Most Influential AfroCaribbeans

AfroCaribbean

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Sir Grantley Herbert Adams

Sir Grantley Herbert Adams was a Barbadian politician who served as the country’s inaugural premier from 1953 to 1958 and then became the first and only prime minister of the now-defunct West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962.

Forbes Burnham

Burnham was one of the founders of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), which was launched on 1 January 1950.

Stokely Carmichael

A prominent organizer in the civil rights movement in the United States and the global pan-African movement.

Eugenia Charles

The first female lawyer in Dominica, she was Dominica’s first, and to date only, female prime minister.

Ulises Heureaux

Former President of the Dominican Republic

Michael Manley

Michael Norman Manley was a Jamaican politician who served as the fourth Prime Minister of Jamaica.

Colin Powell

Colin Luther Powell was an American politician, statesman, diplomat, and United States Army officer who served as the 65th United States Secretary of State. He was the first African-American Secretary of State.

Kamala Devi Harris

Kamala Devi Harris is an American politician and attorney who is the 49th and current vice president of the United States. She is the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well as the first African American and first Asian American vice president.

Toussaint L’Ouverture

François-Dominique Toussaint Louverture was a Haitian general and the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution.

Walter Rodney

Walter Anthony Rodney was a Guyanese historian, political activist and academic. His notable works include How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, first published in 1972.

Eddy Grant

Edmond Montague Grant is a Guyanese-British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.

Wyclef Jean

Nel Ust Wyclef Jean is a Haitian rapper, musician, and actor.

Earl Lovelace

Earl Wilbert Lovelace is a Trinidadian novelist, journalist, playwright, and short story writer.

Luis Palés Matos

Luis Palés Matos was a Puerto Rican poet who is credited with creating the poetry genre known as Afro-Antillano. He is also credited with writing the screenplay for the “Romance Tropical”, the first Puerto Rican film with sound.

Bob Marley

Robert Nesta Marley OM was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, as well as his distinctive vocal and songwriting style.

Ziggy Marley

David Nesta “Ziggy” Marley is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician, actor and philanthropist. He is the son of reggae icon Bob Marley and Rita Marley.

Mighty Sparrow

Slinger Francisco ORTT CM OBE, better known as Mighty Sparrow, is a Trinidadian calypso vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist. Known as the “Calypso King of the World”, he is one of the best-known and most successful calypsonians.

Trinidad James

Nicholaus Joseph Williams, better known by his stage name Trinidad James, is a Trinidadian-American rapper.

Zoe Saldana

Zoë Yadira Saldaña-Perego is an American actress. Known primarily for her work in science fiction film franchises, she has appeared in all three of the highest-grossing films of all time, a feat not achieved by any other performer.

Nicki Minaj

Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-born rapper, singer and songwriter based in the United States.

Sean Paul

Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques is a Jamaican rapper and singer.

Shyne

Moses Michael Levi Barrow is a Belizean rapper and politician. He is the Leader of the Opposition in the Belize House of Representatives, and the leader of the Belize United Democratic Party.