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English is the official language of the country of Jamaica. Although English is now the official language of Jamaica, most citizens possess the ability to speak a strong underlying local language that represents the country's multicultural and multi-ethnic history. Jamaica is also well known for a patois or pidgin language spoken by 90% of the residents and formed as a result of 500 years of intermingling languages. Jamaicans refer to the language as "Jamaican Patois." The development of the patois stems from the English and Spanish colonization and enslavement of people from many countries in West Africa, and forced labor of people from India and China, and the indigenous native Arawak (Taino) people.

Patois is a French term meaning "very local language." The term, creole, was originally applied to descendents of Europeans born in colonies in order to separate them from high ranking well-to-do citizens of the mainland, either of European or mixed ethnicity and race. Jamaican patois is derived from old English (British, Irish, and Welsh English), Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Tamil, Arawak, and the tribal dialects of numerous West African nations.

Jamaica prides itself on not mixing politics and religion and does not claim an official religion of the country. Citizens enjoy the freedom of religion in the privacy of their own homes and religious dwellings.

REFERENCES:
History of Jamaica: http://jamaica-guide.info/past.and.present/history/
Definition of Patois and Creole(s): http://www.merriam-webster.com
Difference between Creole and Patois: http://www.potomitan.info/atelier/creole.php
Stats on Jamaica: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/299716/Jamaica
Rastafari Online: http://rastafarionline.com
Ethiopian Language: http://www.imperialethiopia.org/languages.htm
Rastafarian Religion: http://www.rasta-man.co.uk/religion.h