The following is a list of notable people from

Jamaica Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of Hispa ...

. The list includes some non-resident Jamaicans who were born in Jamaica and also people of predominantly Jamaican heritage.

Artists

Carl Abrahams Carl Myrie Abrahams OD (14 May 1911 – 10 April 2005) was a Jamaican painter from Saint Andrew Parish. Biography Abrahams was born in St Andrew, Jamaica to a middle class family. He began his career in commercial art at the age of 17 as a ca ...

, painter *

Hope Brooks Hope Brooks (born 1944 in Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican painter. Many of her works consist of multiple panels, and are designed to be exhibited installation-style. Her works are mainly abstract, but many contain political themes as well. Br ...

, painter *

John Dunkley John Dunkley (10 December 1891 – 17 February 1947) was a self-taught Jamaican painter and sculptor. Though his fame is largely posthumous, he is considered one of the island's most significant artists. Dunkley's scenes are full of references ...

, painter and sculptor * Gloria Escoffery, painter and art critic *

Laura Facey Laura Facey CD (born 31 May 1954) is a Jamaican contemporary artist. She is best known for the monumental sculpture ''Redemption Song'' (2003), which serves as Jamaica's national monument to the Emancipation from Slavery. Biography Laura Face ...

, sculptor and installation artist * Christopher González, painter and sculptor * Ras Daniel Heartman, artist * Albert Huie, painter * George "Fowokan" Kelly, sculptor * Edna Manley, painter, sculptor and arts educator *

Alvin Marriott Alvin Tolman Marriott (29 December 1902 – 20 September 1992) was a Jamaican sculptor. He worked in Europe, North and Central America, and Jamaica. Many of his carvings and statues are on public display and in administrative buildings in Jama ...

, sculptor *

Ronald Moody Ronald Moody (12 August 1900 – 6 February 1984) was a Jamaican-born sculptor, specialising in wood carvings. His work features in collections including the National Portrait Gallery and Tate Britain in London, as well as the National Gallery ...

, sculptor; Moody crater on Mercury was named after him *

Keith Anthony Morrison Keith Anthony Morrison, Commander of Distinction (C.D.), born May 20, 1942),"Resume"
Keith Anthony Morrison. is a

, painter, printmaker, educator, critic, curator and administrator *

Petrona Morrison Petrona Morrison (born 1954) is a Jamaican sculptor and media artist. Her work is largely inspired by African art; she uses found objects in assemblages that have both personal and broader social themes. A native of Manchester, Jamaica, Morrison ...

, sculptor and media artist * Ebony G. Patterson, visual artist and educator *

David Pottinger David "Jack" Pottinger (1911–2004) was a Jamaican painter. Self-taught as an artist, he began his career in the 1940s after participating in Edna Manley's classes at the Junior Centre in Kingston, Jamaica. Kingston was the primary subject of ...

, painter *

Mallica Reynolds Mallica Reynolds, OD (10 February 1911 – 24 February 1989), better known by the adopted name "Kapo", was a Jamaican artist and religious leader. Considered one of the greatest artists in Jamaica's "Intuitives" artistic movement, Kapo's religiou ...

, painter and sculptor *

Margaret Rose Vendryes Margaret Rose Vendryes (March 16, 1955 – March 29, 2022) was a visual artist, curator, and art historian based in New York City, New York. Early life and education Vendryes was born on March 16, 1955, in Kingston, Jamaica. She began her studie ...

, multimedia artist * Barrington Watson, painter * Basil Watson, painter and sculptor * Donnette Zacca, fine arts photographer, lecturer, and artist

Beauty contest winners

* Cindy Breakspeare, Miss World 1976 * Carole Joan Crawford, Miss World 1965 * Lisa Hanna, Miss World 1993, politician *

Toni-Ann Singh Toni-Ann Singh (born February 1996) is a Jamaican beauty queen who won Miss World 2019. She was previously crowned Miss Jamaica World 2019 and is the fourth woman from Jamaica to win Miss World. She is also the longest-reigning Miss World in th ...

, Miss World 2019

Business and Law

* Alexander Aikman, printer, publisher, and landowner *

Chris Blackwell Christopher Percy Gordon Blackwell (born 22 June 1937) is an English businessman and former record producer, and the founder of Island Records, which has been called "one of Britain's great independent labels". According to the Rock and Roll ...

, president and CEO of Island Records and Palm Pictures, NYC * Morris Cargill, lawyer and businessman *

G. Raymond Chang G. Raymond Chang, OC, OJ (November 23, 1948 – July 27, 2014), was a businessman, philanthropist and from 2006 until 2012, the third chancellor of Ryerson University. Early life He was of Hakka Chinese descent, born the fifth of 12 children t ...

, co-founder of CI Financial and the third chancellor of Ryerson University *

Alexandra Chong Alexandra Chong is a Jamaican entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Jacana, a global cannabis company. Jacana cultivates, develops and distributes medical cannabis internationally and in a historic move, it was the first company to export Ja ...

, founder and CEO of Jacana *

Gloria Cumper Gloria Claire Cumper, born Carpenter (1922-1995) was a Jamaican barrister, educationist and social reformer. She was the first black woman to study at the University of Cambridge Early life and education Gloria Carpenter was born in Jamaica, th ...

, barrister, the first black woman to study at the

University of Cambridge , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

* Jak Beula Dodd, entrepreneur and inventor of the board game Nubian Jak *

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones (born 7 November 1957) is a British businessman, farmer, and founder of "The Black Farmer" range of food products. He was an unsuccessful Conservative Party candidate for the Chippenham constituency for the 2010 general ...

, businessman, farmer and founder of "The Black Farmer" range of food products * Renatha Francis, circuit Judge in Palm Beach County, Florida *

Claudia L. Gordon Claudia L. Gordon is the first deaf Black female attorney in the United States and the first deaf graduate of American University's law school. She currently works as a Senior Accessibility Strategy Partner at T-Mobile within its Diversity, Equit ...

, lawyer, the first deaf black female attorney in the United States *

GraceKennedy Limited Grace and Grace Foods are brand names of GraceKennedy Limited, a multinational entity involved in food processing and distribution, banking and finance, insurance and remittance services, and building materials retailing. It was established in 192 ...

* Ephraim and Lowell Hawthorne, founders of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery * Joseph John Issa, founder of Cool Group *

Michael Lee-Chin Michael Lee-Chin, (born 3 January 1951) is a Jamaican-Canadian billionaire businessman, and philanthropist and the chairman and CEO of Portland Holdings Inc, a privately held investment company in Ontario, Canada. Lee-Chin was appointed to t ...

, Chairman/CEO of AIC Limited, Chairman of NCB Jamaica *

Henry Lowe Dr. Henry Isaac Clore Lowe (born April 9, 1939) is a Jamaican scientist, philanthropist and businessperson.His career began in academia where he worked at College of Art, Science, and Technology (CAST) for 16 years, before entering public life by j ...

, owns and manages a variety of businesses in the health industry *

Val McCalla Val Irvine McCalla (3 October 1943 – 22 August 2002) was a Jamaican accountant and media entrepreneur who settled in Britain in 1959. He is best known as the founder of ''The Voice'', a British weekly newspaper aimed at the Britain's black com ...

, accountant and media entrepreneur. He is the founder of ''The Voice'', a British weekly newspaper aimed at the Britain's black community *

Caroline Newman Caroline Newman (born 31 October 1963) is a British solicitor, author, entrepreneur and diversity and equality advocate. In 2002, she was the first black solicitor to be elected to the Council of the Law Society of England and Wales. In 2014, New ...

, entrepreneur and the first black solicitor to be elected to the Council of the Law Society of England and Wales * Philip Ernest Housden Pike, barrister and judge who served as the second

Chief Justice of Borneo The Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak ( Malay: ''Hakim Besar Sabah dan Sarawak''; ), formerly the Chief Justice of Borneo, is the office and title of the head of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak. The title has been in use since 24 June 1994, ...

* Heather Rabbatts, businesswoman, solicitor and broadcaster. She became the youngest council chief in the UK and was the first ethnic minority person to serve as a

Football Association The Football Association (also known as The FA) is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest football association in the world a ...

director *

Patrick Lipton Robinson Patrick Lipton Robinson (born 29 January 1944 in Jamaica) is a Jamaican member of the International Court of Justice for the term commencing February 2015. Prior to this he was formerly the President of the International Criminal Tribunal for the ...

