Celebrating the Black, Green, and Gold of Jamaica’s Independence
By Anisha Pemjee - TDS
Pictured front row (l-r) Albert Edwards, Jamaican High Commission and Vice President of IDSA, Racquel Jenkins, founder of BOLD Beauty, Joan Thomas Edwards, High Commissioner of Jamaica and Karem Ruiz de Livieres, Embassy of Paraguay and President of IDSA with members of IDSA (photo: TDS)
6 August 2025
As Jamaica celebrates its journey of freedom and identity this Emancipation and Independence season, South Africa also pauses to honour the bravery and courage of women on 9 August, Women’s Day, a reminder of the shared legacies of resistance, resilience, and rising empowerment that connect Africa and the Caribbean.
This year, Jamaica marks its national milestones under the theme: “Be Proud, Be Bold in Black, Green and Gold,” a fitting tribute to the spirit of a nation that continues to inspire the world. On the eve of Emancipation Day (August 1) and Independence Day (August 6), Joan Thomas Edwards, High Commissioner of Jamaica to South Africa, hosted a culturally rich event in Pretoria that reflected not only Jamaica’s creative and entrepreneurial prowess but also its deep, historical ties to Africa.
Importantly, Jamaica and its Caribbean and Latin American neighbours are officially recognised as the sixth region of the African Union (AU), the African Diaspora. This recognition places Jamaica at the heart of Africa’s global partnerships and acknowledges the Caribbean’s vital role in Africa’s rise, development, and prosperity. The Emancipation and Independence celebrations, therefore, become more than national events, they are continental in spirit, symbolising a shared past and a common future between Africa and its extended diaspora.
Facing the Music, Boldly
The Pretoria event, themed “FACE THE MUSIC… because IMAGE MATTERS! A MORNING of TROPICAL RHYTHMS, TASTY TREATS and BOLD MAKEOVERS,” featured Racquel J, an accomplished Jamaican beauty entrepreneur and mechanical engineer. Racquel’s bold career pivot and global success, including work on international fashion weeks, editorial shoots, film sets, and her current contract with Warner Brothers, epitomise the Jamaican spirit of reinvention, excellence, and fearless creativity. Her signature cosmetics brand, Bold Beauty, recently launched in South Africa, drew excitement from members of the diplomatic community, the Jamaican diaspora, and the International Diplomatic Spouses Association (IDSA) who experienced first-hand the genius behind the brand.
Jamaica: A History of Defiance, A Future of Influence
Emancipation Day, observed annually on August 1, honours the end of slavery in 1834. Independence Day, celebrated on August 6, marks Jamaica’s historic break from British colonial rule in 1962. Together, these dates reflect a long and determined struggle for freedom, dignity, and self-determination.
Even before its independence, Jamaica took bold positions against injustice. In 1959, while still a British colony, Jamaica became one of the first countries to impose a trade embargo on apartheid South Africa, making a powerful moral statement and initiating the global anti-apartheid movement. It is this shared legacy of resistance against oppression that continues to bind Jamaica and South Africa, not just historically, but politically and culturally.
From Tracks to Global Stages
Jamaica, though small in size, has long punched above its weight on the global stage. In athletics, it has redefined excellence. Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah, and Shericka Jackson are not just champions, they are cultural icons, symbols of what determination, training, and pride in one’s heritage can achieve.
In music, Jamaica has given the world timeless sounds and revolutionary rhythms. From Bob Marley’s reggae, recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, to contemporary icons like Sean Paul, Shaggy, and Spice, Jamaican music continues to cross borders, uplift spirits, and speak truth to power.
Caribbean-Africa Connection: One People, One Legacy
The presence of Caribbean nations like Jamaica in Africa’s sixth region is a reconnection, of people, cultures, and struggles that were violently separated through slavery and colonialism. The African Union’s embrace of the diaspora as a full-fledged partner in development reflects a vision of Pan-African unity, where the Caribbean is not just an observer of Africa’s progress but a vital contributor to its success.
This year’s Pretoria event echoed that bond. Guests were serenaded by KarlawiththeSax, whose musical fusion of reggae, jazz, and amapiano symbolised an artistic dialogue between the two regions. The aroma of authentic Jamaican cuisine and the energy of shared celebration reminded all present that Africa and the Caribbean are connected not just by history, but by hope.
Women, Legacy, and Leadership
As South Africa prepares to honour its women on August 9, the event’s spotlight on a successful Jamaican woman entrepreneur was especially timely. Racquel J’s story adds to the growing chorus of diaspora women leaders who are defining the future of business, culture, and community on both sides of the Atlantic.
Her story, like Jamaica’s, is bold, proud, and unrelenting in its vision.
Proud in Black, Green, and Gold
As Jamaica celebrates 63 years of independence and centuries of emancipation, its message to the world is clear: freedom is more than a destination, it is a journey. One shaped by struggle, sustained by culture, and elevated by unity.
In celebrating Jamaica, we also celebrate the global African story — one of return, resilience, and renewal.
Happy Emancipation and Independence, Jamaica!