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MI LOVELY JAMAICA!!!

In keeping with the cultural theme, I decided today to write about myself as a Jamaican, GROWING UP THERE, what it means to me and what I believe it means to other Jamaicans, who like myself loves our ‘Island in the Sun’,  in the words of our Harry Belafonte. 

I was born in Kingston, Jamaica ….33 Nelson Road, Kingston 13 to be precise. I went to Maxfield Park primary school My years, although living in Jamaica I can say with conviction have been the best years of my life.  My earliest memory in Jamaica I believe is when I was age 3.  I can remember although slightly vaguely, I had a yellow nipple bottle with a big hole in the nipple and would demand warm mint tea that was mixed using brown sugar EVERY night before I went to sleep.  I remember laying on my parents’ bed watching  the huge television that we had, the one station that was available then drinking my bottle and playing with my toes, my thumb replaced my bottle after a while, i miss my thumb sucking, I swear!

 I remember the Julie mango tree in the yard and Mr. Henry’s hairy mango tree that spread all the way over into our yard.  The mangoes would fall and we would eat those whenever they fell.  Under the Julie mango tree that was in the front of the yard was a little pipe that we used to bend and drink water from – never tasted water like that (sweet like sugar).  Across the street from us was a 2-story building that had lots of shops that belonged to Mr. He, the Chinese man from Hong Kong and his wife Miss. He who didn’t know a tip of English except of course for every Jamaican bad word.  They had their grocery shop attached onto the building and people lived upstairs in the many rooms that they rented.  Across the street from our yard 2 higglers would sell their goods every day.  The one to the left was Ms. Hilda, her granddaughter Junie was my friend and we used to play hopscotch and hoola hoop together in my yard and Miss Joyce who had 14 children and lived in Frog city was on the right.  For some reason I did not like Ms. Joyce, maybe it was my childhood spirit telling me something.  Ms. Joyce had an effeminate son named Lloyd who looked like he was related to Barrington Levy, except he wore an apron.  Next door to Ms. Joyce was the bar, Irma was the bar maid.  Next to the bar was the dumpling shop and next door to the dumpling shop was the dry cleaner with a plus sized woman by the name of ‘fatty’.

In Jamaica, you are called by whatever your occupation is, how you look, or by your behavior; for example, if you sing you are called ‘singy singy’; if you are crazy then ‘mad’ is attached to your name eg. Mad Jennifer; if you are fat of course ‘fatty’; if you are slim ‘slimmaz or mawga’ if you are black ‘ blackie, blacka, or black gyal’; if you are a chef then its ‘cookie or cheffy’; if you are Indian, that’s yuh name; Chiney, dats yuh name; white dats yuh name (you get the point right).  Where I grew up was always vibrant and alive with music and much festivity.  There was always a vibe there, something was always happening; we did not need to go anywhere to be entertained.  If you look down the street, there is a fight; if you look up the street there is quarreling; if you look down the way there are probably some guys singing or deejaying.   Music is always pumping from the bar and the smell of food pungent in the air. 

On Saturdays my mother would go to the market on Maxfield Avenue, the marketers would be spread along the sidewalk with dozens of different food groups to choose from.  Then she would go back home and soup would be cooked that day (Saturday was  soup day for most Jamaicans).  On Sunday mornings the radio would blast with church songs and the hustle and bustle of people going to church with their many different colorful hats on their heads while every yard cooked the traditional rice and peas and chicken which is cooked by most Jamaicans on a Sunday for dinner.  By Sunday afternoon after dinner was finished you could hear the ice cream man or ‘fudgie’ as he was commonly called, coming down the road on his bike, tooting his horn and shouting ‘fudgie, ice cream, nutty buddy’ and we all would gather outside to purchase our goodies and at night-time the peanut man would pass with his peanut cart shouting ‘peenut!, crack eeee!’ amidst the loud whistling sound that came from his cart which was most times ear-piercing / deafening even.  Those were the days to rawtid, who nuh memba mi sarry fi oonu

Jamaican vibes were wonderful vibes and even the dogs felt it and showed it in how they acted.  A Jamaican dog would lie in the middle of the street in front of an oncoming vehicle and unless you asked politely for pardon, it would challenge you and not move.  And remember if you offend a Jamaican dog today, it is sure to wait around the corner for you tomorrow often times lay waiting you with its friends to get its revenge.  Now dat mi tink bout it, yuh noe sey ah probably we di dawg dem ah mimick….caw ah same way nuff ah wi tan…..  Peeple tawk di chute.

