Jamaican recognised for building diaspora community in China

A Jamaican academic and community advocate based in China has been recognised for her role in promoting Jamaica and supporting fellow nationals living abroad.

Dr. Nicoleen Johnson was among seven recipients of the 2026 Governor-General’s Diaspora Achievement Award, which was presented during the opening of the 11th Biennial Jamaica Diaspora Conference in Montego Bay.

Johnson, who has lived in China for nearly three decades, has been credited with helping to build and strengthen Jamaica’s diaspora community in the Asian nation. She has supported Jamaicans pursuing education and employment opportunities in China while promoting Jamaican culture and products.

Reflecting on the honour, Johnson said the Jamaican community in China has grown significantly since she arrived in 1997 as a scholarship student. At the time, she was reportedly the only Jamaican living in the country.

Over the years, she has assisted many newcomers in adapting to life in China and has worked to foster stronger cultural and people-to-people links between the two countries.

Originally from Westmoreland, Johnson studied at Fudan University in Shanghai, where she completed both her master's degree and doctorate in Mandarin. She is believed to be the first Jamaican to achieve both qualifications in China.

Johnson said the award was a humbling recognition of her efforts to support the Jamaican diaspora and create opportunities for others abroad.