Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Every time Rihanna’s ‘Jamaican-ness’ popped out
? Look ? At ? These ? dreadlocks, and tell us this woman doesn’t look Jamaican (Photo: Warner Brothers Studios)
News
October 11, 2019

Every time Rihanna’s ‘Jamaican-ness’ popped out

Robyn Rihanna Fenty has officially been

stolen.

No longer, will people be confused as to what

her nationality is as Jamaicans on Twitter captured the pop superstar from her

once native island of Barbados.

Case in point, even Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant has “confirmed” Rihanna’s Jamaican nationality when asked repeatedly on multiple devices.

But even before #RihannaIsJamaican got started, there have been a few notable occasions where she’s appeared more Jamaican than she’d like to admit – and we have the receipts!

In true BUZZ style, we present five moments where Rihanna’s undeniable ‘Jamaican-ness’ shined for the world to see:

Exhibit A

Most recently, in an interview for the November issue of Vogue Magazine, Rihanna confessed to the world that reggae is in her blood.

View this post on Instagram So proud to be on another cover of @voguemagazine wearing my own designs from @fenty !!! On stands October 16th! Photographer : @ethanjamesgreen Fashion Editor: @tonnegood Hair: @yusefhairnyc Makeup: Kanako TakaseA post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Oct 9, 2019 at 6:34am PDT

Where’s the birthplace of reggae, hmm?

Coincidence that our music runs through her veins? I think not!

Exhibit B

In her 2010 Loud album, Rihanna filmed the video for Man Down. Where? You guessed it… Portland. JAMAICA.

The reggae track may not have had as much success as its other Loud counterparts, but wouldn’t you say Rihanna behaves as if she’s lived here ALL. THIS. TIME?!?!!!

Exhibit C

At the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) Rihanna performed a very Dancehall-infused set – complete with Jamaican 1990s fashion and choreography. *dun dun dun*

We’re sorry Bim, but your case is looking

weak, while Jamaica’s grows stronger…

Denial isn’t healthy. We know it can be

hard when everything you thought you knew is no longer true, but the facts are

just that. FACTS.

Exhibit D

In 2009, Rihanna’s Grammy-award winning Rated R album boasted Rude Boy. The Billboard-topping single spent eight weeks at number one and would you believe how much ‘Jamaicanism’ was on display?

We call to the stand, Rihanna’s official

video as witness.

Plantiff: ‘Do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?”

Rihanna: ‘Come ‘ere rude boy’

Exhibit E

Launching her 2016 ANTI album with Work, Rihanna blessed the world with the beauty and versatility of Jamaican patois.

If Jamaican was ever a question to anyone then, her meshed ensemble and Dancehall-themed, JAMAICAN music video at Toronto’s legendary spot, The Real Jerk surely put them to rest.

Jerk = Jamaica ∴ Rihanna = Jamaican

Even the math doesn’t lie.

More proof, if you still need it…

Extra fact: Fellow Reggae superstar Chronixx all but confirmed Rihanna’s ‘Jamaican-ness’ in his hit 2017 single Likes.

“While we deh yah and a war and a hype, Ri-Ri a work, work, work, Dancehall.”

View this post on Instagram ?? ??. @bujuofficialA post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Apr 28, 2019 at 12:26pm PDT

This is a woman who has fought her way up

through the industry and now garners the respect of her genre.

We stan a pioneering queen! Jamaica’s own.

Rihanna.

Rihanna performs onstage during the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards at Madison Square Garden on August 28, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca, MTV)
Rihanna, during a scene from Work (Photo: YouTube)

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Gas prices up $4.50, diesel up $4.50
Latest News, News
Gas prices up $4.50, diesel up $4.50
April 29, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Motorists should see an increase at the pumps in the price of gasoline effective Thursday, April 30, according to the latest ex-re...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
US Supreme Court weighs ending protected status of Haitians, Syrians
Latest News, Regional
US Supreme Court weighs ending protected status of Haitians, Syrians
April 29, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — A divided United States (US) Supreme Court on Wednesday weighed the Trump administration's move to strip deportation...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Uber adds hotel booking in push to become ‘everything app’
International News, Latest News
Uber adds hotel booking in push to become ‘everything app’
April 29, 2026
NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Rideshare giant Uber on Wednesday unveiled a new feature allowing users to book a hotel room directly from its app, th...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Departing US still owes money, says WHO chief
International News, Latest News
Departing US still owes money, says WHO chief
April 29, 2026
GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The United States (US) has still not paid off its membership fee arrears at the World Health Organization, the WHO chief s...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘Diverse’ new album coming, says D’Yani
Entertainment, Latest News
‘Diverse’ new album coming, says D’Yani
Dana Malcolm | Observer Online Reporter | Malcolmd@jamaicaobserver.com 
April 29, 2026
Recording artiste D’Yani will be launching a new reggae album this August, and he says the music will have a unique feel. Speaking during the Reggae i...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Cop among two killed, several others injured in St Thomas crash
Latest News, News
Cop among two killed, several others injured in St Thomas crash
April 29, 2026
TRELAWNY, Jamaica — A police constable is among two people who were killed in a late-night crash along the Seaforth main road in St Thomas on Tuesday....
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Iran war could push 30 million people into poverty—UN
International News, Latest News
Iran war could push 30 million people into poverty—UN
April 29, 2026
Paris, France(AFP)—The United States (US)-Israeli war on Iran, which has sent the price of energy and fertiliser soaring, could plunge more than 30 mi...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Tony Wilson, founder of 70s group Hot Chocolate and co-writer of ‘You Sexy Thing’ has died
Entertainment, Latest News
Tony Wilson, founder of 70s group Hot Chocolate and co-writer of ‘You Sexy Thing’ has died
BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer 
April 29, 2026
Tony Wilson, who along with lead vocalist Errol Brown co-founded the British soul group Hot Chocolate, has died. The cause of his death has not been r...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct