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Top 30 Most Famous People From Jamaica
The True World Beaters

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Usain Bolt
Bob Marley
Marcus Garvey
Model Carla Campbell
Claude McKay
Spelling Bee Champion Jodian Maxwell
Boxer Lennox Lewis
Musician Shaggy

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.


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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.

See Also: Famous persons who made Jamaica home

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 or those with Jamaican heritage.

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!

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

Honourable Mentions

  1. Merlene Ottey
  2. Peter Sloley
  3. Harry Belavonte
  4. Trevor Williams
  5. Dr. Henry Lowe
  6. Kwame Dawes
  7. Una Clarke -Tomlinson
  8. Alrick Brown
  9. Maurice Ashley

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

Back to Top 'Dem mek wi proud'! - we say in Jamaican Creole.

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!]

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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 9,300 unique readers / viewers per day.

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.

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