Unfortunately there is classism in Jamaica and it is divided into the uptown and downtown people.  Uptown you will find the lawyers, the politicians, the doctors, people with visas who travel a lot around the world, and people who can send their children to good schools and then on to University.  While downtown are those that sell in the market, sell fish, have regular jobs yes but cannot afford to live up in the hills, buy cars, shop in supermarkets or send their children to Universities, and so the ones Uptown scoff and turn up their noses at those who lived Downtown.  The vibes of the people classified as downtown garrison inner city, people is what creates the energy of Jamaica that the world has come to know and love. 

We the poor people, through music and dance have placed Jamaica on the map internationally.  Because of oppression and economical woes music and rhythm lifted the voices of the oppressed in songs and chants and rhymes protesting inequality, brutality and poverty; reaching the ears of the world across the waters which highlighted our plight and at the same time uplifting our artistic expressions which inspired and influenced other people to express themselves through our same medium.  Hip hop is known as reggae’s younger sister; out of dance hall reggae hip hop was born.  It is so sad that the government in its quest to hold down ghetto people, has not spent money on our reggae music as they do with tourism.  Coming from poco to mento to ska, rocksteady, reggae and now dance hall where many non Jamaicans throughout the world are making a hefty living off our culture and we in Jamaica, the poorer class, cannot find food to eat at times. It is sad.  Where is our reggae museum?  What about our intellectual property?  Why is it that in the dictionary ‘bling bling’ doesn’t say Jamaica beside it?  How come many companies uses ‘One Love’ with the red green and gold colors beside it and we are not getting paid?  Or if we are, only the politicians know about it.  Come on government, do better than that.  Look at our dancers, our musicians our singers, our poets; the talent in Jamaica is insurmountable but where is our reward? 

Jamaica has influenced every country throughout the world in one way or the other.  In 2008 I was in France and when the French people heard me speak with my thick Jamaican accent I was treated like a queen and questioned about Bob Marley and our Jamaican culture; I was even given free drinks at the hotel bar.  When I am in Africa, the Africans gather around me, questioning me about Jamaica.  This makes me feel so proud. 

What’s good about Jamaica? The people, the lifestyle, the music, the beautiful faces, our educational system, our food, good ole Jamaican Ganja, de Weed, de Herb, de Marijauna did I mention de Good ole Jamaican Ganjah! What’s good about Jamaica di white rum, our art carvings and sculpture and to us women wi lovely, lovely dark chocolate sexy bodied men, and some ah de brown one dem tuh (BIG UP UUNUH SELF KINGS)); and from the mens point of view, the shapely good-looking women (caw di whole ah wi pretty like money).  What’s good about Jamaica? Dandy shandy, baseball, hopscotch, stew peas & rice, curry goat, bammy, roast fish, good ole mint tea and di bitta cerasee…  Whats good about Jamaica, the Blue Mountains, the blue lagoon, duns river falls, Portland, St. Mary, Montego Bay, Ochi…..  What’s good about Jamaica? Di good ole pa paw tree where many of the local boys gather and await their turn to do only God knows what….What’s good about Jamaica? Poco, Revival, Kumina, Nyabinhgy, the Rasta Man, the Maroons, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Louise Bennet, Rex Nettleford, Oliver Samuels, Stone Love, Beenie Man, I-Wayne, Capleton, Sizzla, The Weather, rain beating on the zinc roof top while people do what dem want (inject anyting yah suh), the smell of the earth, Nature, the sun set, the sun rise, the Ocean, the trees, the plants, What’s good about Jamaica? di vibes, di vibes and on a whole juss di vibes, di vibes, di vibes, di vibessssssssss!!!!!! Lawd GOD DE VIBESSSSSSS!

So, people as Jamaicans we have a lot to be proud of, so mek wi stap live like crab inna barrel and support and love each other and I assure you, you will feel a lot better about yourselves in the end. Jamaicans we are one!!  Bless up!

no whey nuh betta dan yard…we Jamaicans sey so!!

 

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125 Comments
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omalone1
Blogger
7 years ago

Blame on Marcus Garvey or put it on Paul Bogle. All praise is due for the Red black and green

Cher
Blogger
Cher
9 years ago

Sweet sweet memories!!!! Love Mi Jamaica, sweet sweet Jamaica

MTH
Blogger
MTH
10 years ago

Teach yu know bout…Lady G & Papa San…

MTH
Blogger
MTH
10 years ago

Who memba diss? ….Chat to mi back and nuh chat to mi front? Statue!!! No one melt you but I?

