I was born in Jamaica, and lived there for 25 of my 26 years. With that said, you’re likely wondering if the stereotypes are true. Am I Bob Marley’s biggest fan? Do I smoke weed? And wow… isn’t Jamaica just the most amazing little slice of paradise ever? No to the first two, and sometimes to the last.
But to share some real truths about my home country, here are ten things you probably didn’t know about Jamaica – as told by a Jamaican.
10: Foreigners Love Bob Marley More Than We Do
When most people think of Jamaica, they think of Bob Marley and reggae music, so it might surprise you to know that Bob Marley is still respected, but not a favourite on the island.
A lot of non-Jamaicans find this very difficult to believe. After all, Bob Marley is a legend. Well, so is Elvis Presley. How many Americans in 2016 count him as a favourite musician?
The popularity of reggae has long been drowned out by blaring dancehall music – its violent and explicit mutation. To put dancehall into better perspective for you, here’s a fun fact:
Rap music actually began in Jamaica in the 1960s as dancehall, and then spread to the United States as rap.
Aside from dancehall, we listen to music that has become popular in America and Europe. The country’s largest music festivals have featured lineups that include musicians like Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Lil Wayne, and Alicia Keys.
Skrillex also frequents Jamaica for shows in Kingston. The subsequent influence of Jamaican culture is easily heard in songs like “Bangarang” (an old-school Creole word meaning “loud noise/music”), “Ragga Bomb”, and “First of the Year”.
9: Jamaicans Can’t Swim
Smack dab in the tropics, Jamaica has some of the best white sand, pristine beaches in the world. The mere fact that the country is a tropical island also means that Jamaica is completely surrounded by the beautiful Caribbean Sea. Yet, in spite of this fact, many Jamaicans cannot swim – possibly most of us.
My expatriate friends on the island often joked that you can almost always spot the Jamaicans at the beach, when you go. We are usually on the shore, getting our feet wet and taking pictures. Swimming and snorkeling are for the tourists; not the locals. Most of the nationals are just there to enjoy the view.
Of course, that doesn’t apply to everyone. Some locals are avid swimmers at the amateur, competitive, and professional levels. Some also dive, snorkel, paddle board, and surf – myself included. However, being unable to swim is not uncommon or unusual.
8: Jamaicans Speak English
It’s a common expectation of Jamaicans to have a heavy accent and to speak the island’s dialect, called patois. However, not only are there Jamaicans who don’t speak the island’s Creole, but there are also nationals who don’t understand it. In fact, contrary to popular opinion, the island’s official language is English.
Why this surprises anyone, is beyond me. Jamaica is a Commonwealth country. In other words, Jamaica was once the property of Britain, and still owes its allegiance to the Queen, even though it is self-governing.
Subsequently, business and academia are all conducted in English. And although patois is a common dialect spoken by almost everyone on the island, it’s often considered inappropriate in schools and business, because it’s too informal.
7: Cell Phone Ownership is Higher in Jamaica Than in the U.S.
Even in the First World, most countries can only boast a mobile subscription rate in the 80 and 90 percentile range. The United States, for instance, boasts a subscription percentage of 98% of its population. Canada boasts 83%. As of 2015, Jamaica has a mobile subscription rate of 107% of its population.
The reason for this is that many people subscribe to different carriers in order to take advantage of exclusive benefits simultaneously, or to account for an unreliable connection based on where they work or live.
6: We Have a lot of Illegal immigrants – From Asia, Europe, and America
Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the media about the large influx of illegal immigrants from other countries, into Europe and America. However, did you know that there are a lot of illegal immigrants in Jamaica as well?
Jamaica also graciously granted asylum and refugee status to runaway Haitians in 2004 and 2005, when they fled political instability in their home country. Currently, however, a large portion of illegal immigrants is made up of well-to-do expatriates from North America and Europe, who are living and working illegally on the island.
These immigrants often started off working legally on temporary projects, and then stayed on after their work visas expired. Illegal immigrants include Hungarians, Canadians, Dutch, Spanish, Chinese, Syrian, Indian, Pakistani, Italian, and American workers. I would know. I was friends with quite a few of them… and dated two.
5: Most of Us Don’t have Dreadlocks
When was the last time you saw a Jamaican in a movie that didn’t have dreadlocks? Even in the ads that the Jamaica Tourist Board uses to attract tourists to the country, we always seem to have dreads, six pack abs, and a coconut in hand.
As lovely and exotic a picture as this paints, most Jamaicans do not have dreadlocks. The hairstyle is admittedly a common sight on the island, and is chosen for religious purposes, fashion, or convenience. However, the majority of the population wears their hair differently.
In fact, dreadlocks are often frowned upon in Jamaica, in the same way that they are in many other countries. Additionally, there have been many stories of people having to cut their locs in order to work in certain industries, like banking and finance.
