How a group of Jamaican settlers found a new home — and a familiar landscape — in Ghana's Eastern Region.
The Journey Across the Atlantic
In the 1950s and 1960s, a wave of Jamaican settlers — many of them Rastafari, farmers, and artisans — made the reverse crossing of the Middle Passage. They were drawn by Ghana's independence under Kwame Nkrumah and the promise of a new beginning on the African continent.
- First settlers arrived in the late 1950s
- Motivated by Pan‑Africanism and repatriation
- Chose the Eastern Region for its fertile hills
Why the Eastern Region?
The rolling hills, lush vegetation, and cool climate of the Eastern Region reminded the settlers of the Jamaican countryside. They named the area Jamaica Su — "Su" meaning 'place' in the local Ewe language — a name that stuck and is still used today.
- Landscape mirrors the Caribbean
- Rich soil for farming
- Welcoming local community
A Sanctuary of Culture
Over the decades, Jamaica Su became a spiritual and cultural anchor for Rastafari and reggae culture in Ghana. It is a place where Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, Rastafari livity, and Ghanaian traditions interweave — a microcosm of the Pan‑African dream.
- Nyabinghi drumming and grounding
- Ital cooking and organic farming
- A living example of diaspora integration
Key milestones that shaped Jamaica Village into what it is today.
The Rita Marley Legacy
No story of Jamaica Village is complete without honouring the woman who put it on the global map.
Rita Marley — wife of reggae legend Bob Marley — lived in Jamaica Village for many years. She established a recording studio, mentored local musicians, and championed the village's development. Her presence brought international attention and cemented Jamaica Su as a sacred site of reggae heritage.
- Built a recording studio — one of the first in the region
- Supported local artists and cultural preservation
- Continues to be honoured by the community as a matriarch
A living heritage site — rooted in the past, building for the future.
A Thriving Community
Today, Jamaica Village is home to a diverse community of Ghanaians, Jamaicans, and other diaspora returnees. It operates as a cooperative, with shared governance and a strong commitment to organic farming, cultural education, and sustainable living.
A Reggae Pilgrimage
Music lovers and Rastafari faithful from across the world make the journey to Jamaica Village. It hosts regular drumming circles, reasoning sessions, and — of course — the annual SelassieFest, which draws thousands.
A Model of Sustainability
The village is a living laboratory for permaculture, herbal medicine, and renewable energy — practices that are now being shared with the world through the SelassieFest "Lessons" programme and the Higher Learning Roots pavilion.
From History to Action
The story of Jamaica Village is not just a chapter in a book — it is an ongoing movement. Whether you come to learn, to invest, or to connect with your roots, you are now part of that story.
Eastern Region, Ghana · One Love, One Destiny, One Community.