Culture and Customs of Jamaica

Culture and Customs of Jamaica
Author: Martin Mordecai
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA
Total Pages: 254
Release: 2000-11-30
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0313089159

Jamaica is known widely for its beautiful beaches and the reggae music scene, but there is much more to this Caribbean country. Culture and Customs of Jamaica richly surveys the fuller wealth of the Caribbean nation, focusing on its people, history, religion, education, language, social customs, media and cinema, literature, music, and performing and visual arts. Jamaican Creole and the education system, which are not often discussed in volumes aimed at a general audience, are also examined here. Students and other interested readers will witness the unveiling of this complicated and unique country within this volume. Indispensable for the its insights on the making of modern Jamaica. Written by Jamaicans the island receives needed attention in this work. The history of Jamaica is well covered, from pre-Colombian times through slavery, to the impact of social activist Marcus Garvey, and the relatively new state of independence. Rastfarianism to Revivalism are covered as Jamaica's multitude of religious denominations is outlined. Various topics such as geography, demography, climate, cuisine, and the visual and performing arts are detailed. Accompanied by a chronology, this magical country comes to life in this wide-ranging volume. Anyone with an interest in Jamaica and its culture and customs will be indebted to the authors for their timely presentation. Students and general readers will find this volume indispensable.

Wake the Town & Tell the People

Wake the Town & Tell the People
Author: Norman C. Stolzoff
Publisher: Duke University Press
Total Pages: 332
Release: 2000
Genre: Music
ISBN: 9780822325147

An ethnography of Dancehall, the dominant form of reggae music in Jamica since the early 1960s.

Jamaica - Culture Smart!

Jamaica - Culture Smart!
Author: Nick Davis
Publisher: Kuperard
Total Pages: 163
Release: 2011-04-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1857335651

Don' t just see the sights— get to know the people. Laid back, sun-drenched tropical paradise, or hotbed of drug-related crime and violence? Neither stereotype is true. Jamaica suffers from a PR problem, created largely by tabloid headlines written thousands of miles away. The reality is more complex and far more fascinating. Jamaicans have a fire that has been hard to douse. It was burning when their forefathers arrived on slave ships, barely alive after the middle passage, and it was there when they fought the British to a standstill in the Maroon Wars. In the English-speaking Caribbean they have a reputation for being brash, but they also have a warmth that is unmatched. They are unafraid to talk to strangers, they' ll laugh at nearly anything, they' ll discuss and debate with passion, and they' ll let you know it straight. Despite real economic and social problems, this beautiful and invigorating country regularly ranks among the top five happiest nations in the world in the annual Happy Planet Index. Culture Smart! Jamaica takes you beyond the cliché s with a fresh, uniquely well-informed look at of one of the most intriguing countries in the region. Have a richer and more meaningful experience abroad through a better understanding of the local culture. Chapters on history, values, attitudes, and traditions will help you to better understand your hosts, while tips on etiquette and communicating will help you to navigate unfamiliar situations and avoid faux pas.

Modern Blackness

Modern Blackness
Author: Deborah A. Thomas
Publisher: Duke University Press
Total Pages: 380
Release: 2004-11-29
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780822334194

DIVAn ethnographic study of cultural policy in Jamaica as seen from above and below in relation to race, class, and nation./div

Secrets about Jamaica and the Jamaican People

Secrets about Jamaica and the Jamaican People
Author: Richard Hugh Sharpe
Publisher:
Total Pages: 188
Release: 2020-06-04
Genre:
ISBN:

Are you a tourist, trying to decide where to spend your next vacation, are you a Jamaican living overseas for quite some time? If you are planning for a vacation in the Caribbean but would like to know more about Jamaica; getting this book is the right choice. Our local Jamaicans are not exempted, especially those who would welcome being reminded of their culture. It's a medium sized book with truly captivating and edifying information. Information which could be valuable for a lifetime and very useful for planning visitors. Learn a secret or two about Jamaica and its people, but be prepared for a few surprises. I can safely say that if you are away, with this book you will feel like you are right here in Jamaica.Hear more about our best all-inclusive resort destinations and some of the top places in Jamaica to go for scintillating fun and unlimited adventures. Learn all about the famous Great houses, the awesome reggae shows, festivals and parties, the dirt biking and mountain adventures, the natures scenes, the intriguing caves, the haunted houses, the adventure tours, rafting on the river and the cascading waterfalls to name a few. Read all about it and explore your options; and if you are planning to get married in Jamaica, then this book will help to connect you with the right people. Learn our patois (patwa) in record time, you will even be given a little test in the end. The book will provide you with both a basic and advanced lesson in patois, plus a history on its origin and how patois has transitioned over the years. We will show you a few differences between some of today's patois, and the patois of the past; that which was being used by our fore parents.Hear all about our very interesting history, culture, the Spanish invasion, the takeover by the British, Port Royal and the Pirates, Sir Henry Morgan, the slave trade and slave rebellions, the maroons, the Abolition of slavery, the Jamaican people, the traditional dances, the religions and religious movements, Rastafarianism, the struggles of Marcus Garvey, the African tribes who came to Jamaica and the places in Africa from which they came. Learn a few secrets common only to Jamaicans and ways they behave when annoyed or upset. If you happen to be living with, working with or dealing with Jamaicans in any way, this book will help you to understand them better. We will explain the hissing of teeth, cutting of the eyes and even the Jamaican bad-words (censored). Learn all about our Street slangs and the ways we love to play on our words to create humor. Know about the transition of the Jamaican music, from Mento, to Ska, to DJ, Toasting, rocksteady, Dub, Sound System, Dance Hall and Reggae. Read about the influence of Jamaica's DJ Toasting which resulted in the forming of the popular North American Rap music. Hear the language Jamaican men use to women during their pursuit of them and learn all about what the Jamaican man calls "Lyrics". Get a comprehensive guide from start to finish on the best ways to apply your word skills to get the best results from the ladies. By following this approach, you will no longer have a problem bonding with the females. Read about the usefulness of the Jamaican Ganja, health conditions it has proven to be effective in treating and a few products we have created from it in Jamaica. We will also be telling you about our very interesting customs, proverbs folklore and traditions as well as ways they have impacted on the lives of our ancestors. See the levels of trust and confidence which our ancestors had instilled in these beliefs.Also included is a listing of first aid emergency health tips which could be helpful in the event of a medical emergency. Lastly, in case you may need it while you are abroad, we have included a contact listing of very important places in Jamaica for you. See all of this and even more by purchasing the book. Much thanks for your support and as we would say in Jamaica; Big-up oonu self.

