Famous People From Jamaica
The True World Beaters!

Custom Search

Yes, there are thousands of world famous people from Jamaica - although some are more famous than others.

But I have to admit, I really marveled at the number of Jamaicans I found that are world true beaters when conducting this research. I mean those that have overcome the odds to make it, and make it grand on the world stage.

Considering also that we are still under 3 million people-only approximately 1/7th the size of New York, this is truly an amazing feat!

They sprung up from varying backgrounds, although many are who we consider 'grassroot' Jamaicans, or those whose families were not from the esteemed class.

The most readily identified are perhaps the musicians, led by Robert Nesta Marley (Bob Marley), but there are scores of other individuals who truly made our little rock proud.

The list includes:

Actors,
Athletes and Sport Coordinators,
Business People,
Poets,
Boxers,
Activists
Educators
Students eg. Jodian Maxwell
Novelist
Journalists
Producers,
and of course politicians.

Below is My Top 30 list (sorted alphabetically), of the most famous people from Jamaica.

If you question my judgment or want to make a suggestion - with reason, please feel free to do so by clicking here.

OK, enough of my chatter, here you go!

Asafa Powell, Athletic Sprinter
Bob Marley, Reggae Musician
Buju Banton, Reggae DJ
"Butch" Stewart, Businessman
Carla Campbell, Model
Chris Blackwell, President & CEO Of Island Records And Palm Pictures, NYC.
Claude Mckay, Writer
Courtney Walsh, Record Breaking Test Cricketer
Donald Quarrie, Jamaican 200 Metre Gold Medalist
Donovan Bailey, Jamaica-Born Canadian, World Champion Sprinter
Edward Seaga, Former Prime Minister
Edna Manley, Artist/Sculptor
Edward Baugh, Poet
Jimmy Cliff, Reggae Musician
Jody-Anne Maxwell, Winner Of The Scripps National Spelling Bee Competition
Linford Christie, World Champion Sprinter
Lennox Lewis, World Champion Boxer
Louise Bennett-Coverly, Poet and Cultural Icon
Marcus Garvey, Political Activist
Merlene Ottey, Athletic Sprinter
Michael Lee-Chin, Chairman/CEO of AIC Ltd. & Chairman of NCB Jamaica
Michael Manley, Former Prime Minister
Mike Mccallum, Champion Boxer
P. J. Patterson, Former Prime Minister
Patrick Ewing, Jamaica-Born American, Former NBA Star
Portia Simpson-Miller, Prime Minister
Sean Paul, Reggae Singer
Shaggy, Reggae Singer and Songwriter
Steve Bucknor, International Cricket Umpire &
Usain Bolt, Jamaican Sprinter!

Am I missing someone?Who do you think should be added to this list?

Click Here to add this person
Click here to see other nominations

Wikipedia also has an nicely extended and categorized list of famous people from Jamaica. Take a look at them HERE [opens in a new window].

I noticed they have a list of popular Jamaican Americans [if you care] as well. Take a peek at them right here as well.

Look out world, you may just be seeing my name appearing on this prestigious list of famous people from Jamaica soon. I hope. [SMILE!]

Pages Related To Famous People From Jamaica

Make sure you subscribe to my free monthly e-zine My Island Jamaica Digest (MIJD) and stay with the latest from Jamaica!

Suggest Another Famous Jamaican

Do you know a Jamaican who has done exceptionally well for the country, or in his or her field of work?

Please let us know!

Please include as much detail as possible telling us why he or she should be recognized here.

Enter his/her NAME and other basic info here

What has this person done?
Why should we recognize this person?
Please be as detailed as possible. [ ? ]

Do You have a Photo?[ ? ]

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Click here to see the rest of the form and complete your submission.

Other Great Suggestions

Here are some of the suggestions we have received so far.

Professor Louis Grant worked tirelessly for the Jamaican people
Professor Louis Grant: born March 6, 1913 in Clarendon. He was an internationally acclaimed Pathologist, and Microbiologist who did significant work …

Marie Atkins, Former Mayor of Kingston & St. Andrew
Famous and Notable Jamaicans: Marie Atkins Mayor Marie Atkins was the 3rd female mayor for Kingston & St. Andrew, Jamaica and is the longest serving …

Colin Powell
The Former American Secretary of State was born to Jamaican parents who moved to the US in the 1920s. Seventy-four years ago, Colin Powell was born …

Famous Jamaican Educators
Hugh Sherlock founded the YMCA and the Boys' Town Sports Club town in Jamaica. He was also a social worker,cricketer also a clergy man. He wrote the much …

Jamaican Scientists,Jamaican Engineers, Jamaican Painters and Technical Experts
He developed the cattle, Jamaican Hope and more. Web Articles: The Gleaner Thomas Lecky, was born on a small farm in Portland in 1904. He …

