Genesis festival: 25 and still alive
FOR the past 25 years, thousands of young people and their family members have spent the first day of the New Year at the Jamaica Youth For Christ’s mega festival and fun day, Genesis.
The triplefest event includes shows in Kingston, Montego Bay and Mandeville every New Year’s Day with the major gospel music ministers as headliners.
The gospel music explosion features many of Jamaica’s finest gospel artistes appealing to varying tastes. Though the organisers, the Jamaica Youth for Christ, a non-profit youth organisation, has been faced with funding challenges, the pleas and support of the fans have prevailed, and the show will be staged with a few changes.
This year’s staging kicks off in Kingston at 3:00 pm at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre with artistes such as DJ Nicholas, Jermaine Edwards, Kevin Downswell, Mr. Gallimore, Sons of the Prophet (SOP), JLee, Sapphire, Garfield Reid, Chosen Vessel, Lubert Levy, Ryan Berry, JDOT, SDON, Dunamis and many more. After a one year hiatus, from the Kingston Show, DJ Nicholas is ready to “keep it loud” with his On The Shout band.
Mandeville will also see a change in time as the show moves from its usual midnight festivities to a day time show running from 5:00 pm until 2:00 am at the Mandeville Primary and Junior High School. The show will be headlined by Jabez, Kevin Downswell, Sister Scully, Sis Pat, Joan Flemming, and Ancient Priest, while the guest speaker will be Bishop Orville ‘Man-A-Dust’ Smith.
Montego Bay Genesis will feature Joan Flemmings, DJ Troy, Adoracion, Marvin Fishly, Claudia England and others. The show in Montego Bay has been an after watch-night event since inception, but due to restrictions it will be at the Montego Bay Cricket Club which is adjacent to Jarrett Park. Show time is 6:00 pm and is scheduled to end about midnight.
Patrons can expect a high-energy, praise-igniting gospel music celebration, across the three parishes. All proceeds go towards the work of Jamaica Youth for Christ across the country in schools, communities, children’s homes and churches.
