From the indigenous tribes that inhabited the island centuries ago, to the theatrical plays that routinely run in front of sold-out audiences, for as long as there have been people on the island of Jamaica, there has been storytelling. It was only a matter of time before more and more Jamaican creators took to social media platforms to tell their stories in the unique rhythms that only Jamaicans can.
Youtube in particular has become the home of multiple channels focused on families. These ‘reality’ style shows eschew the drama and backstabbing you’d expect from their American counterparts like Keeping up with the Kardashians. Instead, the focus is on healthy family dynamics. Also, there’s no sugarcoating – Jamaicans don’t know how. These channels are real, sincere, and charming.
Meet the Mitchells
The channel that blew the doors off the genre is Meet the Mitchells. Arguably boasting the highest production value of any other channel, Meet the Mitchells follows Pop crooner Tami Mitchell, Dancehall icon Wayne Marshall, their three sons, Jax, Atlas, and Oz, as well as their daughter Ivy.
At the heart of the episodes is the core dynamic between Tami and Wayne. There’s a love and mutual respect that has elevated the pair to ‘goals’ status in the eyes of their hundreds of thousands of fans. The runaway success of Meet the Mitchells has led to numerous television spots and inspired more creators to try their hand at the platform.
The Powells
The Powells follow Asafa and Alyshia Powell – one of the fastest men in history and a superstar model, respectively – as they navigate their day-to-day lives as parents and public figures. Like Meet the Mitchells, the show keeps watchers up with them and their children, and we see all the hijinx the family gets up to. The channel doubles as a travel blog as we follow the couple on their international adventures. Asafa also uses the channel to highlight athletic causes such as showcasing the work and sacrifice that goes into being a professional athlete, and highlighting important sportsmen who are sometimes overlooked such as Michael Frater and Nesta Carter.
C Miller TV
There’s nothing quite like C Miller TV on the internet. Dwayne and Kerry Miller, a married couple, film themselves pranking and making fun of each other. The content skews older than Meet the Mitchells and The Powells with topics including sex and exaggerated relationship drama, but dialed up for full comedic effect. A lot of the titles aren’t safe for work, but they’re the kind of videos that you want to share over and over again in group chats. The Miller’s are constantly speaking of their faith and giving thanks to God.
