Launched in 1982, Rae Town Old Hits is the longest-running sound system session in Kingston, and probably the longest running in the world.
Jamaica Tourist Board Over the Years
Carrole Guntley-Brady was the first woman to be appointed as the Director of Tourism at the Jamaica Tourist Board in 1984. It was under her leadership, when the hospitality industry was struggling in Jamaica, that the JTB took a new approach to marketing the island. During the early 1980s, Jamaica was known more for violence than its beautiful white sand beaches. Guntley-Brad made it her […]
The Life and Work of Artist Gene Pearson
From the moment you drive up to the studio of ceramic artist and sculptor Gene Pearson, you are greeted by one of his many works of art: a gigantic steel gate in the shape of his iconic Nubian mask. It’s this mask, the head, that the artist has become known for internationally. Pearson, a 1965 graduate of the Edna Manley College of the Visual and […]
A Look Behind the Two Wheels One Love BMX Program
Much like surfing in Jamaica, BMX (bicycle motocross) is a sport that is slowly becoming a hit among the young people of Jamaica. Far from the white sand beaches of Jamaica, BMX began in the 1970s when young cyclists in the United States appropriated motocross tracks for their own use for wild stunts and races. The sport continued to rise in popularity in the states […]
Learn How to Make this Easy Jamaican Breakfast
One of the most popular breakfast meals in Jamaica is porridge. The classic dish is a mainstay in many households across the island, and for good reason. According to a study by Harvard University, whole grains such the oats used in porridge may be the key to living longer. Today, we’re sharing sisters Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau’s (who are authors of a cookbook) most essential […]
“Welcome back,” Jamaica shares its Story with the World
1972 was a monumental year for the Jamaican Tourist Board and Sintra Bronte. It was the year the JTB released a promotional campaign that would go on to become one of the most iconic advertisements for Jamaica to this day. While we’ve already shared the incredible story behind Jamaica’s most famous poster on Outpostings, the 1970s had much more to offer when it came to […]
Five Tips to Living a Healthy Life: A Jamaican Herbalist Shares Her Secrets
Gillian Francis, better known as Minka Luv to her friends and family, is a self-professed “Jill of all trades.” Born and raised in Jamaica, she’s cultivated many interests over the years: fashion and jewelry design, songwriting, and, most notably, herbal healing. Ever since Francis was a little girl, she felt it was her calling. “I always spoke to plants and they’ve always spoken back to […]
Check Out This Artist’s Studio in Jamaica
For many people, leaving home and venturing off to new lands is the impetus for living a life of passion. For David Pinto, a Jamaican ceramic artist, it was the other way around. Pinto, who was born in Jamaica, left home for his studies both in England and the U.S. at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). After completing his training and working […]
The Easiest Summer Dish with a Jamaican Twist
Last month, we shared the recipe for a seriously delicious herb-dusted mahi-mahi filet by culinary duo, Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau. Now, we’re sharing their perfect accompaniment for any summer picnic—boiled corn. Instead of serving with plain butter, the sister chefs use a Jamaican-inspired pimento butter-and-cheese spread. Don’t be afraid by the number of ingredients—this is actually a super simple recipe with great flavor. Here’s how […]
Nicole Dennis-Benn’s Debut Novel is a Love Letter to Jamaica
Jamaican-born author Nicole Dennis-Benn recently released her debut novel, Here Comes the Sun, to much critical acclaim. The book delves deep into a Jamaica rarely seen by tourists—one that includes exploitation, classism, and sexuality. In an email interview with Outpostings, New York-based Dennis-Benn discussed the book and where she finds her happy place when visiting Jamaica. Here, she shares her personal tips on how visitors […]
Jamaica is Making History at Rio 2016
Ready, set, Rio! More than 11,000 athletes from 206 national teams are competing in the 2016 Summer Olympics, which kicked off in Rio de Janeiro on August 5th and will run until August 21st. Everyone is hoping to take home the gold for their country. In Jamaica, all eyes are on hometown superstars Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Toni Ann Williams and the other 56 team […]
This Man is Revolutionizing How Jamaica Farms
Neil Curtis is revolutionizing how Jamaica farms. Born to Jamaican parents in the United States, Curtis has always had a deep connection to the island his parents called home, and, as a person of the Jamaican diaspora, he’s wanted to give back to his ancestral homeland in a meaningful way. In 2013, he traveled to Jamaica after inheriting a family member’s cocoa farm, and soon […]
Here’s How the Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary is Doing One Year Later
Last year, we shared the sad truth that Jamaica’s coral reefs—due to overfishing, coastal pollution and climate change—may disappear within the next 20 years, and the story of one organization working to prevent that outcome. The Oracabessa Fish Sanctuary partnered with a local fishing cooperative to create a no-fishing zone and replenish the coral reefs of Oracabessa Bay. The sanctuary paid off, with over 2,000 […]
In the Kitchen with Jamaica’s Top Culinary Duo
Rousseau sisters with Johnny Iuzzini at NyamJam We’re back in the kitchen with Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau, the chefs behind the island’s popular cooking series Two Sisters and a meal. The duo’s cookbook, Caribbean Potluck, came out in 2014, and last year they participated in Island Outpost’s innaugural NyamJam Festival.. They recently dished about the lessons they’ve learned over the years being food entrepreneurs on Outpostings, […]
How a Study Abroad in Cape Verde Led to a New Life in Jamaica
Photo via Ashley Hyde Travel has a way of changing your life in an impactful way. That’s what happened to Ashley Hyde, who runs one of Jamaica’s most promising new travel companies, Touch the Road Jamaica. In 2011, Connecticut-raised Hyde visited Cape Verde with her college for a program on migrant workers who’d been deported back to the island nation. During her senior year, Hyde […]