History – Destination Jamaica

George Stiebel: The Rise of Jamaica’s First Black Millionaire and the Legacy of Devon House

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In the 19th century, a man of mixed heritage defied the odds, amassed a fortune from the rugged frontiers of South America, and etched his name in Jamaica’s history. That man was George Stiebel (c.1821–1896) — a trader, investor, and visionary entrepreneur, remembered today as Jamaica’s first Black millionaire. But behind the wealth lies a layered story of privilege, resilience, ambition, and legacy — one that still captivates Jamaicans and historians alike.

History

Tacky’s Revolt: Jamaica’s First War of Liberation

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In the forests of Saint Mary in 1760, led by a fallen African king named Tacky, enslaved Africans rose—not just to break chains, but to build a free nation of their own. This was Tacky’s War—an uprising so fierce, so widespread, that some say its only rival in shock value was the American Revolution.

History

Garnet Silk: The Messenger, the Martyr, the Voice of a Nation

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On a warm Jamaican night in December 1994, a house went up in flames in Mandeville. Inside that house were two souls — one an elder, Etiga Dulcie Grey, and the other, a son, a prophet, a beloved voice of a generation: Garnet Silk. The world lost more than just a singer that night. It lost a man sent to heal, to uplift, to guide. It lost a voice that could cradle sorrow and summon joy in the same breath. It lost a light that burned too brightly to last long.