, member of the

International Court of Justice The International Court of Justice (ICJ; french: Cour internationale de justice, links=no; ), sometimes known as the World Court, is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN). It settles disputes between states in accordan ...

Tracy Robinson Tracy Robinson may refer to: Business * Tracy A. Robinson - CEO of Canadian National Railway Academia * Tracy S. Robinson - attorney and senior lecturer at the University of the West Indies Media * Tracy Robinson (Emmerdale) – Fictional ch ...

, lawyer and lecturer in the Faculty of Law at the University of the West Indies *

Lascelles Robotham Sir Lascelles Lister Robotham (22 October 1923 – 19 February 1996) was a Jamaican lawyer and judge who worked in a number of Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth countries in the Caribbean. He was Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme ...

, lawyer and Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court *

Levi Roots Keith Valentine Graham (born 24 June 1958), better known as Levi Roots, is a British-Jamaican reggae musician, television personality, celebrity chef, author and businessman currently residing in Brixton, in South London. According to the Sun ...

, Chairman of Reggae Reggae Sauce *

David P. Rowe David Patrick Rowe (May 8, 1959 – January 12, 2018) was a Jamaican-American lawyer, professor, media commentator, corruption watchdog, Commonwealth Caribbean country risk analyst and pioneer in the area of transnational law. He has spent most of ...

, lawyer *Jewel Scott, the first woman and first Caribbean-American District Attorney for Clayton County * Adam Stewart * Gordon "Butch" Stewart *

George Stiebel George Stiebel (1821-1896) was a Jamaican trader and entrepreneur who became a millionaire from gold mining in South America. Stiebel is notoriously named Jamaica's first black millionaire. Family His parents were Sigismund Stiebel (1790-1859), ...

, Jamaican trader and entrepreneur who became Jamaica's first black millionaire * Tom Tavares-Finson, lawyer * Gail Vaz-Oxlade, financial adviser, TV personality *Walkerswood Caribbean Foods *

James S. Watson James Samuel Watson (1882–1952) was one of the first two Black Americans elected as a judge in the state of New York. Biography James S. Watson was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica on May 29, 1882. His father, James Michael Watson, was a Sergean ...

, one of the first

Black Americans African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ensla ...

elected as a

judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...

in the state of

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. * Dame Sharon White, businesswoman and

Second Permanent Secretary A permanent secretary (also known as a principal secretary) is the most senior civil servant of a department or ministry charged with running the department or ministry's day-to-day activities. Permanent secretaries are the non-political civil s ...

HM Treasury His Majesty's Treasury (HM Treasury), occasionally referred to as the Exchequer, or more informally the Treasury, is a Departments of the Government of the United Kingdom, department of Government of the United Kingdom, His Majesty's Government ...

from 2013 to 2015. She was the first black person, and the second woman, to become a Permanent Secretary at the UK HM Treasury * Damian Williams, the first

African-American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ensl ...

U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

Groups

Black Uhuru Black Uhuru is a Jamaican reggae group formed in 1972, initially as Uhuru ( Swahili for 'freedom'). The group has undergone several line-up changes over the years, with Derrick "Duckie" Simpson as the mainstay. They had their most successful pe ...

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pr ...

winners * Bob Marley and the Wailers * Byron Lee and the Dragonaires *

Culture Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups ...

* Inner Circle *

Morgan Heritage Morgan Heritage is a Grammy-winning Jamaican reggae band formed in 1994 by five children of reggae artist Denroy Morgan, namely Peter "Peetah" Morgan, Una Morgan, Roy "Gramps" Morgan, Nakhamyah "Lukes" Morgan, and Memmalatel "Mr. Mojo" Morga ...

, Grammy Award winners * The Pioneers * Skatalites, Ska Band *

Sly and Robbie Sly and Robbie were a prolific Jamaican rhythm section and production duo, associated primarily with the reggae and dub genres. Drummer Sly Dunbar and bassist Robbie Shakespeare teamed up in the mid-1970s after establishing themselves separa ...

Third World The term "Third World" arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either NATO or the Warsaw Pact. The United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Western European nations and their allies represented the " First ...

T.O.K. T.O.K. were a dancehall reggae group from Kingston, Jamaica. The group consisted of Alistaire "Alex" McCalla, Roshaun "Bay-C" Clarke, Craig "Craigy T" Thompson, and Xavier "Flexx" Davidson.Kenner, Rob (2005)Boomshots, ''Vibe'', August 2005, p ...

, a crew of deejays *

Toots and the Maytals The Maytals, known from 1972 to 2020 as Toots and the Maytals, are a Jamaican musical group, one of the best known ska and rocksteady vocal groups. The Maytals were formed in the early 1960s and were key figures in popularizing reggae music. ...

, double Grammy Award Winners

Journalists, poets and writers

Opal Palmer Adisa Opal Palmer Adisa (born 6 November 1954) is a Jamaica-born award-winning poet, novelist, performance artist and educator. Anthologized in more than 400 publications, she has been a regular performer of her work internationally. Professor Emeritu ...

, writer *

Louisa Wells Aikman Louisa Wells Aikman, also known as Louisa Susannah Aikman, (born Louisa Susannah Wells; October 1755 – November 1831) was a British author and music score collector. She is best known for her book, ''The journal of a voyage from Charleston, S.C., ...

, writer *

Gwyneth Barber Wood Gwyneth Barber Wood (died 2006) was a Jamaican travel agent and writer. Biography She was born in Kingston, Jamaica. In 2000, she received a bronze medal and merit certificate for two poems from the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Litera ...

, poet * Edward Baugh, poet * Lindsay Barrett, writer, playwright, journalist * Louise Bennett-Coverley, poet *

Evon Blake Eyrell Blake, known as Evon Blake (7 February 1906 - 7 November 1988), was a Jamaican journalist who challenged the racial status quo in colonial Jamaica. Born in Salem, in Clarendon Parish to Cottilda and Joseph Blake, a farmer, he studied journ ...

, journalist *

Barbara Blake Hannah Barbara Makeda Blake-Hannah (born 5 June 1941) is a Jamaican author and journalist known for her promotion of Rastafari culture and history. She is also a politician, film maker, festival organiser and cultural consultant. She was one of the fir ...

, author and journalist. She was the first black person to be an on-camera reporter and interviewer on British television * Jean "Binta" Breeze, poet * Erna Brodber, novelist *

Charles Hopel Brown Charles Hopel Brown (born 9 October 1964 at Morant Bay, Saint Thomas Parish, Jamaica), is a US Army veteran and computer engineer. After leaving Robert Lightbourne High School, where he was a member of the cadet corp, he then became a police cad ...

, writer, author *

Lady Colin Campbell Georgia Arianna, Lady Colin Campbell (''née'' Ziadie, born 17 August 1949), also known as Lady C, is a British Jamaican author, socialite, and television personality who has published seven books about the British royal family. They include ...

, writer, socialite * Morris Cargill, journalist *

Margaret Cezair-Thompson Margaret Cezair-Thompson is a Jamaicans, Jamaican writer. Author of novels ''The True History of Paradise'' and ''The Pirate's Daughter'', short stories, articles, and a screenplay about a female Jamaican athlete, ''Photo Finish'', purchased by ...

, novelist *

Colin Channer Colin Channer (born 13 October 1963) is a Jamaican writer, often referred to as "Bob Marley with a pen," due to the spiritual, sensual, social themes presented from a literary Jamaican perspective. Indeed, his first two full-length novels, ''Wait ...

, novelist, co-founder of Calabash * Staceyann Chin, poet and writer *

Michelle Cliff Michelle Carla Cliff (2 November 1946 – 12 June 2016) was a Jamaican-American author whose notable works included ''Abeng'' (1985), '' No Telephone to Heaven'' (1987), and ''Free Enterprise'' (2004). In addition to novels, Cliff also wrote ...

, writer *

Aston Cooke Aston Cooke (5 January 1958 – 22 February 2019) was one of Jamaica's leading playwrights and the recipient of nine national Actor Boy Awards for outstanding achievement in various categories of theatre in Jamaica. Cooke was an inductee to the ...

