We are all familiar with local superstars who have put Jamaica on the world map or flown our flag in different corners of the continent, such as Bob Marley, Usain Bolt, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, among others. There are also other individuals of Jamaican descent across the globe who are making the country proud in various fields.
As we warm up for Jamaica sixtieth anniversary, these are some of the people we would like to honor. Many celebrities, politicians, and famous Jamaicans or people of Jamaican descent have succeeded in other countries. You probably didn’t know famous people had Jamaican roots we would like to celebrate as we gear up for the special Jamaica Independence Day.
Will.i.am
Will.i.am is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is the founding and lead member of the musical group Black Eyed Peas.
Aged 25, when a passport application resulted in him seeing his full birth certificate for the first time, he found out that his real, full name was William James Adams Jr. He was named after his Jamaican father he never known, and whom no one in his family ever discussed.
R&B singer Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello, popularly known as Alicia Keys, was born in 1981 in Clinton in Manhattan, New York City. She was born to a Jamaican father and an Italian mother. Alicia Keys grew up as a young, talented musician, which attracted the attention of producers during her teenage years. In 2001, she released her debut album, Songs in a Mirror, winning 5 Grammy awards and a Song of the Year award. She went on to win other Grammy awards with her other albums, As I am, released in 2007, The Diary of Alicia Keys, released in 2003, and Girl on Fire, released in 2009. Alicia Keys was also the main host of the 2019 Grammy Awards. Apart from her musical prowess, she has also tried acting by featuring on roles in movies like The Backyardigans, released in 2004, The Nanny Diaries, which debuted in 2007, and The Secret Life of Bees released in 2008, just to name a few.
Pete Wentz, Fall Out Boy
Pete Wentz is a popular American lyricist and Bassist for the famous Chicago rock band Fall Out Boy. He was born in 1979 in Chicago to an Afro-Jamaican mom and a German dad. Wentz has had a significant contribution to the Chicago punk rock scene. He has featured in multiple hits and award-winning projects.
Naomi Campbell – Supermodel
Naomi Elaine Campbell is one of the original supermodels in the world. She was born and raised in London, but she is proud of her Jamaican roots. Campbell was born in 1970 to Valerie Morris, a Jamaican-born dancer. In the early 1980s, she dominated the runways, and she remains a force in the fashion world up to date. Campbell still dominates the runways with models who are half her age. She has hosted several shows, featured in magazine covers, and won several fashion accolades.
Patrick Ewing – Former NBA Athlete
The Basketball Hall of Famer was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1962 before migrating to the US at 11 years old. His hard work and persistence made him a top basketball player, and he played for top teams like the New York Knicks. Ewing also played with famous players like the legendary Michael Jordan. He built a name for himself and featured in the famous ‘Dream Team’ where he led the U.S men’s national basketball team to two Olympic gold medals during the 1984 and 1992 games. Ewing retired in 2002 and has for 11 times featured in the NBA all-star and inducted to the Hall of Fame.
Sanya Richards-Ross – Track and Field Star
The track and field star was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1985 before moving to the United States in her teenage years to sharpen her growing athletic skills. She has since succeeded in her field, winning several Olympic medals in 400m and 4×400m events. Besides her stunning performances on the track, Sanya Richards Ross started a project, the Sanya Richard Fast Track Program to support upcoming Jamaican athletes.
Colin Powell – U.S. Secretary of State
Colin Luther Powell became the first African American to serve as the U.S secretary of state under the Bush administration (2001 to 2005). He was born in 1937 in Harlem, New York City, to Luther Theophilus Powell and Maud Ariel, who had immigrated to the United States some years before. Powell started working as a shipping clerk before joining the military, where he served for 35 years. He was also the first African American to become a Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell has articulated a lot about his life in his autobiography My American Journey.
Al Roker – Television Host
Albert Lincoln Roker Jr., popularly known as Al Roker, is an American TV personality, author and actor, who mostly features on NBC’s Today Show. He was born and raised in Queens, New York City, in 1954 to Caribbean parents, Albert Lincoln Roker Sr of Bahamian descent and Isabel of Jamaican descent. His infectious personality has captured the attention of millions who are always glued to his show.
Actress Kerry Washington
Born in 1977 in The Bronx, New York City, Kerry Marisa Washington is a famous actor, director, and producer. She is popular for her lead role in Scandal’s super hit TV series, where she features Olivia Pope. Kerry’s mother, Valerie Washington, is Jamaican, while her father is American. She has also featured in other movies and TV shows like For Coloured Girls, Django Unchained, Save the Last Dance, and the Fantastic Four Films.
L.A. Rapper Tyga
Micheal Ray Stevenson, popularly known as Tyga, is a famous rapper who git his breakthrough after signing for Young Money Entertainment. He was born in 1989 in Compton, California, to Jamaican and Vietnamese parents. His father is of Jamaican descent, while his mum is Vietnamese. Tyga has had a successful music career, releasing many hit singles featuring famous artists like Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, and Nicki Minaj. Tyga has never forgotten his roots. In 2016, he traveled to Jamaica for 1 of 1 video shoot.
Rapper Bobby Shmurda
Ackquille Jean Pollard, known by Bobby Shmurda, is another famous new-age rapper of Caribbean descent. He was born in Miami, Florida, to a Trinidadian mother and a Jamaican father. His breakthrough came in 2014 after releasing the mega-hit Hot N*gga. Bobby has had a few problems with the law but was released earlier this year. With a promising musical future, we expect more hits from him.
Actor & Model, Tyson Beckford
Tyson Craig Beckford is an American actor and model born in 1970 in The Bronx, New York City. Hillary Dixon Hall’s mother is Jamaican, while his father, Lloyd Beckford, is a Panamanian of Chinese-Jamaican descent. Growing up in Jamaica and the Big Apple, Beckford had no plans to be a model. He has modeled for top brands like Ralph Lauren and featured in several fashion events and magazine covers. Beckford has also been a mentor, host, and judge in his modeling career.
Louis Farrakhan, an American Religious Leader and Political Activist
The leader of the Nation of Islam, a religious and political organization, was born in The Bronx, New York City, in 1933. Farrakhan was born as Louis Eugene Wolcott (mistakenly spelled as Walcott) to Percival Clark and Sarah Mae Manning, who migrated from the Caribbean Islands to the US. His father, Percival Clark, was a Jamaican Native, while his late mom was born in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Farrakhan has remained influential in American religious and political issues and is also vocal on racial injustice. He has gained recognition from both critics and supporters.
