought before a shaman, Suriname 1955 A Maroon (from the word marronage or American/Spanish cimarrón: fugitive, runaway, lit. ... for the equestrian form of quadrille, see Quadrille (dressage) Quadrille is a historic dance performed by four couples in a square formation, a precursor to traditional square dancing. ... Dancing around the maypole, in Åmmeberg, Sweden The maypole is a tall wooden pole (traditionally of hawthorn or birch), sometimes erected with several long coloured ribbons suspended from the top, festooned with flowers, draped in greenery and strapped with large circular wreaths, depending on local and regional variances. ...

The Jamaican Creole dances integrate elements from both European and African cultures. Examples are Jonkonnu, Bruckin's, Revival, Pukkumina (possibly the best-known Revival (religious) style which still exists today) and Dinkie mini, a dance in the Wake Complex of traditional dances. Social dances that are European derived include those that accompanied work songs and ring games.^[2] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Junkanoo. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Revival in...

Dance is also represented during the Jamaican Hosay, a Caribbean East Indian festival. Jonkonnu and Hosay are considered secular dances, despite the performance of Jonkonnu around Christmas time. A tadjah at Hosay in Port of Spain during the 1950s Hosay or Tadjah is a West Indian street festival, in which multi-colored model mausoleums are paraded, then ritually offered up to the sea, or any body of water. ...

Dance theater is also growing in importance. Rex Nettleford, Eddy Thomas, Olive Lewin, and Edna Manley are four Jamaicans whose influences on the arts - music and dance in particular - has been extremely important. Nettleford, Thomas, and Ivy Baxter formed the National Dance Theatre Company in the 1960s. Other important Jamaicans in dance theater have included the Tony-award-winning choreographer Garth Fagan (The Lion King on Broadway). The Honourable Ralston Milton Nettleford OM (Jamaica) (b. ... Dr. Olive Lewin (1937- ) is a Jamaican author, social anthropologist, musicologist, and teacher. ... Edna Manley OM (Jamaica) (née Swithenbank) (1900-1987) was an English-born Jamaican artist and social activist. ... What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ... Garth Fagan (1940 -) Modern dance choreographer. ...

Dancehall, or ragga, music has inspired a number of dance styles as well. To understand the evolution of popular dance, it helps to understand the musical progression. Ska music, with fast beats, also had fast dances. The slow to rocksteady also developed slower dances, allowing dancers to stay on the floor longer. Reggae is associated with many things, including the Rastafarian movement, but influenced the newer styles. Dancehall music often creates its own dances based on moves in the lyrics of the songs themselves. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see SKA (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Reggae is a music genre developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. ... Rasta hairstyle Rastafarianism is a religious movement that believes in the divinity of ex Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie. ... Dancehall is a type of Jamaican popular music which developed around the late 70s, with exponents such as Yellowman and Shabba Ranks. ...

Theatre

Jamaica's earliest theatre was built in 1682. Several more theatres opened in the 1700s and 1800s, attracting performances by both professional touring companies and amateur groups. But performances weren't limited to official venues. Many took place in houses, stores, court houses, and enclosed outdoor spaces large enough to hold them. During this period, classic plays such as Shakespeare were most often produced. However, the Jewish and French communities became large enough to merit productions aimed at them, too. Shakespeare redirects here. ...

After the abolition of slavery, Jamaicans began fusing music, humour, and dance into public theatrical performances. Although it took many years for true Jamaican styles to develop, eventually they became more prevalent than European works. Today's most popular theatrical form in Jamaica, pantomime, began in the 1940s as a fusion of English pantomime with Jamaican folklore. Another popular style, "roots" theatre, evolved in the 1960s and 1970s. These riotous bawdy tales full of sexual innuendo remain crowd favorites in Kingston's open-air theatres. For other uses, see Pantomime (disambiguation). ...