, playwright, artistic director * Carolyn Cooper, writer and cultural theorist *

Christine Craig Christine Craig (born 24 June 1943) is a Jamaican writer living in Florida, United States. She has published collections of poetry and short stories, as well as children's fiction and several non-fiction works. Biography Christine Craig was bor ...

, poet and short story writer *

Patricia Cumper Patricia Cumper, MBE, FRSA (born 1954), also known as Pat Cumper, is a British playwright, producer, director, theatre administrator, critic and commentator. She was the artistic director and CEO of Talawa Theatre Company from 2006 to 2012, and ...

, playwright * Kwame Dawes, Ghana-born writer, co-founder of Calabash *

Jean D'Costa Jean Constance D'Costa (born 13 January 1937) is a Jamaican children's novelist, linguist, and professor emeritus. Her novels have been praised for their use of both Jamaican Creole and Standard English. Early life and education Jean Constance ...

, professor, linguist, and children's novelist *

Ferdinand Dennis Ferdinand Dennis (born 18 March 1956)"Ferdinand Dennis"
,

...

, writer, broadcaster, journalist and lecturer *

Nicole Dennis-Benn Nicole Dennis-Benn (born 1982) is a Jamaican novelist. She is known for her 2016 debut novel, ''Here Comes the Sun'', which was named a "Best Book of the year" by ''The New York Times'', and for her best-selling novel, ''Patsy'', acclaimed by ''Ti ...

, novelist * John Figueroa, poet *

Ryan Fraser Ryan Fraser (born 24 February 1994) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Newcastle United and the Scotland national team. He has previously played for Aberdeen, AFC Bournemouth and Ipswich Town. H ...

, writer * Malcolm Gladwell, writer, journalist *

Thomas Glave Thomas Glave is an American author who has published widely and won numerous awards. He is also a university professor. Biography Born to Jamaican parents in The Bronx, New York, Glave grew up there and in Kingston, Jamaica. He earned a B.A. de ...

, Bronx-born writer * Lorna Goodison, writer *

Hubert Henry Harrison Hubert Henry Harrison (April 27, 1883 – December 17, 1927) was a West Indian-American writer, orator, educator, critic, race and class conscious political activist, and radical internationalist based in Harlem, New York. He was described by a ...

, writer, philosopher *

Victor Headley Victor Headley (born 1959) is a Jamaican-born British author. He is the author of the bestselling novel ''Yardie'' (1992), which gained cult status upon publication and "heralded a new wave of black British pulp fiction". Other books by Headley in ...

, author * John Hearne, novelist * Perry Henzell, writer, director * Marlon James, novelist * Vere Johns, writer, broadcaster, actor * Linton Kwesi Johnson, dub poet *

Roger Mais Roger Mais (; 11 August 1905 – 21 June 1955) was a Jamaican journalist, novelist, poet, and playwright. He was born to a middle-class family in Kingston, Jamaica. By 1951, he had won ten first prizes in West Indian literary competitions.Haw ...

, novelist *

Louis Marriott Louis Marriott (22 May 1935 – 1 August 2016) was a Jamaican actor, director, writer, broadcaster, the executive officer of the Michael Manley Foundation, and member of the Performing Right Society, Jamaica Federation of Musicians, and founding ...

, playwright, actor, director, journalist *

Una Marson Una Maud Victoria Marson (6 February 1905 – 6 May 1965) was a Jamaican feminist, activist and writer, producing poems, plays and radio programmes. She travelled to London in 1932 and became the first black woman to be employed by the BBC d ...

, writer, broadcaster *

Claude McKay Festus Claudius "Claude" McKay Order of Jamaica, OJ (September 15, 1890See Wayne F. Cooper, ''Claude McKay, Rebel Sojourner In The Harlem Renaissance (New York, Schocken, 1987) p. 377 n. 19. As Cooper's authoritative biography explains, McKay's ...

, writer *

Alecia McKenzie Alecia McKenzie (born Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican writer and journalist. Life She studied at Alpha Academy in Kingston, Troy University in Alabama, and Columbia University in New York, focusing on languages, art and journalism. At Troy U ...

, writer *

Anthony McNeill Roy Anthony "Tony" McNeill (1941 – 2 January 1996) was a Jamaican poet, considered one of the most promising West Indian writers of his generation, whose career was cut short by his early death. Biography McNeill was born in Kingston, Jamaica ...

, poet *

Brian Meeks Brian Meeks (born 1953) is a Caribbean poet and academic, who was born in Canada and grew up in Jamaica. Biography Brian Meeks was born in Montreal, Quebec, of West Indian parents, and grew up in Jamaica. His poetry has been published in several ...

, novelist * Kei Miller, writer *

Pamela Mordecai Pamela Claire Mordecai (born 1942) is a Jamaican-born poet, novelist, short story writer, scholar and anthologist who lives in Canada. Biography Born in Kingston, Jamaica, she attended high school in Jamaica, and Newton College of the Sacre ...

, poet *

Mervyn Morris Mervyn Eustace Morris OM (born 21 February 1937) is a poet and professor emeritus at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica. According to educator Ralph Thompson, "In addition to his poetry, which has ranked him among the top West In ...

, poet * Mutabaruka, poet * Oku Onuora, writer *

Geoffrey Philp Geoffrey Philp (born 1958) is a Jamaican poet, novelist, and playwright. Philp used to reside in Jamaica, where he was born and attended Jamaica College, but he relocated in 1979 to Miami, Florida. He is the author of the novel ''Benjamin, My S ...

, writer *

Patricia Powell Patricia Powell (born 1966) is a Jamaican writer, who has won awards for her novels. Biography Born in Jamaica, she moved to the United States in her late teens. She received her bachelor's degree at Wellesley College, and an MFA in creative wri ...

, novelist *

Claudia Rankine Claudia Rankine (; born September 4, 1963) is an American poet, essayist, playwright and the editor of several anthologies. She is the author of five volumes of poetry, two plays and various essays. Her book of poetry, '' Citizen: An American L ...

, poet * Barry Reckord, playwright * Victor Stafford Reid, writer *

Leone Ross Leone Ross (born 26 June 1969, Coventry, England) is a British novelist, short story writer, editor, journalist and academic, who is of Jamaican and Scottish ancestry. Biography Early years and education Leone Ross was born in Coventry, England, ...

, novelist, editor, short story writer, journalist, academic *

Andrew Salkey Andrew Salkey (30 January 1928 – 28 April 1995) was a Jamaican novelist, poet, children's books writer and journalist of Jamaican and Panamanian origin. He was born in Panama but raised in Jamaica, moving to Britain in the 1952 to pursue a job ...

, writer * Dennis Scott, poet and playwright * Olive Senior, writer * Malachi Smith, poet * Pamela Colman Smith, artist and writer *

Michael Thelwell Ekwueme Michael Thelwell (born Michael Miles Thelwell; 25 July 1939) is a Jamaican novelist, essayist, professor and civil rights activist. He was in 1970 founding chairman of the Department of Afro-American Studies at the University of Massach ...

, writer * Vivian Virtue, poet * Sylvia Wynter, writer * Kerry Young, author

Models

* Tyson Beckford, model *

Carla Campbell Carla Campbell (born 22 November 1980 in Jamaica)Happy birthday to the fab people< ...

, model *

Naomi Campbell Naomi Elaine Campbell (born 22 May 1970) is an English model, actress, singer, and businesswoman. She began her career at the age of 15, and established herself amongst the most recognisable and in-demand models of the past four decades. Cam ...

, model * Winnie Harlow, model *

Grace Jones Grace Beverly Jones (born 19 May 1948) is a model, singer and actress. Born in Jamaica, she and her family moved to Syracuse, New York, when she was a teenager. Jones began her modelling career in New York state, then in Paris, working for ...

, model, musician, actress * Venice Kong, ''Playboy'' playmate * Stacey McKenzie, supermodel, actress and model coach * Rachel Stuart, model, television personality *

Karin Taylor Karin Katherine Taylor (born November 28, 1971) is a former international fashion model, known as ''Playboy'' magazine's June 1996 Playmate of the Month. Career Taylor was born in Kingston, Jamaica and began her modeling career at age 17, when s ...