4: Jamaicans are Black, White, Asian, and All of the Above
It is a common belief that all Jamaicans not only have dreadlocks, but are all Black. People forget – or perhaps don’t know – that the country’s national motto is:
Out of Many – One People
Essentially, what that means is that as a people, we have come from many different backgrounds around the world.
In fact, there is a well-known German settlement on the island called Seaford Town, which is where I grew up. A significant portion of the population there is White/German, and Blacks are a minority. Chinese and Indians also live in this town, as well as other areas on the island.
Another fun fact: the model in the featured image is Jamaican. We became best friends in high school, and she is now the graphic designer at my PR firm.
3: Not All Jamaicans Smoke Weed
Of all the stereotypes Jamaica has acquired, a penchant for smoking marijuana has to be one of the most well-known. Use of marijuana is common in Jamaica, and few expect to visit without testing out the country’s legendary bush. However, a significant portion of the population neither uses the drug nor condones it.
In fact, it is a common belief in local “ganja lore” that some people should not partake of the drug, because they are too lightheaded and may end up having a negative reaction. Myself, my parents, and the vast majority of my family have never used the drug.
Who needs weed, when rum is around, after all? And Jamaica does have the best rum!
2: The Island Paradise Used to be the Murder Capital of the World
Jamaica is often marketed as an island paradise, and in a scenic way it is. However, one ugly truth that the island struggles to hide is its constant battle with crime and violence.
This is little helped by the corruption of politicians and law enforcement, and leads to distrust among the people. This discourages witnesses from coming forward when they have information about crimes; which in turn, worsens the problem of crime and violence.
In fact, in 2005 Jamaica ranked as the Murder Capital of the World. The country currently ranks at number 6; beating out other volatile countries, like Colombia.
Fortunately, tourists are rarely ever targeted for violent crime and are as safe as they would be at home, when in tourist areas like Montego Bay, Negril, and Ocho Rios. So if you planned on visiting, rest assured that you have nothing to worry about.
We certainly don’t have terrorists, random public shootings, or bombings, which arguably makes Jamaica a far cry safer than many First World countries right now.
1: It Snows in Jamaica
Of all the facts presented about this tropical island, this one might surprise you most. Many people probably won’t believe it, including other Jamaicans. After all, everyone knows it doesn’t snow in the tropics – or does it..?
Snow and general cold weather is a product of not just distance from the equator, but also altitude. The highest mountain on the island is the Blue Mountain. It is 7402 feet or 2256 meters tall. During the colder “winter” months on the island, the peek has been known to be covered with frost and sleet.
While this is certainly not enough snow for a ski trip, it is enough to dust the peek with white from time to time and to bust the myth that it never snows in the tropics.
I hope this educates many a curious reader about Jamaica and its people – and puts our tiny island into better perspective. As a side note, if you do choose to visit, please do us a favour by not staying in an all-inclusive hotel. Find a guest house run by locals. Eat with us. Laugh with us. Chat with us. Snorkel with us.
You won’t regret it!
Featured Image courtesy of Danielle Samantha Photography. Super thanks to Alyssa and Dan for giving me permission to use it!
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Originally published May 22, 2016 on Alexis Chateau.
There is a sizeable Jamaican community in Hartford where we live. I am used to the lilt in English, and It never occurred to me that it was another language! I knew about the crime, however. My only misconception(maybe) is about how popular goat is. Here it is featured at each Jamaican restaurant, and there is a goat meat distributor in a nearby town.
Haha. Yes, they do love their goat. I say they because I dont. I only eat seafood as far as animal protein goes.
Glad you got to meet my people haha. We can be a handful sometimes 🙂
I loved reading this it was so interesting
Thank you, Morgan! 🙂
Jamaica…one of my favorite places! The people have always been kind and the views bring me to tears. I never stay in the big hotels. Will be back there in April!
Where do you live now?
Hi Patricia. I’m glad to hear you don’t stay in the big hotels. That doesn’t benefit the locals at all when tourists do.
I live in America now.
Me too. Oklahoma at the moment but from Georgia.
Never been to Oklahoma. I’m in Georgia.
Oh my! I’m from St. Simon’s Island in Georgia.
Is that a real island? I didn’t know Georgia had any besides Tybee
Oh there are a lot. The Golden Isles of Georgia.
I hope they weren’t ruined by Matthew.
No. My family is there. Downed trees but that’s it.
I’ll have to see them then. Great beaches?
It’s the Atlantic Ocean so it’s not like the gorgeous Jamaican beaches. But it’s beautiful and historic.
I’ve been to the beach in Savannah, and well… I suppose the sand was lovely… lol. I wonder what it is that makes Georgia’s waters look so murky.
Well around Savannah probably the dredging they were doing. Further south 2 rivers empty into the ocean plus water from the protected marshes so it’s called silt not dirt. Cumberland Island has wild ponies!
