Ready, set, go!

Do you like what you’ve heard and seen so far? If you’ve enjoyed the beats of reggae, and the pictures of sandy beaches, endless sunshine and turquoise seas, then this is the place for you: welcome to Jamaica! My name is Amelia, and I’m going to show you why I think my home country of Jamaica is the most beautiful of all the Caribbean islands.

Jamaica is an island nation located in the Caribbean Sea. Around 2.8 million people call it their home. It’s the third-largest Caribbean island, right after the islands of Cuba and Hispaniola, which is made up of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Christopher Columbus was among the first Europeans to admire its wonders. He called it Santiago, but the name didn’t catch on. Instead, the island got its name after the Taino word ‘Xaymaca’, meaning ‘the land of wood and water’. The Taino, Jamaica’s first inhabitants, were once the most numerous indigenous people of the Caribbean. However, they were conquered by the Spanish colonists and almost became extinct: some managed to escape, but a lot of them died of European diseases, starvation and overwork. The first slaves from West Africa were brought in at that time. Then, in the mid-17th century, the British came, forced the Spanish to leave, and made Jamaica part of the British Empire. Many more African slaves were shipped to work on sugar-cane plantations. That’s why the majority of Jamaicans today are of African ancestry. This mix of European and African cultures is nicely summarised in our nation’s motto: ‘Out of Many, One People’. Jamaica became an independent country in 1962, but it has remained a member of the Commonwealth. Since the 1950s, a lot of Jamaicans have emigrated to the UK, the USA and Canada. They have taken Jamaican culture, traditions and music with them, making Jamaica recognisable around the world.

English is the official language in Jamaica, but people also speak Jamaican Patois, or Patwa. It is a Creole language, resulting as a mix between English and the West African languages that the slaves brought to Jamaica centuries ago. Even though it is based on English, it’s difficult to understand. See for yourself: ‘Weh yuh a seh? Mi deh try call yuh!’. Did you get it? It means: ‘How are you doing? I’ve been trying to call you!’. My family speaks Patwa at home, just as many other bilingual families do.

Kingston is the capital of Jamaica, and it’s also its largest city. It’s a good place to start exploring and to feel the pulse of Jamaica; its open-air markets, bustling streets, welcoming people and upbeat music are just some of the things that will blow you away! If you’re a fan of outdoor activities, you’ll love exploring Jamaican nature, and you’ll easily understand how Jamaica got its nickname, the ‘Jewel of the Caribbean’. If you have enough time, you could plan a visit to other cities, too! You could come to Montego Bay, my hometown. Lying on the northern coast, it is the fourth-largest urban centre, after Spanish Town and Portmore. My family owns a tour agency there, and I look forward to taking you on a tour of my favourite places! Let’s get jamming!