Food, culture and music are some of the phenomena that Jamaica has become well known for. But it was not through sheer luck that the rest of the world came to know of these things. Instead, it was the efforts of dedicated and now famous Jamaicans who were successful in their fields of choice, who caused the Tallawah island to rise to fame. Here’s our top five. Who are yours?

5. Sean Paul

Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques OD, referred to simply by his stage name, Sean Paul, first began his career in the early 1990s. Today he is arguably the second most popular and commercially successful artiste from the island. His first studio album, Dutty Rock, released in 2001, performed very well and helped catapult the artiste to fame.

Recording songs such as Gimme Di Light, Temperature, and Get Busy, Sean Paul has expanded his notoriety by adding his signature dancehall verses to create massive hit singles with international artistes. He has worked with the likes of Beyoncé, Sia, Kelly Rowland, Keyshia Cole and DMX.

Being one of the few Jamaicans to be nominated for a Grammy, the dancehall DJ has gone on to win two of the Recording Academy awards.

4. Jimmy Cliff

James Chambers, more popularly known as Jimmy Cliff, is a Jamaican artiste whose work was instrumental in introducing reggae to international audiences, due largely to his performance in the 1972 film, The Harder They Come and his song of the same name.

The film stars Cliff as Ivanhoe Martin, who after some initial struggles lands a recording contract. However, the results of a bitter dispute lead his character to turn to crime and violence, all while topping the music charts.

Awarded membership in the Order of Merit for his achievements in science and arts, he was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.

3. Marcus Garvey

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the first National Hero of Jamaica, is remembered especially for his political activism. A publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator, Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).

This is a black fraternal organisation dedicated to racial pride, economic self-sufficiency, and the formation of an independent Black nation in Africa.

Seeking to unite African descendants worldwide, he also founded the Negro World newspaper and a shipping company called the ‘Black Star Line’.

2. Usain Bolt

Usain St Leo Bolt rose to success and superstardom at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Now known as the fastest man alive, the sprinter made history not just once, but several times, becoming the first person to hold world records in both the 100 metres and 200 metres and successfully defend the Olympic sprint double.

He is also the first to win six gold medals in sprint. The highest paid athlete in track and field, the sports legend, now 35 years old, has gone full force into music, philanthropy and entrepreneurship.

Some consider Bolt to be even more popular than our number one pick, Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley.

Bob Marley

Decades after Robert Nesta Marley’s death, the posthumously declared Reggae Legend has maintained his popularity, being credited for spreading both Jamaican music and The Rastafarian Movement across the world.

Scores have visited the island only to lay eyes on where the Rat Race hitmaker grew up, visiting his hometown as well as the different museums in his name. The reggae pioneer, who used national and international social issues to fuel his music, posthumously earned membership in Jamaica’s Order Of Merit.

Creating masterpieces such as Stir It Up, Buffalo Soldier, Three Little Birds and One Love, Marley definitely played a signifiant role in putting the island on the map.