Literature and writing

Derek Walcott, a Nobel prize laureate, born and educated in St. Lucia, attended college in Jamaica. Other significant writers from the island include Claude McKay and Louis Simpson. Plays and works in Jamaican English, or patois, attract special attention. Louise Bennett, Andrew Salkey and Michael Smith have contributed to this phenomenon by writing works in patois. Ian Fleming wrote his famous James Bond novels while living in Jamaica. Jean Rhys is also well-known for her novel Wide Sargasso Sea, which was set in Jamaica. Jamaican authors are always faced with the decision of writing in standard English for a huge world-wide audience, or in the local patois, for a much smaller, but more trendy, audience. Jamaican films with patois sound-tracks such as The Harder They Come require sub-titles for export to general markets. In general, the use of patois severely limits the potential audience for the otherwise universal Jamaican message. Derek Walcott, courtesy of the Nobel Foundation Derek Alton Walcott (born January 23, 1930) is a West-Indian poet, playwright, writer and visual artist who writes mainly in English. ... The Nobel Prize (Swedish: ), as designated in Alfred Nobels will in 1895, is awarded in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, Literature, and Peace. ... Claude McKay (September 15, 1889[1] – May 22, 1948) was a Jamaican writer and communist. ... Louis Simpson (born March 27, 1923 in Jamaica) is a United States poet. ... Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley, OM, OJ, MBE (September 7, 1919–July 26, 2006) was a celebrated and much-loved Jamaican folklorist, writer, and artiste. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Michael Smith (1954–Aug 17, 1983), usually referred to as Mikey Smith, was a Jamaican dub poet. ... Ian Lancaster Fleming (May 28, 1908 – August 12, 1964) was a British author, journalist and Second World War Navy Commander. ... 007 redirects here. ... Jean Rhys (August 24, 1890 - May 14, 1979), originally Ella Gwendolen Rees Williams, was a Caribbean novelist who wrote in the mid 20th century. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... The Harder They Come is a 1972 Jamaican crime film directed by Perry Henzell. ...

Film

Jamaica's film industry is not widely known, but it is growing. The Harder They Come, Shottas, Third World Cop, and Dancehall Queen are a few of the best-known Jamaican movies. However, many popular Hollywood movies have also been filmed in Jamaica. A short list includes The Blue Lagoon, Cocktail, Cool Runnings and Bond-flick Live and Let Die. The Harder They Come is a 1972 Jamaican crime film directed by Perry Henzell. ... Shottas is a 2002 film about two young men who participate in organized crime in Kingston, Jamaica and Miami, Florida. ... Third World Cop is a Jamaican film where Capone (Paul Campbell), a loose cannon cop, returns back to his home in Kingston to the special forces. ... Dancehall Queen is a 1997 Jamaican movie starring Audrey Reid who plays Marcia, a street vendor struggling to raise two daughters. ... The Blue Lagoon is a 1980 English language romance and adventure film starring Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins, produced and directed by Randal Kleiser. ... Cocktail movie poster Cocktail was a hit movie released by Touchstone Pictures in 1988. ... Cool Runnings is a 1993 comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub. ... 007 redirects here. ... Live and Let Die is the 8th film in the British James Bond series and the first to star Roger Moore as MI6 agent James Bond. ...

Sport

Jamaicans, in general, have a large interest in sports. Cricket, football ("soccer" in the U.S.), dominoes, horse-racing are several popular sports. The Jamaica national cricket team competes regionally, and also provides players for the West Indies. The Jamaica National Football Team qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The Jamaican Bobsled Team has been a serious contender in the Winter Olympics, beating many well-established teams. Dominoes, which can be played by young and old together, is played everywhere. The Jamaica cricket team is the representative first class cricket team of Jamaica. ... First international Haiti 1 - 2 Jamaica (Haiti; March 9, 1925) Biggest win Jamaica 12 - 0 BVI (Grand Cayman, Cayman Isls. ... The Jamaican Bobsled Team first gained fame during their debut in the 1988 Winter Olympic Games in Calgary. ...

Woodwork, furniture, and metalwork

Jamaicans have a long history of fine craftsmanship in wood and metal. Jamaica was home to many excellent furniture factories dating from colonial times, and Jamaican "Georgian' furniture was exported to the metropolitan countries.

References

See also

• Music of Jamaica
• National Gallery of Jamaica
• Jamaican literature
• Rastafari movement
• Jamaican English
• Jamaica National Heritage Trust

Jamaica is the birthplace of many popular musical genres, the most well known of which is reggae but also including raggamuffin, ska and dub music. ... The National Gallery of Jamaica, in Kingston, Jamaica, is Jamaicas prime and most important art collection, housed at a part of Kingston called Kingston Mall. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Haile Selassie I The Rastafari movement, or Rasta, is a cultural value system that accepts Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, as God incarnate, whom they call Jah. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

Further reading

• Mordecai, Martin and Pamela. Culture and Customs of Jamaica. Greenwood Press. 2001.
• Hill, Errol. The Jamaican Stage, 1655-1900: Profile of a Colonial Theatre. University of Massachusetts Press. 1992.