Difference between revisions of "Jamaica"
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| − | '''Jamaica''' is an island nation in the [[Caribbean Sea]] just 95 miles south of [[Cuba]]. Despite its proximity to Cuba, Jamaica is not a [[communist]] state. Rather, the island is governed by a parliamentary [[democracy]] with the help of the Queen of Jamaica. | + | '''Jamaica''' is an island nation in the [[Caribbean Sea]] just 95 miles south of [[Cuba]]. Despite its proximity to Cuba, Jamaica is not a [[communist]] state. Rather, the island is governed by a parliamentary [[democracy]] with the help of the Queen of Jamaica. The language of Jamaica is [[English]]. |
==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 22:57, April 14, 2007
Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea just 95 miles south of Cuba. Despite its proximity to Cuba, Jamaica is not a communist state. Rather, the island is governed by a parliamentary democracy with the help of the Queen of Jamaica. The language of Jamaica is English.
History
The Taino people settled on Jamaica over three thousand years ago and lived in relative peace until Christopher Columbus came along in 1494 and claimed the island for Spain. In 1655, British admiral William Penn conquered the island and Jamaica began producing sugar for export to the tea-loving inhabitants of the United Kingdom. Due to its location, Jamaica became a major slave trading hub. Slavery on the island was abolished in 1934. Jamaica gained independence in 1962.
Christianity in Jamaica
Research shows that 65.3% of Jamaica's population is Christian. The majority being Protestant, which is primarily due to the influence of British colonialism, and the later influence of denominations from the U.S. Today, the five largest denominations in Jamaica are: Baptist, Church of God, Seventh-day Adventist, Pentecostal and Anglican.
Rastafarians
The Rastafari movement was founded in Jamaica. This movement believes that Haile Selassie of Ethiopia is God incarnate, the returned messiah, come to take the lost Twelve Tribes of Israel back to live with him in Holy Mount Zion in a world of perfect peace, love and harmony. Bob Marley, a convert to the faith, spread the message of Rastafari to the world. There are now estimated to be more than a million Rastafarians throughout the world.
Culture
Jamaica is known for its reggae and dub music, which has gained a wide audience due to artists such as Dizzee Rascal and Bob Marley. Due to the influence of Rastafarianism, marijuana has been cultivated throughout the island. Indians first brought seeds of the plant from Asia and its use spread rapidly among plantation workers. Though it was outlawed, 35% of Jamaicans use the plant at least occasionally to this day.[Citation Needed] During the 1980s heyday, the annual wholesale value of Jamaica's marijuana crop exceeded $1.5 billion, and the trade had tacit approval at the government level.[Citation Needed]