MTH
Blogger
MTH
10 years ago

Big up Beenie Man & Bounty Killa wey a war from mi yeye dey a mi knee and di war neva get physical yet… Big up Little Lenny wey she, she shi have di gun inna baggy..She she mine shi shoot yu wid it…Big up Ghost & Culture wey udrally dun di b-b-q dem… Big up the ppl dem a Hero’s Circle wey sell crab and corn…Big up all a di jerk chicken man dem…Yea, nuff respect to all a di juice man dem wey sell di strong back juice dem… Big up all a di hat gal dem pan… Read more »

MTH
Blogger
MTH
10 years ago

Ty, the comments not lining up…Mi nuh like di wetty-wetty pan tap a di pudding..

MTH
Blogger
MTH
10 years ago

Who memba any of this unno put up unno hand dem inna di air… Tatty dance (Snagga Puss), World dance-(Bennie Man)? Special request (yes, I said so..special request & not special dedication. Only inna di dancehall) to all people who udrally guh House of Leo, British Link Up, Super Dee outta Harbour View Round-About, Stone Love Dance especially Stone Love Anniversary. Big upyuself if you have been to Sashi and fully loaded. Even if you dont like these people and what they stood for, they gave Dancehall a buzz back in the days… Willy Hogart, Bogle, Roy Fowl, Dancehall Queen… Read more »

MTH
Blogger
MTH
10 years ago

Well, it look like a mi one numo ova dah blog here…Anyways, who memba Super Cat, Admiral Bailey, Flourgon, Red Dragon, Major Mackerel, Leck-cha-ra (wey sing punnay too sweet it too sweet it too sweet-unno fennay fi hear mi dj dah song dey).

Who memba Wayne Sleng Ting Smith, Courtney Melody, Cutty Ranks, Burro Banton, The Herbs Man, Sugar Minnot, General Trees…OMG!!! Mek a guh duh the government work.

MTH
Blogger
MTH
10 years ago

Who can play Jacks? Who remember Jack-fruit, gizzada, coconut drops? Memba mi told yu, potato pudding a di boss? Who memba red oak wey yu die yu floor wid and den shine di floor wid yu coconut brush? Jamaica to di flipping world…

Ty
Blogger
Ty
10 years ago
Reply to  MTH

Me can play jacks…Rae…

Potato pudding wid di butter melt out pon top…Lawd…fire a top , fire a bottom, hallelujah inna di middle…

Ty
Blogger
Ty
10 years ago

And when mi check it out Lawd, nowhere nuh better dan yard oh lord…

You memba suck suck…jackass corn…

What about pan chicken, roast corn, cane pon di road side…

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

hello optimistic mek i tell you something…any video camera…a mus hidden camera cause me say born star…no porn star….tell mr big penis say me say me memba him…but not too good…remind me again

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

yuh kno wah mek i guh try see weh i can get in 2 hours n be rite back

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

@opti…please tell me whe mr big penis tell you say bout me…cause me know him from somewhere…ask him if him memba me

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

yes sharlene mi concentrate better…but lawks mi nuh want leff

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

lawd mi nuh wah leff

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

@gog3tt3…den a vodka u a study wid…you special

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

me know me know BIG PENIS…I HAVE PREVIOUS experience wid him…i think i rass that snake before…hello

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

nice talking to y’all gone have a shot a vodka n study.. i shall be bacl l8r

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

stullesha sharlene…present…a me say sneak preview…release him now

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

@opti…i dont know bwoy…i guess a three a dem walking side by side…me hear dem a bawl out…i want to break free…seem like dem hardly can be constrained…

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

yessssssssssss

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

hold on…hold on…hold on…
@opti….@18:13….a de two a uno a war pon de post…which one a unno a go win…cause all you opti, a fight…we want to see right now…so mek it win fi a minute

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

wat a day i get n see dat hood

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

@opti…a me say sneak preview…just post the picture…mek we see de sweet dan dan…the sweet dan dan…the sweet dan dan deh…..whaaoooo…the hood sweet dan dan deh

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

Gog3tt3…i know the feeoling…same so.

