Book Review

Jamaica 101

jamaica-101-book-cover
Jamaica-101-book-cover

Overview

  • Author:Totlyn Oliver
  • Reviewed by:Nicola Cunninghan – Williams

Though most of the hoopla of our Jamaica 50 celebrations has pretty much died down, why not indulge in a little nostalgia while learning more about the island we live in? ‘Jamaica 101’ is a compilation of everything we know, love and cherish about this nation from the good and the funny to the cultural and quirky. There really is no nation quite like ours with rum bars and churches being strange bed fellows –beside each other in many vicinities – and crusades and street dances both playing loud music to overzealous listeners.

‘Jamaica 101’ provides various lists all totalling 50 (though some have a ‘likkle braata’) of phrases, words, slang, brand names, activities, peculiarities, species, personalities, places, food, flora and even popular songs with hilarious titles that still make us chuckle to this day.

An ingenious way of further promoting ‘Brand Jamaica’, this unique publication is guaranteed to have every Jamaican whether at home or in the Diaspora grinning like a ninny from ear to ear as they reminisce on words from ring games, including ‘bluebird in and out the window’ and ‘little Miss Nancy went to town; salivate for a piece of fry sprat with hard-dough bread or some hominy corn porridge’. They will laugh as they remember watching ‘Dancehall Queen’, ‘Don’t Wake the Baby’,’Bedward’, ‘Smile Orange’,’ Pirate Princess’ or ‘Unda Me Nose’ or look back with fond memories of their mothers’ home remedies saturated with ‘sinkle bible , brooklax, tiger balm, neem or leaf o’ life’.

No matter how knowledgeable you think you are, there is something to be learned in ‘Jamaica 101’, – author Totlyn Oliver Banks compiled a special list of 50 interesting facts about this nation including gems such as the fact that rafting on the Rio Grande in Portland is Jamaica’s oldest tourist attraction; it started circa 1872!
‘Jamaica 101’ is a great conversation starter, coffee table item for your home and the perfect gift for a visitor interested in learning about our culture in an easy to digest format. It is also ideal for Jamaicans home on holiday who want to reconnect with their roots. It is a timely reminder that “weh nuh ded, no dash it weh”

‘Jamaica 101’ is a great conversation starter, coffee table item for your home and the perfect gift for a visitor interested in learning about our culture in an easy to digest format. It is also ideal for Jamaicans home on holiday who want to reconnect with their roots. It is a timely reminder that “weh nuh ded, no dash it weh”