Germaicans

March 12, 2014 7:29 PM

On Aug. 1, 1833 the British outlawed (most) slavery in her colonies. There were, however, still crops that needed tending. Fortunately, Germany had excess people desperate for a better life. Some (as we have seen) of them wound up in Texas. Some, willing to sign on as indentured servants, wound up in Jamaica. Seaford Town Jamaica, to be exact. Their descendants can still be found. There is now a documentary on the subject. (Extended trailer can been seen here)
posted by BWA (6 comments total)

The preview touches on it, but Seaford Town used to be synonymous with the ill effects of long-term inbreeding. The guy says people there are mixing now, which can only be for the good genetically.
posted by Dip Flash at 8:00 PM on March 12, 2014

Oh that explains that Tricky lyric! Heard there's german-jamaicans / With twisted faces / Same as it ever was / Tell me what the race is
posted by yoHighness at 1:26 AM on March 13, 2014

Germaicans - getting stoned more efficiently since 1833.

Love the post title.
posted by marienbad at 2:44 AM on March 13, 2014 [1 favorite]

On a tangent: I heard that there is actually a Jamaican dancehall/reggae musician/producer who's originally German, but moved there years ago, married a Jamaican woman and settled there; he's supposedly fairly well known. Has anyone heard of him?
posted by acb at 8:35 AM on March 13, 2014

deeply fascinating on many levels - thanks
posted by mumimor at 11:47 AM on March 13, 2014

From the second article: "those that remained had to adapt to the harsh conditions of rural Jamaica".

Sounds frightful!
posted by pickles_have_souls at 12:01 PM on March 13, 2014