Miami-Broward Carnival Celebrates 40th Anniversary!
It was pure bacchanal in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale region over the Columbus Day holiday weekend. The Miami-Broward Carnival 2024 extravaganza was a true cultural spectacle, capping off the Caribbean Carnival season with a dazzling display of West Indian music, fashion, and culture. This year marked a special milestone as the Miami-Broward Carnival celebrated its 40th […]
10 Interesting Facts About the Jamaican Language, Most Jamaicans Don’t Know
Jamaican, or Jamaican Creole, is spoken by the majority of Jamaica’s 2.7 million inhabitants. It is also widely used in Jamaican diaspora communities, particularly in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Despite its widespread use, the Jamaican language has long been underrepresented and under-resourced in its homeland, even though it plays a crucial […]
From “Toronto Gyal Dem” to Drake’s “Wah Gwaan Delilah” Jamaica’s Influence on Toronto Slang and Youth Culture
At a press conference in May, Teresa Resch, president of Toronto’s first Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) franchise outside the U.S., announced the team would seek the public’s help in choosing a name and designing its logos and colours. Nearly three months later, the team officially launched its “Name Your Team” competition on Instagram, inviting […]
Honouring Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett-Coverley at 105: The Cultural Icon Who Shaped Jamaican Literature & Elevated our Language
Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley, affectionately known as “Miss Lou,” was born on September 7, 1919, in Kingston, Jamaica. She became a household name and a cultural icon, recognised as a “Living Legend” in her home country. Miss Lou’s education was rooted in Jamaica, where she attended Ebenezer and Calabar Elementary Schools, St. Simon’s College, Excelsior College, […]
Jamaica’s Indomitable Spirit in the Face of Crisis
In the face of crises, Jamaicans showcase a level of resilience so profound that it has come to be known as their quintessential “Jamaicanness.” This was evident during Hurricane Beryl, when the island’s “cut an go chu” attitude—persevering despite challenges—shone through. Amidst the chaos, humour became a coping mechanism. Laughter and jokes provided relief, transforming […]
Top 10 Most Iconic National Festival Songs, Celebrating 56 Years of Hits
The National Festival Song Competition has produced five decades worth of timeless hits. Jamaicans, inherently patriotic and born with music practically flowing through their veins, take the independence-time contest and the nationalistic music it produces in earnest. Known for launching careers, the festival song competition attracts the interest of established artists as well as rising […]
A Wonderful Celebration of Caribbean Folklore at Anancy Festival 2024
In celebration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month, Island SPACE Caribbean Museum, in partnership with Jamaicans.com, hosted the annual Anancy Festival on Saturday, June 29th, 2024, in South Florida. This year’s event, drew over 130 attendees who gathered to celebrate the folklore of Anancy, the spider man and trickster known for imparting life lessons through stories The […]
Photo Highlights: South Florida’s 2024 Caribbean-American Heritage Month Celebrations
Annually, Caribbean-American Heritage Month is a time to recognise and celebrate the rich culture and contributions to the United States by Americans of Caribbean origin. Founded and established by Dr. Claire Nelson, the month was recognised inaugurally in the year 2000 by the Institute of Caribbean Studies. In 2004, the month of June was officially […]
The Rise of Homegrown Film Festivals | Platforming Creativity & Bolstering Local Industry
The Jamaican cultural and creative landscape is expanding to create more native platforms to showcase homegrown talent. One of the ways we see this happening is with the rise of locally conceptualised and directed film festivals. There are many substantive benefits to native film festivals, the most significant of which is helping emerging filmmakers find […]
Nollywood & Jollywood Cooperation: Jamaica Enters into Strong Partnership with Nigeria’s Film and Animation Industry
Jamaica has joined the list of nations interested in partnering with the film and animation industry of Nigeria. Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Mrs. Hannatu Musa Musawa, praised the proposed Audio-Visual Film Production Agreement during a visit with the Jamaican High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Lincoln Downer, who said his government […]