Jah Bouks and wife open the doors of Casa Angola in St Thomas
Published:Saturday | February 5, 2022 | 12:05 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Reggae singer Jah Bouks is diving deep into entrepreneurship and has invested in a fishing vessel, a restaurant and seaside cottages in his home parish, St Thomas.
Angola is a word that conjures up many pleasant memories for Jah Bouks. In 2013, his very first recording, Call Angola, morphed into a smash hit that put his name in the spotlight. He has taken the name and made it his own.
Living not so quietly three hours away from capital Kingston, Jah Bouks and his wife Carolina have opened an Angola empire of sorts, which sees the name all over his business enterprises. There is his Angola record label which manages his own affairs, the Angola Restaurant in Old Pera, the Angola fishing boat, and Casa Angola, his waterfront cottages.
“ Call Angola was such a big song that I decided to use it as part of Brand Jah Bouks,” the entertainer and businessman told The Gleaner. “First of all, I am signed to Angola Records, which is my own label. I released my first album, Long Awaiting, on the label last year. In January of 2020, I opened the Angola restaurant, which is doing really well. We prepare the food to order. So, while we get some support from the community, which we appreciate, it is largely visitors who come here to dine. And I have a 38-foot fishing boat. So, yuh know, sometimes we go outta sea and catch our own fish for the restaurant,” Jah Bouks explained.
SELF-DESIGNED
The couple has just completed the first of five waterfront vacation beach cottages which they designed themselves. The cabin is situated on top of the hill and has an impressive view of Bowden Harbour and incredible sunrises and sunsets. It comprises one bedroom and one bathroom and can comfortably accommodate two persons. Jah Bouks points out that the Angola Restaurant is nearby, so guests can enjoy some local cuisine while taking in the ocean view.
“It is rural woodland, and everybody who comes here is surprised at how we fix up the place. There is a good view of the sea. In fact, it’s like the sea make a letter ‘C’ around you when you are at the cottage. You can stay there and look at Port Morant, and there are times when you can see the dolphins in the harbour,” the St Thomas native boasted.
He emphasised that Casa Angola offers peace of mind and an authentic Jamaican island experience.