Hakka Chinese in Jamaica


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Hakka, although proud of their cultural differences, have never claimed to be non-Chinese. Many famous Chinese have been Hakka, including Deng Xiaoping, Lee Kwan Yew, and Hong Xiuquan (the leader of the Taiping Rebellion).

There is much speculation concerning the historical roots of the Hakka. Some claim that they were the first Chinese people to arrive in China. Others claim that the Hakka are the descendants of the Xiongnu tribe. This much is agreed upon: At various stages between the fourth and thirteenth centuries AD, large numbers of people were forced to flee their homes in the war-torn Yellow River valley to seek refuge in southern China. These war refugees came to be known as Kejia - a Hakka word meaning "strangers" or "guests." When the savage Mongol hordes swept across China in the thirteenth century, many Hakka fled to the south to escape the carnage.

In today’s world, the Hakka are among the Chinese diaspora in many countries including Jamaica.

The Hakkas and other Chinese people came to Jamaica in the 19th century as cheap farm workers to replace newly-liberated African slaves. Most of them worked the sugar cane fields. They usually worked for five years, and they had a reputation as hard workers. In the 1970s many fled to Canada and the US to escape ethnic violence. More Hakka arrived in Jamaica in the 1980s-90s.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Hakka Chinese in Jamaica often own textile factories. They employ migrant workers for these enterprises. Others own grocery stores and other small businesses.

They are less likely to depend on ethnically-oriented societies in Jamaica than they are in other parts of the world. However, the Chinese have a Chinese-language newspaper in Jamaica. Members of Jamaica’s Chinese community have been involved with the reggae music scene. They usually speak English and Jamaican Patois (a Jamaican creole language) rather than Hakka.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Most of the of the Hakka Chinese in Jamaica are non-religious. However, there are Christians among them, many of which involve Chinese churches. They are usually Roman Catholic, Anglican or Evangelical.


What Are Their Needs?

Hakka Chinese Buddhists in Jamaica need the chance to hear that Jesus Christ offers life to the full for those who will submit to his lordship.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Hakka to have receptive hearts to the things of Christ.

Pray for Hakka church planters to train others to plant more churches and make disciples.

Pray for the Hakka Chinese in Jamaica to become a strong mission force among unreached Chinese groups around the world.


Scripture Prayers for the Han Chinese, Hakka in Jamaica.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission

https://www.mychinaroots.com/places/651539/jamaica

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Jamaicans


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Han Chinese, Hakka
People Name in Country Han Chinese, Hakka
Natural Name Hakka Chinese
Pronunciation HAH-kah
Alternate Names Han Chinese; Hokka; Ke; Kechia; Kehia; Kejia; Kek; Khek; Majia; Totok; Xinmin
Population this Country 72,000
Population all Countries 44,257,000
Total Countries 23
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 4
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
PeopleID3 12054
ROP3 Code 103691
Country Jamaica
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Jamaica
Region America, North and Caribbean
Continent North America
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

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Primary Religion: Non-Religious
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
10.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 5.00 %)
9.00 %
Ethnic Religions
33.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
47.00 %
Other / Small
1.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Chinese, Hakka
Language Code hak   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Chinese, Hakka
Language Code hak   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Chinese, Hakka
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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