"Jamaica - Babylon Calling" Jamaica by ultchuk

Jamaica Travel Guide: 2,455 reviews and 4,845 photos

Island in the Sun

In september 1986 after a preparation of about 1 to 2 years I finally went to Jamaica. The reason was that I would conduct a study about a particular branch of the Rastafarian Movement. I had been interested in religious movements in the so called Third World and in Reggae music in general and I combined the two. So I tried to get in touch with several people at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Kingston. In september 1986 I left Holland by plane (British Airways) and was bound for Jamaica. But remember, these were still the pre-internet years. Phoning home to Holland costs a lot from Jamiaca. Sending letters to Holland took at least a week. So very tough when you want to discuss parts of your study/work with your supervisor in Holland. Almost difficult to imagine nowadays where I can send a mail to anyone around this globe. Yeah, mon, irie things!

Kingston

Together with 'Tiny'

I arrived in a very hot Kingston,Jamaica. OMG, I was not used to this kind of heat, coming from my lowland country by the sea. 'Whitey' all these Jamaicans in Kingston had to say, especially when I would walk around, something that most 'whitey's wouldn't do too often in some of the neighbourhoods I visited. I had arranged a fairly good lodging and stayed near Liguanea, which was aslo near to the UWI. From there I could hop on the mini busses all the way downtown or the other way to UWI. In the six months I stayed in Jamaica I met with some of the outstanding Jamaican researchers on Rastafari and many Rastas, especially the Bobos that live in Bull Bay. I finished my thesis on the Bobo's in 1988.
Years past. Uuntil more than a year or so ago a Swedish researcher, somehow having read parts of my thesis written in Dutch, mailed me that somehow 'my particular group' was spreading rapidly in Jamiaca, in the Caribbean and some parts of Africa. He said there was a large interest in the Bobo Dreads and people are dying for a English study. I was amazed. I had predicted this outcome in my last chapter when I finished it in 1988, but who would have thought it would turn out to be like I described! So who knows one day I will pick it up again.

West Kingston

A painting by Kapo

It took some time but after a while I managed to get into West Kingston, a slum area and very poor. It caused some surprising remarks from the inhabitants but with the help of some religious people I met many people there. One I can not forget and that's Malicia Reynolds aka 'Kapo. He was an artist/sculpturist and already famous at the time. But he was kind enough to meet with me and I talked with him for quite a while. Kapo passed away in 1989. Kapo nowadays is regarded as one of Jamaica's modern artistic geniuses and his paintings have become famous in Jamaica and abroad and are widely acclaimed.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Hot and sunny
Cons:Hot and sunny, ha!

Last visit to Jamaica: Mar 1987
Intro Updated Dec 22, 2003
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Reviews (4)

Ackee with Salt fish Local Customs (1)

This looks like brains but it's a part of the national Jamaican cuisine. This Ackee fruit is pear shaped, bright red to... more travel advice

Bobo Camp in Bull Bay Off The Beaten Path (1)

One of the oldest groups of the Rastafarian Movement in Jamaica is the one from Prince Emmanuel. His followers, the... more travel advice

Rastafari Favorites (1)

The reason for me to go to Jamaica was that I did a study on the Rastafarian Movement in Jamaica. I stayed there for... more travel advice

Jamaica Bus Transportation (1)

There's all kind of local transport available in Jamaica. These types of busses on the photo where not seen very often... more travel advice

Comments (4)

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awayhome Mar 8, 2004 at 11:51 AM

What a great Jamaica page! there's on my wish, hope to visit someday-)))
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Goner Feb 17, 2004 at 9:17 PM

Really interesting page, you must have learned much about the locals in 6 months.
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goga4444 Nov 26, 2003 at 12:35 PM

Ackee looks so weird LOL I d like to see that in person:)
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asgottl Nov 26, 2003 at 9:42 AM

What an amazing experience! I'd love to ready your thesis!