Famous Jamaican Actors,Playwrights and Beauty Contestants
Wow this man has been making Jamaicans, and others, laugh for years. His comedies/plays are great. He should be recognized for that if not anything else. …

Famous Jamaican Culturalists, Politicians and Social Commentators
Whist forming the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), Marcus Garvey had over 4 million black people under his leadership. That is a phenomenal …

Top Jamaican Authors
From the dawn of civilization, man has been an author in his own way, with testimony of his writings found engraved on the walls of caves, on the trunks …

Famous Jamaican Athletes and Sport Players
... World Record Holder of 100m and 200m. Mr. Bolt brought honorable mention once again to Jamaica, in the same light of a Bob Marley , Marcus Garvey …

shelly ann fraser - Jamaican Athlete Not rated yet
Jamaican Athlete a great female athlete born December 27 1986. born in Kingston Jamaica.at age 21 she became the first female athlete to win a 100 …

Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce, Jamaican sprinter Not rated yet
Shelly Ann has earned the title 'fastest woman in the world'. She does exceptionally well on the track every time she set foot on it no matter the place …

Famous Jamaican- Joseph Andrew (Joey) Clarke Not rated yet
Master Playwright, Director, Actor, Writer, Broadcaster and Copywriter and Wordsmith. Author of "Stories of Exordia" (Obtainable from Kindle) Born …

Tesssane Chin-musician Not rated yet
Wow this woman is an AMAZING singer she has worked SOOO hard to get to where she is now and is inspirational

Merlene Joyce Ottey - Jamaican Athlete (Sprinter) Not rated yet
Merlene Ottey is may 'famous and favourite Jamaican'. A daughter of jamaica from the cold hills of Hanover, the same parish of birth for Alexander Bustamante; …

The Right Excellent Norman Washington Manley Not rated yet
Norman Washington Manley was born to mixed-race parents in Roxborough in Jamaica's Manchester parish, on 4 July 1893. His father Thomas Albert Samuel Manley, …

Merlene Ottey - Jamaica's Most Decorated Athlete Not rated yet
Merlene Ottey was born to Hubert and Joan Ottey in Cold Spring, Hanover, Jamaica. In her early school years in the 1970s, Ottey attended Gurneys Mount …

Usain Bolt. Not rated yet
Double World,Olympic and record holder in both 100m,200m and 4x1 relay

Sir Donald Sangster - The Forgotten Jamaican Prime Minister Not rated yet
Sir Donald was acting prime minister for Jamaica from 1961 to 1967 when he became Prime Minister. During his tenure he was also Finance Minister and …

Famous Jamaican - Dr. Olga Graham Not rated yet
Dr. Olga Graham nee Richards, formerly Lindo. Schools: Immaculate Conception, Holy Childhood High (Holy Cross), University Of the West Indies, York …

Famous Jamaican Musicians, Producers and Artistes Not rated yet
He brought reggae to the world and to me. He made people aware of Jamaica and introduced many to Rasta who would have never heard of it otherwise. …

Click here to write your own.

Go To Famous Places In Jamaica from Famous Jamaicans
Return to My Island Jamaica from Famous People from Jamaica

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.

Recommended For You ...

And, Before You Go!

Here (below) are some sweet deals on matching products at Amazon that you might have otherwise missed.

Amazon.com, by the way, is the internet's most reputable retailer and usually showcases only the best products that are related to your search. Be sure to check them out.

Note: If link does not show, please click here to be redirected to our page at Amazon.com.

P.S. Didn't find exactly what you were looking for? Still need help?

Click Here to try our dependable and effective Site Search tool, It works!

Or, simply click here to ask me the question. I'll do my best to get back to you within 24 hours!

Great Articles You Might Have Missed

data-matched-content-rows-num="2" data-matched-content-columns-num="3"

Please help me get the message out by sharing this article with your friends on social media (links below). Thnx ;-)

You are also welcome to join my special friends list and receive exclusive updates (like this), tips, trivia and stories from lovers of Jamaica! Just enter...

Also connect with My-Island-Jamaica.com on Social Media:
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube

Thank You!

About The Author

A patriotic Jamaican who adores his culture, Wellesley has been using this medium to share what he calls 'the uniqueness of Jamaica with the world' - since April 2007.

To date, he serves over 8,300 readers/ viewers (per day) with great.

His efforts have earned him featured positions in local publications, including the Jamaica Gleaner's Hospitality Jamaica, Carlong Publishers, as well as recognition from numerous prestigious international agencies and universities.

He invites you to join his friends list and stay updated on all the latest. You are also invited to join his exclusive patron community.