10 April 2025
Slavery had already been abolished in the British Empire under the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833, which took effect in August 1834. But freedom didn’t mean fairness. These workers, mostly Jamaican, were brought in under contract, but quickly found themselves facing harsh, exploitative conditions: low wages, poor housing, long hours, and deadly tropical diseases like malaria and yellow fever. Many perished opening a path through the jungle.
The railroad project was led by the Northern Railway Company, under Minor C. Keith, a United States businessman. Local labor was scarce, and Indigenous communities resisted forced recruitment. So, Afro-Caribbean workers unfortunately were treated as expendable labor; useful but not valued.
After the railroad was completed, many of these workers chose to remain in Costa Rica, taking jobs on the banana plantations, often owned by the same companies they had just helped enrich. Life was still difficult, but through strength, faith, and solidarity, they began to lay the foundations for something enduring.
Despite their contributions, the Costa Rican government viewed Afro-Caribbean people as outsiders. They faced legal segregation, racism, and were denied citizenship for decades. They were even prohibited from traveling to the rest of Costa Rica, beyond the province of Limón, effectively confining them to the same coast they helped build. Afro-Costa Ricans obtained full citizenship in 1949.
Homes. Schools. Churches. Businesses. Culture. They raised children. Preserved language. Shared recipes. Sang calypso. Worshipped in clapboard churches. Passed down resilience.
They transformed hardship into community, and today, the soul of Talamanca still pulses with the rhythm they carried across the sea.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert on Afro-Caribbean history or culture, nor am I a member of this community. I write this from a place of respect and admiration as a Costa Rican who loves the Talamanca region and wishes to better understand and honor its cultural richness. This article is based on research and personal interest, and I welcome any corrections or insights from those with lived experience or deeper knowledge.
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