The people of Jamaica are all immigrants by origin. None of the indigenous people, called Arawaks, have survived until present time. The population of Jamaica has emerged from a historical process in which peoples of all the continents were brought together within a well-defined social hierarchy. The vast majority is of African (75%) or mixed African-European origin (15%). They descended from slaves brought to the island between the 17th and 19th century to work on sugar-cane plantations. Among the established minorities are Europeans (4%), East Indians (3.5%) and Afro-Chinese & Chinese (1,5%).
The Jamaican multicultural blend has affected local culture and religion. The majority of about 80% believers belong to one of the numerous Christian denominations: the traditional groups being Anglican, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventists, United Church and also numerous Evangelical groups. A number of popular sects, such as Pocomania and Rastafarianism, are a significant and famous feature of the national religious life. The roots of the local spiritual cults can be traced from Africa and pre-Columbian America. Thus, Rastafari is an indigenous religion, which emerged during the 1930s as a grass roots answer to difficult social conditions and the prevalence of white-oriented values. Basic tenets include the divinity of the late Emperor Haile Selassie (Ras Tafari) of Ethiopia, re-incarnation and a taboo against males cutting or combing their hair or beards. They look on Ethiopia as Zion, and believe that white Christian preachers have concealed the fact that Adam and Jesus were black. Orthodox Rastafarians are vegetarians and can be most immediately recognized by their long flowing dreadlocks. Many Rastafarians regard the use of marijuana as a sacrament and an aid to meditation.
The population of Jamaica is around three million. Kingston, the capital, a major port and a commercial center, has a population approaching a million in its metropolitan area. Other major towns are Montego Bay, a tourist center and port in the northwest, Mandeville, a bauxite-mining center in mid-island, and May Pen, an agricultural center in the southern plains.
English is the national language, however in reality, Jamaica is a bilingual country. Patois, evolved from the Creole English, is a unique Jamaican mixture, musical and rhythmic, flavored with Old English, African, Portuguese, Spanish terms and Rastafarian slang.
Historically, Jamaican emigration has been heavy. Since the United Kingdom restricted immigration in 1967, the major flow has been to the United States and Canada. About 20,000 Jamaicans immigrate to the United States each year; another 200,000 visit annually. New York, Miami, Chicago and Hartford are among the U.S. cities with significant Jamaican populations. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Name: Jamaica |
|
|
Area: 11,425 sq km |
|
|
Capital City: Kingston |
|
|
Population: 3 million |
|
|
Language: English, Creole |
|
|
Currency: Jamaica Dollar |
|
|
Time Zone: GMT - 5 hrs |
|
|
Religion: 80% Christian |
|
|
 |
BACK TO MAIN PAGE |
|
|
|
