COUNTRY: JAMAICA.

A conference examining the centuries-old historical and cultural links between Jamaica and Colombia’s San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina archipelago is scheduled to take place on 23 July at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. Organized by the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank in partnership with the Embassy of Colombia to Jamaica and the Centre for Reparation Research, the event aims to highlight the shared heritage between the two Caribbean communities.

The conference will explore how English settlers and enslaved Africans from Jamaica helped shape the development of the San Andrés islands during the 17th century. Their descendants, known as the Raizal people, continue to preserve a unique cultural identity, speaking both Spanish and an English-based Creole while maintaining traditions that reflect their Jamaican ancestry.

Researchers, historians and policymakers are expected to use the event to strengthen academic collaboration and promote greater awareness of the historical ties linking Jamaica and Colombia. The conference also supports broader efforts to preserve Caribbean heritage and encourage dialogue on cultural identity, migration and historical memory across the region.

Photo: AI GENERATED