Wild ponies! I’ve only seen those in the movies.
One of the best beaches in Jamaica have a river running into it. It’s called Frenchman’s Cove if memory serves. Still gorgeous. So go figure. Maybe the dirt here (I mean silt) is dirtier? Haha. I have no idea.
No clue.
I would expect that all Jamaican’s would learn to swim before learning to walk and I don’t even know why. LOL. Are there any predatory creatures native to the waters there? I am not Jamaican but I don’t trust the ocean and always leery when swimming.
No predators but for the jelly fish. My guess is the African slaves never trusted the sea after it brought them to the island on ships, and we never learned to love it.
It’s been some years since I’ve been to Jamaica – I had a blast each and every time. Thanks for the insights / facts I didn’t know :-).
I hope you go back soon, Dana. Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂
I’d like to find a nice place to retire to; I remember taking a tour and driving past a place built into the side of a hill that the tour guide said belonged to Dionne Warrick. I would love to have a place just like it. 🙂
Do you remember what part of the island that was? That doesn’t ring a bell, but I’m sure you’re right.
It’s been over 20 years since that trip, lol. Wait, it’s been 33 years to be exact. The tour guide’s name was Spence – his family owned a large plot of land on one of the hills (mountains); he adopted us and after our official tour the first day, came back and picked us up for an informal tour of the island. We ended up having lunch at his sister’s house in Kingston. I know we were all over the place between Montego Bay and Kingston, but I couldn’t tell you specifically where we were at that part of the “tour”. 🙂
Mountain sounds like Blue Mountains in Portland and some parts of Kingston. We don’t have any other big ones, I don’t think.
Great post, I enjoy reading it. Oh yes you are right…I can’t swim, as a matter of fact I don’t like going to the beach.
Anyhow, I noticed in one of your reply you stated that there are no traditional hotels in Portland only guest houses but we do have traditional hotels…such as Trident hotel also The Jamaica Palace hotel and quite a few more.
Overall, this is a very brilliant and refreshing post and I LOVE it!
You’re right Dehan. I forgot about Trident. I stand corrected. My friend actually worked on that building while I was there. He’s an architect. He would probably bash me over the head for saying what I had haha.
Thanks again! So glad you liked the post. Feel free to share! xD
Never been to the Caribbean but it’s always been a bit of a fantasy holiday destination. Having grown up in one city with a big Jamaican influence (Coventry, birthplace of the 2Tone Ska-Punk music scene) and worked in another (Nottingham) I was reasonably aware of these snippets. But no mention of Rude Boys, James Bond or Cricket? Or is that illustrating my Brit-centric view? 😉
The bit about murder capital of the world resonates too – back in the late 70s The Clash went to record at a studio in Jamaica (they were very fond of Jamaican culture in London) but were so alarmed by the violence that they wrote ‘Safe European Home’ once they came back.
You should definitely visit Jamaica. It’s a great place to be a tourist or an expat, but not the best place to be a local. The Clash must have gone into the inner city areas where a lot of the musicians hang out.
The main aim of the article was to get rid of the stereotypes around Jamaica and Jamaicans. James Bond, Rude Boys, and Cricket didn’t quite fit into that.
Thanks for reading and commenting! I hope you visit soon 🙂
Good point about stereotypes, mind you is it true that cricket is declining in popularity? Back in the 70s & 80s the West Indies were the team to beat, but not so much these days.
Yeah, The Clash went into the places that tourists are advised avoid. I think they were expecting it to be like a sunny Brixton.
I think they’re still a tough team to beat, but I don’t think cricket is that popular anymore. I don’t play or watch sports so I’m probably not the best person to ask, but we’ve definitely spent more of our resources on Olympic and track and field sports.
A really interesting post. I never realised you got snow!
Very rarely and only at the peak of that mountain. 🙂
Wow, truly an eye opener. Thanks for sharing this. All i know is Jamaica is a beautiful country with friendly hospitable people. Thanks again.
Thank you Joel. Glad I could share further insight on my home country. 🙂
You’re welcome Alexis. I remember Yendi Phillips, the Miss Jamaica who placed first runner up in Miss Universe 2010 and Kaci fennell, Miss Jamaica 2014. They always came up in my mind everytime Jamaica pops in beside Bob Marley.
Haha. Two very beautiful women no doubt. Kaci is a cousin a few times removed. Never met her, but she recently married a friend I long ago lost touch with. Jamaica seems a world away sometimes, and yet not so far at all.
Thanks for the info. . Proves Jamaica got wonderful beaches and beautiful people too. Have a great day.
Many generations of Jamaicans love country music. Today they love Indian soap operas with a passion..
I used to watch Indian soap operas as a teen. My family is part Indian so I guess that added to the allure.