Blog

Jamaica’s sportswomen have made history in a number of sports venues in recent days. First among them is the remarkable performance of the national women’s football team, the Reggae Girlz, that, for the first time in history, advances to the knockout stage at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In the sport of volleyball, Jamaica’s senior female team brought home the 2023 CAZOVA Women’s Championship title from Suriname, while in netball, Jamaica’s team scored an important win over Sri Lanka.

Jamaica’s Historic Women’s World Cup Firsts

Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz defeated Panama with a score of 1-0 on the world stage at the FIFA 2023 Women’s World Cup, continuing their outstanding performance after battling France to a draw in their opening match.

With the draw, Jamaica made its first point at the World Cup, and by defeating Panama, ranked at the same points level as the group leader. Panama was also looking for its first World Cup win, but after a scoreless first half, Reggae Girlz team captain Allyson Swaby’s header in the 56th minute solidified the dominance the Jamaican women had displayed throughout the match. The Girlz celebrated their victory with Jamaica’s fans worldwide.

They followed up those performance with a 0-0 draw in their match against Brazil. This match was a big moment for Jamaica because they now advance to the knockout stage for the first time. At the same time, it was a historic moment for Brazil as they were eliminated from the group stage for the first time since 1995.

Sunshine Girls dominate Sri Lanka

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls began their dominance of the 2023 Vitality Netball World Cup tournament in Cape Town, South Africa, with an overwhelming victory against Sri Lanka in which they defeated their opponent with a score of 105 to 25. Jamaica’s team, ranked fourth in the world, was expected to win the match against Sri Lanka, which is ranked 15th. The Sunshine Girls’ scoring was shared by Romeld Aiken-George and team captain Jhaniele Fowler, whose goal-sharing duties spanned two quarters each. Aiken-George scored 33 of 34 goal attempts, while Fowler achieved 42 goals in 43 attempts. Rebekah Robinson and Shanice Beckford scored 17 and 13 goals, respectively. With their victory, the Sunshine Girls were positioned ahead of the host South Africa. The Sunshine Girls had an 89-percent scoring average in the game, but also had 17 turnovers, something that the head coach Connie Francis hopes to correct as the team moves forward.

Jamaican Women Make Volleyball History

Jamaica’s national women’s volleyball team made history at the 18th Caribbean Zonal Volleyball Association Senior Championship (CAZOVA) tournament when they defeated the Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago to advance to the semifinals. With these victories, Jamaica became the first team from the Caribbean to advance so far in the tournament by sustaining their winning streak at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall in Suriname. Fans were especially thrilled with the match versus Trinidad and Tobago because the teams had to play almost five sets before Jamaica secured the victory. Jamaica also won in five sets against the host country Suriname.

Photo – Official Instagram Page for Jamaica Volleyball Association, Official Instagram Page for Jamaica Football Federation ,

The post Sunshine Girls, Women’s Volleyball and Reggae Girlz: History-Making Moments by Jamaican Sportswomen appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

This is a Podcast of the Jamaica & Caribbean Weekly News Summary for the week ending August 4, 2023. The JAMAICA WEEKLY News Summary Podcast is brought to you by Jamaicans.com. For past Jamaica & Caribbean Weekly News Podcasts please visit our archives

The post Listen to the Podcast of the Jamaica & Caribbean Weekly News Summary for the week ending August 4 2023 appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

Jamaicans are known for their special talent when pronouncing names, blending them with the richness of our diverse ethnicity and culture. Jamaicans.com recently conducted a poll to discover the most common of these mispronunciations. It’s no exaggeration to say that Jamaicans possess an exceptional talent for adapting even the most outrageous mispronunciations of words. Now, did your name make the list? Here’s a fun compilation of 31 names that undergo delightful twists and humorous mispronunciations, showcasing the uniqueness of our vibrant Jamaican heritage. Here goes!

 

Heather becomes Edda

Rohan becomes Rooann. 

Simone is always soomone!

Paula sounds best to Jamaicans as Paala.

Constance is Constant because what else could it be

Smith is Simit and some Jamaicans with this last name find it hard to say it right.

Audrey is Hadrey 

Everybody’s Uncle Lloyd is called Lide

Andrew. . Anju or Handru 

Lorna is not your cousin. She is called laana.

