From Kingston to the world: Jamaican music and film legend Jimmy Cliff passes on at 81
‘Cliff was a poet [who] set his words to music, broadcasting them to the world over speakers and screens’
Jamaican reggae icon Jimmy Cliff passed away on November 24, 2025, at the age of 81. His wife Latifa announced on social media that he had died of pneumonia, following a seizure. She expressed her thanks to everyone who shared his amazing life’s journey with him, including his fellow artists and his fans, whose “support was his strength throughout his whole career.”
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness paid tribute on X:
Today, Jamaica pauses to honour the life of the Honourable Jimmy Cliff, OM, a true cultural giant whose music carried the heart of our nation to the world.
Through timeless songs like Many Rivers to Cross, The Harder They Come, You Can Get It If You Really Want, and Sitting in… pic.twitter.com/nav8Qoxm6g
Cliff was the only living musician to hold the Order of Merit (OM), the highest honour that can be granted in Jamaica for achievements in the arts and sciences. Other political figures, including Opposition Leader Mark Golding, Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby, and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley also noted Cliff’s global influence.
