Liberty Hall, 76 King Street

August 17 marks the birthday of Jamaica’s National Hero, the Rt. Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who rose from humble beginnings in St. Ann’s Bay to become an internationally recognized leader. Through the Universal Negro Improvement Association (U.N.I.A.), founded in 1914, Garvey promoted unity, dignity, and advancement for Black people worldwide. Liberty Halls, required by the U.N.I.A. constitution, served as headquarters and community centres for education, culture, and organizing, with locations across several countries.

Liberty Hall at 76 King Street, Kingston, acquired in 1923, was the first meeting hall in Jamaica fully owned and operated by Black people and became an important centre for cultural, educational, and civic activities. Although it was sold in the 1930s due to financial difficulties, it was later purchased by the Government of Jamaica, restored, and reopened in 2003. Now home to the Garvey Multimedia Museum, Research Reference Library, and other cultural spaces, Liberty Hall was declared a national monument in 1992 and remains a proud symbol of Garvey’s vision, legacy, and contribution to Jamaica and the wider African diaspora.