Noises in the Blood

Noises in the Blood
Author: Carolyn Cooper
Publisher: Duke University Press
Total Pages: 236
Release: 1995-02-08
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780822315957

The language of Jamaican popular culture—its folklore, idioms, music, poetry, song—even when written is based on a tradition of sound, an orality that has often been denigrated as not worthy of serious study. In Noises in the Blood, Carolyn Cooper critically examines the dismissed discourse of Jamaica’s vibrant popular culture and reclaims these cultural forms, both oral and textual, from an undeserved neglect. Cooper’s exploration of Jamaican popular culture covers a wide range of topics, including Bob Marley’s lyrics, the performance poetry of Louise Bennett, Mikey Smith, and Jean Binta Breeze, Michael Thelwell’s novelization of The Harder They Come, the Sistren Theater Collective’s Lionheart Gal, and the vitality of the Jamaican DJ culture. Her analysis of this cultural "noise" conveys the powerful and evocative content of these writers and performers and emphasizes their contribution to an undervalued Caribbean identity. Making the connection between this orality, the feminized Jamaican "mother tongue," and the characterization of this culture as low or coarse or vulgar, she incorporates issues of gender into her postcolonial perspective. Cooper powerfully argues that these contemporary vernacular forms must be recognized as genuine expressions of Jamaican culture and as expressions of resistance to marginalization, racism, and sexism. With its focus on the continuum of oral/textual performance in Jamaican culture, Noises in the Blood, vividly and stylishly written, offers a distinctive approach to Caribbean cultural studies.

The Jamaica Reader

The Jamaica Reader
Author: Diana Paton
Publisher: Duke University Press
Total Pages: 392
Release: 2021-04-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 1478013095

From Miss Lou to Bob Marley and Usain Bolt to Kamala Harris, Jamaica has had an outsized reach in global mainstream culture. Yet many of its most important historical, cultural, and political events and aspects are largely unknown beyond the island. The Jamaica Reader presents a panoramic history of the country, from its precontact indigenous origins to the present. Combining more than one hundred classic and lesser-known texts that include journalism, lyrics, memoir, and poetry, the Reader showcases myriad voices from over the centuries: the earliest published black writer in the English-speaking world; contemporary dancehall artists; Marcus Garvey; and anonymous migrant workers. It illuminates the complexities of Jamaica's past, addressing topics such as resistance to slavery, the modern tourist industry, the realities of urban life, and the struggle to find a national identity following independence in 1962. Throughout, it sketches how its residents and visitors have experienced and shaped its place in the world. Providing an unparalleled look at Jamaica's history, culture, and politics, this volume is an ideal companion for anyone interested in learning about this magnetic and dynamic nation.

Africa

Africa
Author: Mervyn Alleyne
Publisher: Partners Publishing Group
Total Pages: 186
Release: 1996-09-01
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780948390081

The Confounding Island

The Confounding Island
Author: Orlando Patterson
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Total Pages: 433
Release: 2019-11-12
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 0674243072

The preeminent sociologist and National Book Award–winning author of Freedom in the Making of Western Culture grapples with the paradox of his homeland: its remarkable achievements amid continuing struggles since independence. There are few places more puzzling than Jamaica. Jamaicans claim their home has more churches per square mile than any other country, yet it is one of the most murderous nations in the world. Its reggae superstars and celebrity sprinters outshine musicians and athletes in countries hundreds of times its size. Jamaica’s economy is anemic and too many of its people impoverished, yet they are, according to international surveys, some of the happiest on earth. In The Confounding Island, Orlando Patterson returns to the place of his birth to reckon with its history and culture. Patterson investigates the failures of Jamaica’s postcolonial democracy, exploring why the country has been unable to achieve broad economic growth and why its free elections and stable government have been unable to address violence and poverty. He takes us inside the island’s passion for cricket and the unparalleled international success of its local musical traditions. He offers a fresh answer to a question that has bedeviled sports fans: Why are Jamaican runners so fast? Jamaica’s successes and struggles expose something fundamental about the world we live in. If we look closely at the Jamaican example, we see the central dilemmas of globalization, economic development, poverty reduction, and postcolonial politics thrown into stark relief.