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Top 30 Most Famous People From Jamaica
The True World Beaters

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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.

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!

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!

Honourable Mentions

Merlene Ottey
Peter Sloley
Harry Belavonte
Trevor Williams
Dr. Henry Lowe
Kwame Dawes
Una Clarke -Tomlinson
Alrick Brown
Maurice Ashley

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

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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!]

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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.

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