, former ''Playboy'' model

Musicians, actors and film-makers

Aidonia Aidonia (born Sheldon Lawrence, 6 April 1981) is a Jamaican dancehall and reggae artist from Kingston, Jamaica. He became active in early 2004, and has released albums on the record labels, VP Records and Jag One Productions. Aidonia has also ...

, dancehall, rap deejay * DJ Akademiks, blogger *

Alaine Alaine is a Jamaican-American singer, songwriter, producer, and actor. 1998–2004 In 1988, Alaine appeared in movie '' Clara's Heart'' alongside Whoopi Goldberg. Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Alaine lived in the United States and di ...

, singer * Monty Alexander, jazz pianist and composer *

Cherine Anderson Cherine Tanya Anderson (born 25 September 1984, Rockfort, East Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican actress and dancehall/ reggae vocalist. Biography Anderson's acting career began in the film '' Dancehall Queen'' (1997), as Marcia's pressured, t ...

, singer, actress, director * Esther Anderson, actress, film-maker, photographer * Buju Banton, reggae singer *

Roxanne Beckford Roxanne Beckford-Hoge (born November 17, 1969) is a Jamaican-born American actress. Career She has acted in numerous television series and played minor roles in films, including ''Bewitched'' (2005) '' Something's Gotta Give'' (2003), and '' ...

, actress and producer *

Beenie Man Anthony Moses Davis (born 22 August 1973), better known by his stage name Beenie Man, is a Jamaican Dancehall deejay. Biography Davis was born in the Waterhouse district of Kingston in 1973.Moskowitz, David V. (2006) ''Caribbean Popular Mu ...

, deejay; Grammy winner * Thom Bell, musician, singer-songwriter, arranger and producer *

, film-maker, festival organiser * Bounty Killer, reggae musician * Carl Bradshaw, actor, film producer * Yvonne Brewster, actress, theatre director *

Brigadier Jerry Robert Russell (born 28 September 1957), better known by the stage name Brigadier Jerry is a Jamaican dancehall reggae deejay known for his "cultural" lyrics. Biography Brigadier Jerry, often nicknamed "Briggy" and "The General", was born in ...

, reggae musician, dancehall deejay * Dennis Brown, reggae singer * Burning Spear, real name Winston Rodney, reggae musician * Busy Signal, dancehall and reggae musician deejay * Canibus, rapper *

Charlie Chaplin Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin Jr. (16 April 188925 December 1977) was an English comic actor, filmmaker, and composer who rose to fame in the era of silent film. He became a worldwide icon through his screen persona, the Tramp, and is conside ...

, reggae singer * Clive Chin, record producer * Tessanne Chin, singer-songwriter, winner of NBC's '' The Voice'' Season 5 in 2013 * Vincent "Randy" Chin, record producer, co-founder of VP Records * Chipmunk, rapper, songwriter * Chubb Rock, rapper, radio personality *

Tami Chynn Tammar Annika Chin (born 14 June 1983), known by her stage name Tami Chynn, is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, and dancer. Early life Chynn was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Her father, Richard Chin, is of Jamaican and Chinese descent and her mother ...

, singer-songwriter *

Jimmy Cliff James Chambers OM (born 30 July 1944), known professionally as Jimmy Cliff, is a Jamaican ska, rocksteady, reggae and soul musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, and actor. He is the only living reggae musician to hold the Order of Merit, t ...

, singer, reggae musician * Count Ossie, Rastafari Drummer and band leader *

, producer, director, theatre administrator, critic and commentator * Desmond Dekker, ska and reggae singer * Demarco, reggae and dancehall musician *

Coxsone Dodd Clement Seymour "Coxsone" Dodd (26 January 1932 – 4 May 2004) was a Jamaican record producer who was influential in the development of ska and reggae in the 1950s, 1960s and beyond. He was nicknamed "Coxsone" at school due to his talent ...

, record producer *

Clancy Eccles Clancy Eccles (9 December 1940 in Dean Pen, St. Mary, Jamaica – 30 June 2005 in Spanish Town, Jamaica)Katz was a Jamaican ska and reggae singer, songwriter, arranger, promoter, record producer and talent scout. Known mostly for his early reg ...

, ska and reggae singer, record producer *

Eek-a-Mouse Eek-A-Mouse (born Ripton Joseph Hylton, 19 November 1957) is a Jamaican reggae musician. He is one of the earliest artists to be described as a " singjay".Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rough Guide To Reggae, 3rd edn.", Rough Guides, ...

, reggae singer *

Elephant Man Joseph Carey Merrick (5 August 1862 – 11 April 1890), often erroneously called John Merrick, was an English man known for having severe deformities. He was first exhibited at a freak show under the stage name "the Elephant Man" and then wen ...

, reggae singer *

Horace Faith Horace Faith (born Horace Smith, Jamaica) was a Jamaican reggae singer. He is best known for his cover of the Checkmates, Ltd. song, "Black Pearl", which reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart in 1970. Released by Trojan Records (TR 7790) ...

, reggae singer *

Chuck Fenda Leshorn Whitehead (born June 15, 1972), better known by his stage name Chuck Fenda, is a Jamaican American reggae musician and deejay born in Brooklyn, New York City.Campbell-Livingston, Cecelia (2012)Fenda's ordeal, '' Jamaica Observer'', Novemb ...

, singer *

Honor Ford-Smith Honor Maria Ford-Smith (born 1951 in Montreal, Quebec) is a Jamaican actress, playwright, scholar, and poet. The daughter of a brown Jamaican mother and an English father, Ford-Smith is sometimes described as "Jamaica white," signalling a person ...

, actress, playwright, poet *

Dean Fraser Dean Ivanhoe Fraser (sometimes appearing as Dean Frazer) (born 4 August 1957) Allmusic.com biography by Sandra Brennan/ref> is a Jamaican saxophonist who has contributed to hundreds of reggae recordings since the mid-1970s. He was awarded the M ...

, reggae musician *

Kirk Fraser Kirk Fraser (born February 12, 1976) is a film director, screenwriter, and film producer. Kirk Fraser's first documentary film, The Life of Rayful Edmond: ''The Rise and Fall, Vol. I'' was released on July 12, 2005. In 2006 Fraser teamed up wi ...

, film director, film producer, screenwriter * Ghetts, grime MC * Joe Gibbs, record producer *

Andrew Gourlay Andrew Gourlay (born 1982) is a British conductor. Born in Jamaica, Gourlay was subsequently raised in the Bahamas, the Philippines, Japan and the United Kingdom. He is of Russian ancestry.''Andrew Gourlay'' in ''Scherzo'' no.348, February 201 ...

, conductor * Mona Hammond, actress *

Dahlia Harris Dahlia Harris is a Jamaican actress, television and radio personality, public speaker, and film and theatre director. Biography The daughter of Enid and Cyril Harris, Dahlia Harris was born and grew up with her four siblings in Spanish Town, Sa ...

, actress and television personality *

Heavy D Dwight Arrington MyersCuda, Heidi Sigmund Keeping it reel. '' Vibe'' ("born Dwight Arrington Myers")Samuels, Anita M. (January 12' 1996)Heavy D, the C.E.O. ''New York Times'' (May 24, 1967 – November 8, 2011), known professionally as Hea ...

, rapper * Sean Paul Henriques, dancehall musician * Toots Hibbert, reggae musician * Joseph Hill, reggae musician and band leader,

Deni Hines Dohnyale "Deni" Sharon Hines (born 4 September 1970) is an Australian singer who has been releasing music since the early 1990s, with chart success in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Europe. She is the daughter of American-Australian singer M ...

, singer *

Marcia Hines Marcia Elaine Hines, AM (born July 20, 1953), is an American-Australian vocalist and TV personality. Hines made her debut, at the age of 16, in the Australian production of the stage musical ''Hair'' and followed with the role of Mary Magdalene ...

, singer * Stephen Hopkins, film director * Giggs, rapper *

, singer and actress *

K-Anthony K-Anthony is the stage name of Kevin Anthony Fowler, a Jamaican-Canadian contemporary Christian singer and songwriter.Errol Nazareth"K-Anthony could make history at the 2021 JUNOs" '' Words & Music'', April 21, 2021. He received recognition with h ...

