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Early Jamaican migration to Ecuador and influence
Published: Friday | August 21, 2015
by Paulette Ramsay
"Solomon Grampa gone a Ecuador
Lef him wife an pickney out a door
Nobody's business but him own."
Jamaican migration in the 19th century to Central America and other Caribbean countries has been the subject of much study. There is significant research on the first large-scale movement of Jamaicans in 1850, to Panama, where they worked on the construction of the railway line, as well as their departure in 1880-1904 to build the Panama Canal.
Historians like Franklin Knight have documented the movements of Jamaicans to Cuba: to provide slaves for the sugar plantations in the early 19th century; to fight in the Cuban War of Independence and as seasonal workers employed by the United Fruit Company between 1902-1931. However, I am not aware of any studies that have given attention to the migration of Jamaicans to Ecuador. Even those studies which investigate the black presence in Ecuador ignore the Jamaican heritage and contribution.
The extract quoted above is from a well-known Jamaican folk song, but it is quite dubious if many Jamaicans are aware that these rhythmic lyrics actually have a basis in historical reality.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/n...-and-influence
Published: Friday | August 21, 2015
by Paulette Ramsay
"Solomon Grampa gone a Ecuador
Lef him wife an pickney out a door
Nobody's business but him own."
Jamaican migration in the 19th century to Central America and other Caribbean countries has been the subject of much study. There is significant research on the first large-scale movement of Jamaicans in 1850, to Panama, where they worked on the construction of the railway line, as well as their departure in 1880-1904 to build the Panama Canal.
Historians like Franklin Knight have documented the movements of Jamaicans to Cuba: to provide slaves for the sugar plantations in the early 19th century; to fight in the Cuban War of Independence and as seasonal workers employed by the United Fruit Company between 1902-1931. However, I am not aware of any studies that have given attention to the migration of Jamaicans to Ecuador. Even those studies which investigate the black presence in Ecuador ignore the Jamaican heritage and contribution.
The extract quoted above is from a well-known Jamaican folk song, but it is quite dubious if many Jamaicans are aware that these rhythmic lyrics actually have a basis in historical reality.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/n...-and-influence
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