Jamaica’s love for Ghana is deep. I personally have felt this love from a very early age. Growing up in Jamaica, we celebrated African culture in everything we did. Our music and arts have all been subsets of the larger African mainland. As I grew older, I could put the pieces of the puzzle together to connect Jamaica’s love for Ghana. Even our folklores and some of our national heroes are Ghanaians.
Growing into an adult didn’t change that. In fact, my love for Africa, and Ghana to be specific, has grown exponentially in my adult years. But what makes this bond so strong? We would think that after the slave trade this bond would be at least a little broken. Yet, it has stood the test of time and has remained strong. I have come to realize that it comes about because we are all family. In essence, we’ve been hewn from the same rock and molded by the same culture.
Jamaicans and Ghanaians share more than just a distant past. We share a sense of identity that unites us. Jamaica’s love for Ghana feels destined, almost as if it was meant to be. In this blog, we’ll look deeper into what caused this love, and why it has endured the test of time. Let’s dive in.
How Shared History Inspire Jamaica's Love for Ghana
Jamaica’s love for Ghana began with our shared history. Many of our ancestors came from Ghana during the Atlantic slave trade, bringing their culture with them. A lot of Jamaicans have traced their roots back to this vibrant West African land. Ethnic groups like the Akan and Ewe have long been a part of Jamaica’s history and people.
Though separated by time and distance, the connection to Ghana remained strong in Jamaica. The Year of Return in 2019 brought this bond to the forefront, inviting the African diaspora to return to Ghana. Jamaicans responded with open hearts, and many took the opportunity to move to the country.
The Year of Return deepened Jamaica’s love for Ghana. The event fostered mutual understanding and respect, showing that despite centuries of separation, the two nations remain united by their shared history and common struggle.
Cultural Similarities
Jamaica’s love for Ghana is deeply rooted in cultural similarities. Music and dance are at the heart of both nations. I remember growing up around Rastafarians who embraced African culture. There was a time when these individuals would come to our community for cultural gatherings that have stayed with me to this day.
Ghanaian and Jamaican music are similar in many ways. They share the same beats and vibes that give African music its individuality. An example is Ghana’s highlife music which shares rhythm with reggae and dancehall. Bob Marley has been a key in producing music that connects Jamaicans and Ghanaians in the spirit of love and unity.
We also share the love for food. I had so much yam in Ghana that I didn’t miss Jamaica one bit. This is because both cultures love yam. Similarly, plantain and spicy food are loved by both countries. Even Jamaica’s national fruit, the ackee, can be found in Ghana.
Rastafarianism and Pan-African Ideals inspire Jamaica's Love for Ghana
Video of a famous Marcus Garvey speech. Video Credit: No Compromise Media
Rastafarianism connects Jamaica’s love for Ghana on a spiritual level. I personally have been connected by this spiritual love shared between Ghanaians and Jamaican Rastafarians. For many Rastas, Ghana is the promised land. It’s a symbol of return to Africa.
Many Jamaicans have been led to Ghana by messages of repatriation, driven by icons like Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley, and the general Rastafarian community. Jamaicans from all walks of life have settled in Ghana and found their place in the world.
One reason many Jamaicans have settled smoothly in Ghana is the welcoming nature of the Ghanaian government toward the African diaspora. Accra has become a top city for the Ghanaian Rastafarian community, strengthening cultural ties that have fueled Jamaica’s love for Ghana. Marcus Garvey would be proud to see the progress Jamaicans have made in returning home to our ancestral lands.
Warm Personalities and Hospitality
I remember during my first visit to Ghana, there was this one guy who was truly excited when he heard I was Jamaican. He started using a lot of Jamaican slangs and speaking patois as fluently as possible. I was truly surprised because I knew about Jamaica’s love for Ghana but now I learned that Ghana loves Jamaica too.
The love bond between Jamaicans and Ghanaians is also influenced by the warm personalities of both nations. Apart from the language, we are the very same people, full of life and vibrance. We both love to smile, tell stories and make fun of everything around us. Both sets of people are also very welcoming and friendly.
This shared love of life and connection strengthens the bond between the two, deepening Jamaica’s love for Ghana. At the end of the day, Jamaica got its culture from the African people, so this similarity is a natural occurrence.
Cultural Exchange and Influence
Jamaica’s love for Ghana is reflected in the cultural exchange between the two. Reggae and dancehall music shape Ghana’s nightlife. You’ll also hear Ghanaian music pumping from the speakers of Jamaican sound systems during big events and celebrations. Jamaican phrases and patois even find their way into Ghanaian slang. These cultural exchanges make this love for Ghana even more vibrant and alive.
Celebrating Black Excellence
Shared black excellence has been at the forefront of Jamaica’s love for Ghana. One unique thing to Jamaica and Ghana is that we both celebrate Black excellence. Exceptional people like Kwame Nkrumah, Usain Bolt, and Marcus Garvey have inspired both Jamaicans and Ghanaians. They represent the triumph of African descendants that our ancestors would be proud of. They have also shortened the bridge between both nations, bringing them closer in their shared love for each other.
The Concept of Coming Home Has Inspired Jamaica's Love for Ghana
My first time in Ghana inspired my return to make Ghana my forever home. I had never felt so at home outside of Jamaica, and I knew there was something special from the get go. This feeling is not just mine; it’s felt by most Jamaicans visiting Ghana. The major difference between the two is language, yet even that cannot quench the love shared between these two beautiful nations.
Conclusion
Like siblings, Jamaica’s love for Ghana is always young and fresh. No matter how far apart they are, they long to be together. Both nations share history, blood, and food. We also share music and a similar hope that one day Africa will be reunited with her former glory.
Until then, Jamaicans and Ghanaians live together in harmony and peace. The love we share goes both ways. This means that not only do Jamaicans love Ghanaians, but Ghanaians also love Jamaicans too. May Africa’s lost children return home.
