By the time most Jamaicans awaken on August 6, Sydney Salmon would have celebrated their country’s independence hours before. The east Kingston native lives in Ethiopia, which is eight hours ahead of Jamaica.

Salmon has lived in the East African country for 24 years. He resides in the city of Shashamane, located in that country’s southern region, which has been home to hundreds of Jamaicans and West Indians since the 1950s.

While it has been some time since he visited his homeland, August 6 and memories of growing up in Jamaica, are still special.

“My fondest memories as a youth growing up in Jamaica was making bingie/slingshot for bird hunting. Independence Day was also my favourite time for that was when we would get to see Jonkonnu in the float (parade) demonstrating our Jamaican culture. Then we would go to Hope Gardens/ Coconut Park,” Salmon recalled.

He said Jamaicans in Shashamane acknowledge August 6 as a special date. Many of them were born before that day in 1962 when their country gained independence from Great Britain.

“There is a local celebration here in Shashamane amongst the Jamaicans which is still developing. We have other Caribbean people here as well who celebrate with us,” Salmon disclosed.

Considered one of the most fertile areas in Africa, Shashamane has had a Jamaican presence since the 1950s. It was initially part of a 1948 land grant by Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I to black Americans facing rampant racism in that country.

By April 1966 when Selassie I visited Jamaica, there was a passionate Back to Africa movement in the country, mainly among Rastafarians who regarded the Ethiopian monarch as God. Most of the Rastafarians who live in Shashamane are members of the Twelve Tribes of Israel which formed in Kingston in 1968.

The 60 year-old Salmon is a singer who has been recording music since the late 1970s. His latest songs include Trees and Oh Lord, both produced by fellow Jamaican Michael Eaton.