, gospel singer * Ini Kamoze, reggae musician * Kano, rapper, actor * Koffee, reggae musician * Vybz Kartel, dancehall musician, rapper, deejay * Wynton Kelly, jazz pianist * Joseph Hoo Kim, record producer * Diana King, reggae musician * King Tubby, dub musician *

Sean Kingston Kisean Paul Anderson (born February 3, 1990), better known by his stage name Sean Kingston, is an American-Jamaican singer and rapper. He is known for his hit songs " Beautiful Girls", " Fire Burning", " Take You There", and his collaboration wi ...

, singer *

Sean Paul Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques OD (born 9 January 1973) is a Jamaican rapper and singer who is regarded as one of dancehall's most prolific artists. Paul's singles " Get Busy" and "Temperature" topped the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in the ...

, singer *

Kiprich Marlon Jaro Plunkett, better known as Kiprich, formerly known as ''Crazy Kid'', is a popular Jamaican dancehall Deejay (Jamaican), deejay. He, like his mentor Elephant Man (musician), Elephant Man, is a member of The Alliance (dancehall), The ...

, deejay * DJ Kool Herc, DJ *

Major Lazer Major Lazer is an American electronic dance music DJ trio, which includes record producer Diplo, and DJs Walshy Fire and Ape Drums. It originates from Kingston, Jamaica, and was founded in 2008 by Diplo and Switch, with Switch leaving af ...

, DJ * Byron Lee, ska and soca musician *

Rusty Lee Rustie Lee (born 22 May 1949) is a Jamaican television personality, television chef, actress and singer. She participated on the Channel 5 reality-television show '' Celebrity Super Spa'' in 2013; ITV's ''Who's Doing the Dishes?'', hosted by Bri ...

, actress, singer, television personality * Barrington Levy, reggae singer * Mad Cobra, dancehall deejay *

Bob Marley Robert Nesta Marley (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981; baptised in 1980 as Berhane Selassie) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements ...

, reggae singer * Damian Marley, reggae musician *

Ky-Mani Marley Ky-Mani Marley (born 26 February 1976) is a Jamaican singer and musician. His name is of East African origin, and means "Adventurous Traveler". He is the only child of Bob Marley with Anita Belnavis, a Jamaican table tennis champion. In 200 ...

, reggae musician * Rita Marley, reggae singer; wife of Bob Marley * Stephen Marley, singer * Ziggy Marley, reggae musician; son of Bob Marley * Mavado, dancehall and reggae musician * Winston McAnuff, Reggae and Dub singer and composer aka Electric Dread * Carmen McRae, singer *

Mr. Vegas Clifford Smith (born December 29th, 1974), better known as Mr. Vegas, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. Biography Clifford Smith was born in Kingston in 1974.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rough Guide to Reggae, 3rd edn.", Rough Gu ...

, deejay *

Hugh Mundell Hugh Mundell (14 June 1962 – 14 October 1983) was a Jamaican reggae singer and songwriter. Biography Mundell was born the fourth child and only boy to Theresa and Alvin Mundell. Alvin Mundell was a successful lawyer.Campbell, Howard (2012)Hu ...

, reggae singer-songwriter *

Augustus Pablo Horace Swaby (21 June 1953 – 18 May 1999),Thompson, Dave (2002) ''Reggae & Caribbean Music'', Backbeat Books, , p. 200-202 known as Augustus Pablo, was a Jamaican roots reggae and dub record producer and a multi-instrumentalist, active f ...

, reggae singer * Patra, dancehall musician * Dawn Penn, reggae singer *

Lee "Scratch" Perry Lee "Scratch" Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry; 20 March 1936 – 29 August 2021) was a Jamaican record producer, composer and singer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production style. Perry was a pioneer in the 1970s development o ...

, reggae musician * Leigh-Anne Pinnock, singer *

Prince Buster Cecil Bustamente Campbell (24 May 1938 – 8 September 2016), known professionally as Prince Buster, was a Jamaican singer-songwriter and producer. The records he released in the 1960s influenced and shaped the course of Jamaican contemporary ...

, ska singer and producer * Ernest Ranglin, jazz, ska, rocksteady and reggae guitarist * Ras Droppa, reggae artist * Lloyd Reckord, actor, producer, director, playwright * Duke Reid, record producer * Wayne Rhoden, singer-songwriter *

Tarrus Riley Omar "Tarrus" Riley (born April 26, 1979, Bronx, New York, United States) is a Jamaican-American reggae singer and member of the Rastafari movement.Kenner, Rob (2009)Reggae Singer With a Legacy, a Following and a Mission. '' New York Times''. ...

, singer *

Tenor Saw Clive Bright (2 December 1966 – August 1988), better known as Tenor Saw, was a Jamaican dancehall singjay in the 1980s, considered one of the most influential singers of the early digital reggae era. His best-known song was the 1985 hit "Ring ...

, reggae artist * Sasha, deejay * Lady Saw, reggae musician * Serani, reggae singer * Shabba Ranks, reggae musician *

Shaggy Shaggy may refer to: People *Shaggy (musician) (born 1968), Jamaican American reggae rapper and singer *Shaggy 2 Dope, half of the hip hop, horrorcore band Insane Clown Posse *Shaggy Flores (born 1973), Nuyorican poet, writer and African diaspora ...

, singer-songwriter *

Shenseea Chinsea Lee (born 1 October 1996), known professionally as Shenseea, is a Jamaican dancehall artist. She initially gained attention after appearing on songs by Vybz Kartel, Sean Paul, and Christina Aguilera. In 2019, she signed a recording contr ...

, rapper * Madge Sinclair, Emmy winning actress * Sister Nancy, dancehall deejay * Sizzla, reggae and dancehall deejay * Millie Small, singer-songwriter * Mikey Smith, dub poet *

Spice A spice is a seed, fruit, root, bark, or other plant substance primarily used for flavoring or coloring food. Spices are distinguished from herbs, which are the leaves, flowers, or stems of plants used for flavoring or as a garnish. Spices a ...

, dancehall musician *

Spot Spot or SPOT may refer to: Places * Spot, North Carolina, a community in the United States * The Spot, New South Wales, a locality in Sydney, Australia * South Pole Traverse, sometimes called the South Pole Overland Traverse People * Spot (produ ...

Spragga Benz Carlton Errington Grant (born 30 May 1969), better known as Spragga Benz, is a Jamaican dancehall deejay. Career He began his career around 1991. He was once known to his friends as " Spaghetti" (tall and slim), but this was later shortened ...

, reggae and dancehall deejay * Neville Staple, singer *

Peter Tosh Winston Hubert McIntosh, OM (19 October 1944 – 11 September 1987), professionally known as Peter Tosh, was a Jamaican reggae musician. Along with Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, he was one of the core members of the band the Wailers (1963 ...

, reggae musician * Ruby Turner, singer, songwriter and actress. * Bunny Wailer, reggae singer * Willard White, operatic bass-baritone * Peter Williams, actor * Wretch 32, rapper * Tyga, rapper * Stefflon Don, rapper * Yellowman, reggae and dancehall deejay

Politicians

Kenneth Baugh Kenneth Lee O'Neil Baugh, (24 February 1941 – 1 September 2019) was a Jamaican politician and surgeon. A member of the Jamaica Labour Party, he served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and Minister of ...

, Minister of Health and Deputy Prime Minister * Barbara Blake-Hannah, first Rastafarian representative in the Jamaican parliament *

Alexander Bustamante Sir William Alexander Clarke Bustamante (born William Alexander Clarke; 24 February 1884 – 6 August 1977) was a Jamaican politician and labour leader, who, in 1962, became the first prime minister of Jamaica. Early life and education He wa ...

, trade unionist and Prime Minister, national hero * Bruce Golding, Prime Minister * Lisa Hanna, Minister of Youth & Culture, former Miss World * Andrew Holness, Prime Minister *

Hyman Isaac Long Hyman Isaac Long was an American physician in New York City by 1786. He was an immigrant from the British colony of Jamaica in the West Indies and is listed in the first ity directory of 1786. He is known for his leadership in developing Freemaso ...

