A mural showcasing the culture and the partnership between Jamaica and Mexico is now visible to all commuters traversing Michael Manley Boulevard in Kingston. The mural, titled ‘RE-IGNITED FOR UNITY’, was a joint creation by artists Irving Cano Gomez and Freddy Ramirez Herrara from Mexico and Jordan Harrison, Anthony Smith and Yanque Yip from Jamaica.

It symbolises the 56-year partnership between Mexico and Jamaica and commemorates the island’s Diamond Jubilee. The mural features a Jaguar man presenting his heart – a representation of Mexican Aztec culture to a singing Jamaican woman, which represents the spirit and beauty of Jamaica’s people and music.

RE-IGNITED FOR UNITY is fully coloured and stands as Jamaica’s tallest and biggest mural at 49 feet in height and 167 feet in width and located on Silo #10 at the Rockfort cement plant. The idea for the mural was first conceived in the first quarter of 2021 and took 6 weeks to complete by the muralists.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, Mexican Ambassador to Jamaica Juan Jose Gonzales Mijares and CEMEX CEO Fernando Gonzales unveiled the mural at the Rockfort packing plant earlier today (August 24).

“The collaboration and skills exchanged among the muralists demonstrated the objective of free movement of artists in keeping with Jamaica’s obligations as a party to the UNESCO convention on protection and promotion of diversity of cultural expressions,” said Grange.

Grange calls the mural a “must-see attraction” for visitors arriving in Jamaica and indicated her hope for the adjacent Silo to feature a mural as well, but noted that it requires further discussion.