Claudette only makes sense to Jamaicans as Cladet or it’s Clardete

Ann- Marie is pronounced Han-Marie

Eric only sounds right to Jamaicans as Heric 

Anthony just doesn’t sound correct so here comes the additional “h” for emphasis. Jamaicans say Hanthony

Tricia will always be called Treeeesha

Patricia is Patreesha

Michelle only makes sense as Mitchell or Michael

And which Jamaican has time to say Veronica when you can just make it Varanica or Vernica 

You probably didn’t know that Myrtle was the correct pronunciation of your grandma’s name because your Jamaican relatives say Mircul

You grew up in Jamaica if you know Blossom who is only called Blassam

Denzel is Denzle

Helen is Ellen

But Ellen is Helen (Jamaican logic?)

Ruth is Root because who has time for the “th” sound

And everybody knows a Ba-ba-ra but who is actually Barbara

Eryn is Eyerine

Xavier sounds better as Ex-Zavier

And every Foster is really Fasta

Depending on where you are from in Jamaica, Andre may be pronounced Anjay or Andray

Charlene is Shawlene

And Carl is more conveniently Kaaaahhhhllll, especially if he is troublesome.

Whether your birth certificate flaunts the correct spelling of your name or your mom tirelessly drills the right pronunciation, Jamaicans possess an uncanny talent for putting their own twist to every name.

Photo – Deposit Photos

The post Do Jamaicans Mispronounce Your Name? 31 Names Jamaicans Take Pleasure in Butchering appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

“I am sorry. Please forgive me.” Six words that in any language are very difficult for some people to say.  Some would rather drink poison; a slight exaggeration but hopefully you get the idea. Some Christians struggle with saying these words too. For all our religiosity, many of us struggle with the more practical side of our calling. Have you ever noticed people, Christians included, who would rather stop speaking to you rather than apologize when they are wrong?

These thoughts came to mind as I reflected on the words of Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount: “If you bring your gift [offering, sacrifice] to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24, NKJV). In these two verses, Jesus affirmed the link between reconciliation and worship.  As Matthew Henry observes, “Religious exercises are not acceptable to God, if they are performed when we are in wrath; envy, malice, and uncharitableness are sins so displeasing to God, that nothing pleases Him which comes from a heart wherein they are predominant.” In other words, to attempt to worship in an unreconciled state is to offer up worship that is unacceptable. Read that sentence again, slowly. We cannot worship God in spirit and in truth when we are at odds with others. Paul reaffirmed this in his call to prayer when he instructed believers “in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger and disputing or quarreling or doubt [in their mind]” (1 Timothy 2:8, AMP). In Romans 12:1 he encourages believers to ensure our sacrifice of worship was “acceptable unto God.”  The implication is that it is possible to offer God something, our worship, that He will not accept.

“First, be reconciled.” On the link between reconciliation and worship, Henry stressed a very important point when he said, “Love or charity is so much better than all burnt offerings and sacrifice, that God will have reconciliation made with an offended brother before the gift be offered; He is content to stay for the gift, rather than have it offered while we are under guilt and engaged in a quarrel.” That’s powerful stuff! Jesus’ instructions were quite clear and because we cannot deceive the Holy Spirit, He knows when we are trying to offer up our sacrifice without meeting the pre-requirement. Though we may try to pull “a fast one” on God, He cannot be fooled. We cannot rationalize our way out of saying those difficult words, “I am sorry. Please forgive me.” Not if we desire for God to find our worship acceptable.

Pope Paul VI (1897-1978) was profound when he said, “Reconciliation is not weakness or cowardice. It demands courage, mobility, generosity, sometimes heroism, an overcoming of oneself rather than of one’s adversary.” For some of us, we desire a closer walk and a better relationship with God. It is important to realize that such a walk/relationship demands something of you and me. Our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:20).  It is God who sets the standards for worship and He has determined that true worship involves reconciliation. Those of us who choose to take that walk with Him must do so on those terms. “If you bring your gift [offering, sacrifice] to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” How are you doing in that regard?”

The post WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL – “First, be reconciled…” appeared first on Jamaicans.com.