, Deputy Inspector General of the Grand Consistory of the twenty-five degree "Rite of the Royal Secret" (11 January 1795) * Michael Manley, Prime Minister * Norman Manley, Prime Minister and Jamaican national hero *

Earle Maynier Earle Maynier (died September 1972) was a Jamaican diplomat who served as Jamaica's High Commissioner to Canada from 1962 to 1965. Maynier also played a part in the Trade Liberalization Proposals that were made by the West Indies. He graduated f ...

, first Jamaican High Commissioner to Canada *

Henry Moore Henry Spencer Moore (30 July 1898 – 31 August 1986) was an English artist. He is best known for his semi-abstract art, abstract monumental bronze sculptures which are located around the world as public works of art. As well as sculpture, Mo ...

, colonial governor * Trevor Munroe, trade unionist and politician *

P. J. Patterson Percival Noel James Patterson, popularly known as P.J. Patterson (born 10 April 1935), is a Jamaican former politician who served as the sixth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006. He served in office for 14 years, making him the longe ...

, Prime Minister * Edward Seaga, Prime Minister *

Portia Simpson-Miller Portia Lucretia Simpson-Miller (born 12 December 1945) is a Jamaican politician. She served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from March 2006 to September 2007 and again from 5 January 2012 to 3 March 2016. She was the leader of the People's Nationa ...

, Prime Minister * Tom Tavares-Finson, President of the Senate of Jamaica.

Religious leaders

* S. U. Hastings, first Jamaican bishop of the

Moravian Church The Moravian Church ( cs, Moravská církev), or the Moravian Brethren, formally the (Latin: "Unity of the Brethren"), is one of the oldest Protestantism, Protestant Christian denomination, denominations in Christianity, dating back to the Bohem ...

* Rev Rose Josephine Hudson-Wilkin,

Bishop of Dover The Bishop of Dover is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Canterbury, England. The title takes its name after the town of Dover in Kent. The Bishop of Dover holds the additional title of "Bishop ...

and the first black woman to become a

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Brit ...

bishop. She was the first black female to hold the role of Queen's Chaplain. She also served as Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons from 2010 to 2019 * Oliver Lyseight, the founder of one of Britain's largest black majority churches, and spiritual leader to the " Windrush generation" *

Neville Neil Neville Sylvester Neil (17 March 1917 – 22 May 2009) was a bishop of the Moravian Church in Jamaica.Obituary of Neville Neil, ''Jamaica Weekly Gleaner'', p. 32, 27 July 2009 – 2 August 2009. Biography Bishop Neil was born in Dunder Hill, a ...

, bishop of the

Moravian Church in Jamaica The Jamaica Province of the Moravian Church (formally The Moravian Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands) is part of the worldwide Moravian Church Unity. History 1754–1809 The beginning The work of the Moravian Church in Jamaica started wi ...

Science and medicine

* Evan Dale Abel, Jamaican-born endocrinologist *

Maydianne Andrade Maydianne Andrade is a Jamaican-born Canadian ecologist. She is known for her work on the mating habits of spiders, in particular spiders belonging to the Latrodectus species. In 2007, she was named a Canadian Research Chair in Integrative Behav ...

, Jamaican-born Canadian ecologist. * Simone Badal-McCreath, Jamaican chemist and cancer researcher *

Walt Braithwaite Walt W. Braithwaite (born January 1945) is a Jamaican-born American engineer and former executive at Boeing. He played an integral role in the introduction and use of CAD/CAM and IGES technology at Boeing and in 2000 was named as Boeing's Pres ...

, Jamaican-born American engineer and former executive at Boeing. * Aggrey Burke, Jamaican-born psychiatrist and the first black consultant psychiatrist appointed by Britain's

National Health Service The National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). Since 1948, they have been funded out of general taxation. There are three systems which are referred to using the " ...

(NHS) * Nira Chamberlain, mathematician and the first black mathematician to join the exclusive list of distinguish living British mathematicians who feature in the biographical reference book Who’s Who. He is also the creator of a mathematical cost capability trade-off model for ''

HMS Queen Elizabeth HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'' could refer to one of three ships named in honour of Elizabeth I of England: * was the lead ship of the s, launched in 1913 and scrapped in 1948 * HMS ''Queen Elizabeth'' was to have been the first of the 1960s planned CV ...

'' *

Paul R. Cunningham Paul Raymond Goldwyn Cunningham (born 1949) is a Jamaican American surgeon and medical educator known for pioneering as one of the few African American medical Deans existing in the United States. Their number becomes even smaller when only consi ...

, Jamaican-born surgeon and medical educator * Patricia Daley, Jamaican-born British human geographer and academic * Patricia DeLeon, Jamaican reproductive geneticist who specialists in the male reproductive system *

Tashni-Ann Dubroy Tashni-Ann Dubroy (nee Coote; born c. 1981) is a Jamaican academic and university administrator in the United States. She has been executive vice-president and chief operations officer (COO) of Howard University since 2017, having previously serve ...

, Jamaican science academic and university administrator in the United States * Kevin Fenton, epidemiologist and a regional director at

Public Health England Public Health England (PHE) was an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care in England which began operating on 1 April 2013 to protect and improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. Its formation came as ...

* Yvette Francis-McBarnette, Jamaican-born paediatrician *

Bertram Fraser-Reid Bertram Oliver "Bert" Fraser-Reid (23 February 1934 – 25 May 2020) was a Jamaican synthetic organic chemist who has been widely recognised for his work using carbohydrates as starting materials for chiral materials and on the role of oligosac ...

, Jamaican synthetic organic chemist * Neil Gardner, Jamaican chiropractic neurologist, former athlete * Thomas J. Goreau, Jamaican biogeochemist and marine biologist; * Neil Hanchard, Jamaican physician and clinical investigator * Odette Harris, Jamaican-born professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University and the Director of the Brain Injury Program for the Stanford University School of Medicine. *

Jacqueline Hughes-Oliver Jacqueline Mindy-Mae Hughes-Oliver is a Jamaican-born American statistician, whose research interests include drug discovery and chemometrics. She is a professor in the Statistics Department of North Carolina State University (NCSU). Education ...

, Jamaican-born statistician * Hedley Jones, Jamaican audio engineer and astronomer *

Thomas Lecky Thomas Phillip Lecky, known as T.P. Lecky (1904-1994), was a Jamaican scientist who developed several new breeds of cattle. Lecky is known as one of Jamaica's earliest environmentalists, and a strong advocate for conservation of hillsides. His rese ...

, Jamaican scientist who developed several new breeds of cattle *

Elsa Leo-Rhynie Elsa Ann Leo-Rhynie OJ (née Fairweather) is a retired Jamaican academic and university administrator who is a professor emerita of the University of West Indies (UWI). She is a former principal and pro-vice-chancellor of its Mona, Jamaica, camp ...

, Jamaican science academic *

, Jamaican scientist, philanthropist and businessman *

Camille McKayle Camille Althea McKayle (born 1964) is an Afro-Jamaican -American mathematician and is the current Provost of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). She holds a PhD in mathematics from Lehigh University and taught undergraduates at Lafayett ...

, Jamaican-born mathematician *

Harold Moody Harold Arundel MoodyDavid A. Vaughan London: Independent Press, 1950. (8 October 1882 – 24 April 1947) was a Jamaican-born physician who emigrated to the United Kingdom, where he campaigned against racial prejudice and established the League ...

, Jamaican physician *

Ludlow Moody Ludlow Murcott Moody CBE (1 November 1892 in Kingston, Jamaica – 19 November 1981, Kingston), a qualified doctor, was the son of Charles Ernest Moody, and, like his brother Harold Moody also studied medicine in London at King's College London M ...

, Jamaican physician *

Errol Morrison Errol York St Aubyn Morrison (born 21 September 1945) is a Jamaican scientist who has done extensive work in diabetes and is president of the University of Technology, Jamaica. He entered the University College of the West Indies where he acqui ...

, Jamaican scientist who has carried out pioneering work in the field of diabetes *

Karen E. Nelson Karen Nelson is a Jamaican-born American microbiologist (specializing in human microbiome research) who was formerly president of the J. Craig Venter Institute (JCVI). On July 6, 2021 she joined Thermo Fisher Scientific as Chief Scientific Offi ...

