Famous Writers from Jamaica

Reference
Updated June 9, 201747 items

List of famous writers from Jamaica, listed alphabetically with photos when available. Jamaica is home to many prolific writers, including those who write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, biographies and more. These are some of the best Jamaican writers that have ever lived, so if you're a native of Jamaica and an aspiring writer then use this list as inspiration to achieve your own writing goals.

Examples of writers on this list include Peter Abrahams and John Figueroa.

This list answers the questions, "Who are popular Jamaican writers?" and "Which writers are from Jamaica?"

You can click on the names of these renowned writers of Jamaica in order to get more information about each one. Some of these historic writers may no longer be living in Jamaica, but they're all of Jamaica descent.
Photo: Freebase / Public domain
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  • Nalo Hopkinson
    • Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica
    • Nationality: Jamaica
    • Works: The Salt Roads, Whispers from the Cotton Tree Root, Brown Girl in the Ring, Midnight Robber, Skin Folk
    Nalo Hopkinson (born 20 December 1960) is a Jamaican-born Canadian speculative fiction writer and editor. She currently lives and teaches in Riverside, California. Her novels (Brown Girl in the Ring, ...more
  • Mutabaruka

    Mutabaruka

    Age: 70
    • Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica
    • Nationality: Jamaica
    Allan Hope, better known as Mutabaruka, is a Jamaican Rastafari dub poet, musician, actor, educator, and talk-show host, who developed two of Jamaica's most popular radio programs, The Cutting Edge ...more
  • Clement Virgo
    • Birthplace: Montego Bay, Saint James Parish, Cornwall County, Jamaica, Caribbean Sea
    • Nationality: Canada, Jamaica
    • Works: The Planet of Junior Brown, Lie with Me, Love Come Down, Rude
    Clement Virgo (born June 1, 1966) is a Canadian film and television writer, producer and director who runs the production company, Conquering Lion Pictures, with producer Damon D'Oliveira. Virgo is ...more
  • John Holt

    John Holt

    Age: 74
    • Birthplace: Kingston, Jamaica
    • Nationality: Jamaica
    • Works: River Journal , What Do I Do Monday? , Escape from Childhood , The Kammersee Affair , No holiday camps
    John Kenneth Holt CD (11 July 1947 – 19 October 2014), better known as John Holt, was a reggae singer and songwriter from Jamaica who first found fame as a member of The Paragons, before establishing ...more
  • Hugh B. Cave

    Hugh B. Cave

    Dec. at 93 (1910-2004)
    • Birthplace: Chester, England
    • Nationality: United Kingdom, Jamaica, England
    • Works: Bottled in Blonde, Long Were The Nights, Death Stalks the Night, The Door Below, Murgunstrumm and Others
    Hugh Barnett Cave (11 July 1910 – 27 June 2004) was an American writer of various genres, perhaps best remembered for his works of horror, weird menace and science fiction. Cave was one of the most ...more
  • Evan Jones

    Evan Jones

    Age: 96
    • Birthplace: Portland Parish, Jamaica
    • Nationality: Jamaica
    • Works: Funeral in Berlin, Wake in Fright, Modesty Blaise, Night Watch, The Damned
    Evan Jones (29 December 1927–21 July 2012) was a poet, playwright and screenwriter based in Britain. He was educated in Jamaica, the United States and England. Jones taught at schools in the United ...more