 Jamaica's vibrant culture is reflected in the visual arts, music, drama and dance. Drawing upon the diverse backgrounds of the Jamaican people, the cultural traditions of Jamaica are a reflection of its motto “Out of many one people”. The deep rooted traditions of Africa combine with Asian and European influences to create a rich and diverse cultural environment. In music, the visual arts, theatre and dance as well as film, Jamaican creative work has gained international recognition. This has contributed significantly to the appeal that Jamaica has to the millions of visitors that it welcomes each year.
Culture and entertainment are very important factors in Jamaican life. The creation of reggae music in the gritty environment of post independence Kingston, Perry Henzell's iconic work “The harder they come”, the acclaimed works of the National Dance Theatre Company and the rich and diverse works of both intuitive and classical artists and sculptors have helped to shape Jamaica's identity and its image around the world.
Visual Arts
Jamaica also boasts a rich tradition in the Visual arts. Painters and sculptors have created truly outstanding works. Significant in this category are pioneers such as Edna Manley, Carl Abrahams, David Boxer, Albert Huie, Barry Watson, Cecil Baugh and Alvin Marriott.
The establishment of the Jamaica School of Art now part of the Edna Manley College and the Institute of Jamaica has contributed to the training of generations of artists exposed to all the major schools yet rooted in a truly Jamaican aesthetic.
MUSIC
 Perhaps no other aspect of Jamaican culture has attracted international attention as much as its music. Two distinct Jamaican musical genres, ska and reggae have attracted a global audience. Reggae's premier exponents transcend the genre and are recognized as global music icons whose melodies and lyrics are celebrated the world over. The late Robert “Bob” Marley was recognized as one of the artistes of the century by both Time Magazine and the BBC.
Reggae, Jamaica's most famous product grew out of a dynamic musical milieu that drew its influences from the African folk traditions that remained alive in many Jamaican communities, especially the drumming, and popular music played on the sound systems that were to become, in time, as much a vehicle for replaying music as they were for creating music. Out of the sound systems came Dance Hall music which was to spawn and influence a variety of popular music forms such as Rap and Hip Hop which appeal to young people all over the world.
Jamaica's folk music is said to have its origin in West Africa. The Jamaica Folk Singers led by Dr. Olive Lewin, who has researched, recorded and documented Jamaican folk music, the Carifolk Singers and the National Dance Theater Company (NDTC) singers, have kept alive a rich body of work that tells the Jamaican story. |
Jamaica has established and maintained a remarkable record in international sports for over fifty years. Since the 1948 Olympics in London, Jamaicans have won many Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals. Dr. Arthur Wint secured Jamaica’s first track gold medal in the 400m in London. At the very next Olympiad he along with other great Jamaican Athletes Herb McKenley, Leslie Laing, and George Rhoden won the 4 x 400 in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki and signaled the beginning of one of the most impressive records of performance by a small nation in the area of Track and Field.
In the 2004 Olympic Games, Jamaica won five medals – two gold, one silver and two bronze. The gold medals were taken in the women’s 200m event by Veronica Campbell and the women’s 4x100m relay by the team of Aleen Bailey, Veronica Campbell, Sherone Simpson and Tanya Lawrence.
