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Jamaica is a county filled with diversity of many forms. From the origins of the people who presently inhabit the island to  the natural wild life, and vegetation found there.

It is famously known as a highly desired tourist destination outside the island due to its lovely beaches and, of course, the home and birth place of the great Reggae music genre made famous by many of its stars, especially Robert Nesta Marley.

What may not be so well known however, is the island's history, culture and society in terms of how it has been shaped through history into the unique, influential nation it is today.

Apart from the the massive impact of Reggae on popular music such as Rap, Dub Step, RnB, Soul, Rock, Punk Rock, Soca and arguably many more genres,  Jamaican's have  arguably consistantly punched far above thier weight (Usain Bolt, Marcus Garvey); With many influential individuals making thier mark. Read on, a few are named in the following pararaphs:



Stuart Hall: 
(born 3 February 1932, Kingston, Jamaica, then a British colony) is a cultural theorist and sociologist who has lived and worked in the United Kingdom since 1951. Hall, along with Richard Hoggart and Raymond Williams, was one of the founding figures of[1] the school of thought that is now known as British Cultural Studies or The Birmingham School of Cultural Studies. He was President of the British Sociological Association 1995-1997.

At the invitation of Hoggart, Hall joined the Centre for Contemporary Cultural Studies at Birmingham University in 1964. Hall took over from Hoggart as director of the Centre in 1968, and remained there until 1979. While at the Centre, Hall is credited with playing a role in expanding the scope of cultural studies to deal with race and gender, and with helping to incorporate new ideas derived from the work of French theorists.[2]

Hall left the centre in 1979 to become a professor of sociology at the Open University.[3] Hall retired from the Open University in 1997 and is now a Professor Emeritus.[4] British newspaper The Observer called him "one of the country's leading cultural theorists".[5] He is married to Catherine Hall, a feminist professor of modern British history at University College London.
Source:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Hall_%28cultural_theorist%29


Nanny of the Maroons:
Exhibiting the courageous fighting spirit found in military leaders, Nanny of the Maroons established herself in history as Jamaica’s only female national hero. She became known for all time as a symbol of Jamaica’s strength and dogged resolution to maintain independence. She was known also as Granny Nanny by modern Maroons, and the Right Excellent Nanny of the Maroons and was described as a small, wiry woman with piercing eyes. She was also mentioned as wearing a necklace made from the teeth of British soldiers.

In the early 18th century Nanny had established herself as a leader of the Maroons. Her brothers were also instrumental in the freedom of Jamaica. Cudjoe was sent to St. James and built a free village called Cudjoe Town. Accompong was sent to St. Elizabeth where a town was also named after him.

Nanny’s reputation as a holder of supernatural powers and the Maroons fierce fighting abilities gave them the advantage of psychological warfare against the British. She also held a psychological power over her Maroons with oaths of secrecy and bolstering their confidence in themselves and her leadership ability. She also kept the pride and sense of unity among the Maroons alive and well by fostering their customs, tales and musical traditions.
Source:http://www.banknoteden.com/TMFOM%20Jamaica%20500.htm



Marcus Garvey:
Garvey was a Jamaican-born black nationalist who created a 'Back to Africa' movement in the United States. He became an inspirational figure for later civil rights activists.

Marcus Garvey was born in St Ann's Bay, Jamaica on 17 August 1887, the youngest of 11 children. He inherited a keen interest in books from his father, a mason and made full use of the extensive family library. At the age of 14 he left school and became a printer's apprentice where he led a strike for higher wages. From 1910 to 1912, Garvey travelled in South and Central America and also visited London.

He returned to Jamaica in 1914 and founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA). In 1916, Garvey moved to Harlem in New York where UNIA thrived. By now a formidable public speaker, Garvey spoke across America. He urged African-Americans to be proud of their race and return to Africa, their ancestral homeland and attracted thousands of supporters.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/garvey_marcus.shtml

The above mentioned  are just a small example of  influential Jamaicans.  This website, Xaymaca to Jamaica will be an ongoing work in the exploration of the culture and promotion of all aspects of The Island.

Rob  Bailey B.A Hons Communication, Culture and Media.

Explore  Jamaica

 

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