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

maniac u loosing yuh mind

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

@opti…don’t worry a deh ya fi rass da snake deh…me deh pon de job…you need fi go inna de chapel go chuck off inna de holy water just bathe inna de church fountain like a river you deh…calm dem spirit deh…calm deh…cause dem a make me hot too…wha make you have everybody whe dem deh a get hot…young sir wha kind a obeah you and you spirit dem a study

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

sharlene wid those images cold sweat wash mi not a cooking

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

we like dem, too….to a point…opti light uo de chalice and bung dun rome….

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

THEM unruly spirit u a walk wid…a how much a them…dem unrestrained

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

GOG3TT3R…..WHAT’S BURNING…ARE U COOKING…

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

Opt1 sweedie plz ansa to all these allegations

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

u kno how long mi a look a stallion with a stud

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

its burning mate

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

THESE IMAGES ARE BLINDING MY MINDS EYE

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

FANNING MYSELF

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

wha him lef we fi do…fight over de COCK

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

caring is sharing

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

dats y mi like u enuh maniac

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

lawd Teach..mi just join d class enuh suh y mi cant get d full advantage

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

opti…no sah…no behavior…at all…opti…whispering…hi..pssst…me can get a sneak preview of what the rooster looks like….

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

Opti ketch him fraid…..Tek him yah getta

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

lawd mi sure him wash out n nuh have nuh use fi uno man so just give him to mi mek mi solely enjoy him

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

Optimistic whey yuh deh mon??? Si gogetter ah seek yuh out

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

Sascrise Teach….Mine weh uno a tell mi enuh.. Mi affi guh try find him

@Maniac mi bawn bad suh nuh mek sense she did tell mi dat

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

Gogetter, u ma neva tell yuh seh yuh nuh fi falla bad company?

Welcome to di bad breed club mi dear…..Wi deh yah fi larn an have fun mum….Fun to di werl

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

just my typa Obara

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

hahahaha.. sexdrive in overdrive mi loike it…

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

YES Opti ah did me….It was I an dem odda one who sey soh

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

is wat going on in here.. i cyaan bodder

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

YESSSSSS Sharlene YES!!!!! Fawud di Arnold deh Sharlene

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

me have two fowl inna me yard…one a cock and one hen…but de cfock a gi me pere problem….dis ya cock naw no manners….

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

Ah wha do Opti man? Sascrise, no sah mi cyaan manij yuh atall tall tall …. Nope! not me.

Gog3tt3r u see how dem bad roun ere? Juss wait till di one Orisapikkney an di mad one come den u c summen else

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago
Reply to  Maniac

i wonder weh mi a get mi self into now

sharlenerose
Blogger
sharlenerose
13 years ago

sharlenerose…present….opti….i caan badda…hello all…maniac me cook de arnold and black beanss rice…with some sweet potato..waan some? whe me sista orisa deh…wasa find the herb fi de booty yet or a de cyber hypnotist haffi go find de remedy

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

Morning Opt1 a mistake mi make n say muppet.. meant miss piggy..lol… from d muppets

Obara meji
Blogger
Obara meji
10 years ago
Reply to  Gog3tt3r

Tinkin Toe!!

Obara meji
Blogger
Obara meji
10 years ago
Reply to  Obara meji

Yuh nuh sii post Buru up ah top lol unda mi slender ting ah mi chuneeee

Obara meji
Blogger
Obara meji
10 years ago
Reply to  Obara meji

Shelly thunder some time a bwoy fi get koof!!

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

Gogetter I hope yuh nuh mine sharing enuh…..
Caw Opti is the ongle available man roun ere…..Splendid an Khali run gawn

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago
Reply to  Maniac

No Maniac I’m not a mean person..After all sharing is caring right

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

Sharleneeeeeee….. Whey u deh?

Whey yuh gone? U nuh come fram mawkit yet? Or yuh ah cook di soup? Whey deh pon di menu? Mannish wata?

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

Opti b4 yuh return it beg u a use offa it deh

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

Call me mis muppet..hahahahaha

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

Gog3tt3r may I ask if u male or female?

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago
Reply to  Maniac

female Maniac

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

DWLLLL only Opti…..
U return di washboard yet Opti?

Maniac
Blogger
Maniac
13 years ago

You’re welcome Gog3tt3r….Glad to c u return to skool
Learn lots

Gog3tt3r
Blogger
Gog3tt3r
13 years ago

Hi Maniac… Thanx for that very big welcome…..

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THE MAROONS OF JAMAICA!!!!

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