, Jamaican-born American microbiologist, * Geoff Palmer, Jamaican-born scientist * Donald Richards, statistician * Mercedes Richards, Jamaican-born pioneering astronomy and astrophysics professor. * Robert Robinson, Jamaican-born engineer * Mary Seacole, Jamaican-born woman of Scottish and Creole descent who set up a "British hotel" behind the lines during the Crimean War *

Jean Springer Jean Springer born 12 September 1939)is a Jamaican academic who spent most of her career in Canada, serving as a professor of mathematics at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta, and specializing in abstract algebra. Life Springer was born ...

, Jamaican mathematics professor * Garth Taylor, Jamaican ophthalmologist, professor, and humanitarian *

Manley West Manley Elisha West OM (17 March 1929 - 24 April 2012) was a Jamaican pharmacologist who studied the marijuana plant. He investigated medicines for glaucoma. Education West was born in Fairy Hill, Portland Parish, Jamaica. He studied at Titchfie ...

, Jamaican pharmacologist who developed a treatment for

glaucoma Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve (or retina) and cause vision loss. The most common type is open-angle (wide angle, chronic simple) glaucoma, in which the drainage angle for aqueous humor, fluid withi ...

Cicely Williams Cicely Delphine Williams, OM, CMG, FRCP (2 December 1893 – 13 July 1992) was a Jamaican physician, most notable for her discovery and research into kwashiorkor, a condition of advanced malnutrition, and her campaign against the use of swee ...

, identified the protein deficiency disease

kwashiorkor Kwashiorkor ( , ) is a form of severe protein malnutrition characterized by edema and an enlarged liver with fatty infiltrates. It is thought to be caused by sufficient calorie intake, but with insufficient protein consumption (or lack of go ...

Henry Vernon Wong Henry Vernon Wong is a Jamaican-American physicist known for his work in Plasma physics. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Texas, Austin. Career Wong's early education was at Cornwall College in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He won a Jama ...

, Jamaican-American physicist known for his work in plasma physics.

Sports

Alia Atkinson Alia Shanee Atkinson, Order of Distinction, OD (born 11 December 1988) is a Jamaican five-time Olympic Games, Olympian and a former competitive Swimming (sport), swimmer whose international competition career spanned 19 years, 2003 to 2021 inclu ...

, OD, multiple time Olympic

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

Berg, Aimee (November 20, 2018)
"Alia Atkinson: Jamaica's Tour de Force"
''

FINA FINA (french: Fédération internationale de natation, en, International Swimming Federation, link=yes) (to be renamed as World Aquatics by ) is the international federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for administer ...

''. Retrieved July 20, 2021. * Donovan Bailey, Jamaican-born Canadian, world champion sprinter *

Leon Bailey Leon Patrick Bailey (born 9 August 1997) is a Jamaican professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Jamaica national team. Bailey arrived in Europe at the age of 13 and played for a number of c ...

, Jamaican footballer playing for

Aston Villa FC Aston Villa Football Club is a professional football club based in Aston, Birmingham, England. The club competes in the , the top tier of the English football league system. Founded in 1874, they have played at their home ground, Villa Park ...

* John Barnes, Jamaican-born English football player; played for the

England national football team The England national football team has represented England in international Association football, football since the first international match in 1872. It is controlled by The Football Association (FA), the governing body for football in Engl ...

and

Liverpool F.C. Liverpool Football Club is a professional football club based in Liverpool, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. Founded in 1892, the club joined the Football League the following year and has ...

Trevor Berbick Trevor Berbick (1 August 1954 – 28 October 2006) was a Jamaican professional boxer who competed from 1976 to 2000. He won the WBC heavyweight title in 1986 by defeating Pinklon Thomas, then lost it in his first defense in the same year to M ...

, champion boxer *

Atari Bigby Atari David Bigby (born September 19, 1981) is a former American football safety. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at the University of Central Florida. Bigby has also been a mem ...

, former

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly ...

player * Andre Blake, professional MLS goalkeeper *

Yohan Blake Yohan Blake (born 26 December 1989) is a Jamaican sprinter specialising in the 100-metre and 200-metre sprint races. He won gold at the 100 m at the 2011 World Athletics Championships as the youngest 100 m world champion ever, and a silver m ...

, sprinter *

Usain Bolt Usain St. Leo Bolt, , (; born 21 August 1986) is a retired Jamaican sprinter, widely considered to be the greatest sprinter of all time. He is the world record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay. An eight-ti ...

, world and Olympic record holder, 100m and 200m * Walter Boyd, former professional footballer * Steve Bucknor, international cricket umpire *

Veronica Campbell-Brown Veronica Campbell-Brown CD ( Campbell; born 15 May 1982) is a retired Jamaican track and field sprinter, who specialized in the 100 and 200 meters.

, sprinter * Alicia Ashley, former women's boxing champion *

Omar Cummings Omar Cummings (born 13 July 1982) is a former Jamaican international footballer who played as a forward. He spent his entire professional career in the United States. Career Youth and amateur Cummings attended Jonathan Grant High School, Cinc ...

, Jamaican-born MLS and

Jamaica national football team The Jamaica national football team, nicknamed the "Reggae Boyz", represents Jamaica in international football. The team's first match was against Haiti in 1925. The squad is under the supervising body of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), ...

football player *

Chili Davis Charles Theodore "Chili" Davis (born January 17, 1960) is a Jamaican-American former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder and designated hitter from to for the San Francisco Giants (1981–1987), California Angels (1988–199 ...

, Jamaican-born American, former star

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (A ...

player * Patrick Ewing, Jamaican-born American, former NBA star * Junior Flemmings, professional footballer *

Heather Foster Heather Foster (born December 20, 1966) is a Jamaican-born American professional bodybuilder. Early life and education Heather Foster was born in 1966 in Kingston, Jamaica. She has two brothers and one sister. Her parents migrated to Jamaica, Q ...

, Jamaican-born American professional bodybuilder *

Shaun Francis Shaun Francis (born 2 October 1986) is a Jamaican footballer who last played for Louisville City FC in the USL Championship. Early life Personal Francis was born in Mandeville, Jamaica to Joy and Carlton Francis. He attended Glenmuir High S ...

, former professional footballer * Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, sprinter, 100m and 200m World and Olympic record holder (Beijing 2008 and London 2012), fondly known as "The Pocket Rocket" *

Ricardo Fuller Ricardo Dwayne Fuller (born 31 October 1979) is a retired Jamaican professional footballer who played as a forward. Fuller started his football career with Jamaican side Tivoli Gardens, before he moved to England with Crystal Palace in Februa ...

, Jamaican-born

Premier League The Premier League (legal name: The Football Association Premier League Limited) is the highest level of the men's English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Fo ...

and Jamaica national football team football player *

Ricardo Gardner Ricardo Wayne Gardner (born 25 September 1978), commonly known as Bibi, is a Jamaican former professional footballer. He works as assistant coach at Portmore United. A left winger, he could also play in the centre of midfield or at left wingba ...

, Jamaican-born Premier League and Jamaica national football team football player * Chris Gayle, Captain of West Indian International Cricket Team *

Ian Goodison Ian De Souza Goodison (born 21 November 1972) is a Jamaican former professional footballer who played as a defender. He spent most of his career at English side Tranmere Rovers. Club career Born in Montego Bay, Saint James, Goodison began hi ...

, former professional footballer *

Owayne Gordon Owayne Omar Gordon (born 8 October 1991) is a Jamaican professional association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward and Winger (association football), winger for Richmond Kickers in the USL Championship. ...

, professional footballer * George Headley,

cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by st ...

er * Sek Henry, basketball player *

Wavell Hinds Wavell Wayne Hinds (born 7 September 1976) is a former West Indian international cricketer, who played all formats of the game. He was a left-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium-pace bowler. Hinds played 45 Test matches for the Wes ...

, cricketer * Michael Holding, cricketer *

Shericka Jackson Shericka Jackson, OD (born 16 July 1994) is a Jamaican sprinter competing in the 100 m, 200 m, and 400 metres. She is the fastest woman alive and second fastest woman of all time in the 200 metres since 2022. Jackson started her car ...

, Olympic medalist *

Kamara James Kamara Latoya James (November 23, 1984 – September 20, 2014) was an American Olympic épée fencer. James was born in Kingston, Jamaica, into a single-parent household. Her family moved to Jamaica, Queens, New York, when she was 10. She wa ...

, Jamaican-born American, Olympic fencer * Ben Johnson, Jamaican-born Canadian, disgraced champion sprinter * Glen Johnson, champion boxer * Ryan Johnson, former professional footballer *

Jerome Jordan Jerome Adolphus Jordan (born September 29, 1986) is a Jamaican professional basketball player for Peñarol Mar del Plata of the Liga Nacional de Básquet (LNB). He played college basketball for the University of Tulsa and represents the Jamaic ...

, NBA player, New York Knicks center #44 * Andrew Kennedy, professional basketball player * Rajiv Maragh, jockey *

Tyrone Marshall Tyrone Everton Marshall (born 12 November 1974) is a retired Jamaican footballer and current head coach of FC Cincinnati 2, the reserve team of Major League Soccer's FC Cincinnati. Career Youth and College Marshall moved to the Fort Lauderda ...

, Jamaican-born MLS and Jamaica national football team football player * Darren Mattocks, Jamaican-born MLS and Jamaica national football team football player *

Mike McCallum Mike McCallum (born 7 December 1956) is a Jamaican former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1997. He held world championships in three weight classes, including the WBA super welterweight title from 1984 to 1988, the WBA middlewei ...

, champion boxer *

Merlene Ottey Merlene Joyce Ottey (born 10 May 1960) is a Jamaican- Slovenian former track and field sprinter. She began her career representing Jamaica in 1978, and continued to do so for 24 years, before representing Slovenia from 2002 to 2012. She is ...

, Jamaican-born Slovenian sprinter, the world's most winning female athlete *

Asafa Powell Asafa Powell, CD (born 23 November 1982) is a retired Jamaican sprinter who specialised in the 100 metres. He set the 100 metres world record twice, between June 2005 and May 2008 with times of 9.77 and 9.74 seconds. Powell has consisten ...

, sprinter, former 100m world record holder *

Donald Quarrie Donald O'Riley Quarrie CD (born 25 February 1951) is a Jamaican former track and field athlete, one of the world's top sprinters during the 1970s. At the 1976 Summer Olympics he was the gold medallist in the Olympic 200 meters and silver med ...

, sprinter * Shawn Rhoden, bodybuilder * Sanya Richards-Ross, Jamaican-born American sprinter, 400m *

Donovan Ricketts Donovan Ricketts (born 7 June 1977) is a Jamaican former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper and is currently an assistant coach for FC Tulsa in the USL Championship. Ricketts played more than 100 games for Bradford City in Engla ...

, Jamaican-born MLS and Jamaica national football team football player * Tessa Sanderson, Jamaican-born former British Javelin gold medalist and Heptathlon * Trecia-Kaye Smith, former Triple Jump World Champion * Raheem Sterling, Jamaican-born English football player; currently plays for

Manchester City Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

Shavar Thomas Shavar Thomas (born 29 January 1981 in Hannah Town) is a retired Jamaican footballer and current assistant coach of FC Cincinnati 2 of MLS Next Pro. Career Amateur and college Thomas played as a youth for Hazard United in Jamaica and at Th ...

, Jamaican-born MLS and Jamaica national football team football player * Elaine Thompson-Herah, OD, multiple Olympic champion *

Stephen Tulloch Stephen Michael Tulloch (born January 1, 1985) is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at North Carolina State. He was also a member o ...

, National Football League middle linebacker for Detroit Lions and N.C. State Wolfpac; born in Miami of Jamaican heritage * Peter-Lee Vassell, professional footballer * Melaine Walker, sprinter, 400m Olympic record holder (Beijing 2008) * Courtney Walsh, cricketer * Nicholas Walters, professional boxer, former WBA (Super) World Featherweight champion * Devon White, baseball player * Theodore Whitmore, former professional footballer, coach * Arthur Wint, OD MBE, Olympic former 400m gold medalist

Others

Diane Abbott Diane Julie Abbott (born 27 September 1953) is a British politician who has been Member of Parliament (MP) for Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987. A member of the Labour Party, she served in the Shadow Cabinet of Jeremy Corbyn as ...

, first female member of the African-Caribbean community to be elected to the UK House of Commons in 1987 *

Hope Arthurine Anderson Hope Arthurine Anderson (June 2, 1950, in Port Antonio – March 24, 2016 ) was a Jamaican chess champion. Biography Anderson was the sixth of eight children born to a policeman, Arthur, and a seamstress, Iris. She attended Titchfield High Schoo ...

, national chess champion and Olympian *

Emily Rose Bleby Emily Rose Bleby (2 June 1849 – 3 May 1917) was a Jamaican-born social reformer active in the British temperance movement. She was affiliated with various organizations including the British Women's Temperance Association, Sons of Temperance, ...

(1849-1917), temperance reformer * Dawn Butler, Labour MP since 2015. Butler became the first black woman to speak from the despatch box in the House of Commons in December 2009 * Alan Eyre, geographer and environmentalist * Michael Fuller, Britain's first black Police Chief Constable and Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service * Marcus Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) *

St. William Grant William Wellington Wellwood Grant Order of Distinction, OD (1894 – 27 August 1977) was a Jamaican labour activist. He was known as "St. William Grant", "St." presumably meaning "Sergeant" in reference to his military or UNIA service. He is reg ...

, trade unionist and activist *

Henry Gunter Henry Gunter (1920-2007) was a leading British communist and civil rights leader, most famous for his campaigns for racial equality in the English city of Birmingham. After joining the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB), he authored a repo ...

, civil rights campaigner, trade unionist and the first black delegate to be elected to the

Birmingham Trades Council Birmingham Trades Council is the trades council body which brings together trade unionists from across Birmingham, England. Its headquarters were formerly in Digbeth, with a huge mural above the canteen area depicting the 1972 Battle of Saltley Ga ...

* Stuart Hall, cultural theorist, political activist and co-founder of '' New Left Review'' * Thomas Duffus Hardy, archivist and antiquary *

Donald J. Harris Donald Jasper Harris (born August 23, 1938) is a Jamaican-American economist and professor emeritus at Stanford University, known for applying post-Keynesian ideas to development economics. He is the father of the 49th and current vice president ...

, economist * Lenford "Steve" Harvey, AIDS activist *

Barrington Irving Captain Barrington Irving Jr. (born November 11, 1983) is a Jamaican-born American pilot who previously held the record for the youngest person to pilot a plane around the world solo, a feat he accomplished in 2007. He is also the first black per ...

, pilot who previously held the record for the youngest person to pilot a plane around the world solo *

Baroness Lawrence Doreen Delceita Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, OBE (''née'' Graham; born 1952) is a British Jamaican campaigner and the mother of Stephen Lawrence, a black British teenager who was murdered in a racist attack in South East London i ...

, campaigner *

Ian McKnight Co-founder of Jamaica AIDS Support for Life, Ian McKnight served as Executive Director for this organization from 1991 until 2002. Later he worked as Director of Targeted Interventions and Director for Social Marketing and Public Education with ...

, founder of Jamaica AIDS Support for LIFE (JASL) * Bill Morris,

General Secretary Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...

of the

Transport and General Workers' Union The Transport and General Workers' Union (TGWU or T&G) was one of the largest general trade unions in the United Kingdom and Ireland – where it was known as the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union (ATGWU) to differentiate ...

from 1992 to 2003, and became the first black leader of a major British trade union. *

Colin Powell Colin Luther Powell ( ; April 5, 1937 – October 18, 2021) was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005. He was the first Africa ...

, politician, statesman, diplomat, and

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, ...

officer who served as the 65th

United States Secretary of State The United States secretary of state is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State. The office holder is one of the highest ranking members of the president's Ca ...

from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African-American Secretary of State * Roxroy Salmon, Jamaican-American immigration activist

References

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Artists

Beauty contest winners

Business and Law

Groups

Journalists, poets and writers

Models

Musicians, actors and film-makers

Politicians

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See also

References