The annual Womanbition show again scored big. Held fittingly on International Women’s Day at Nanook’s Burlington Avenue headquarters in St Andrew, the well-attended event lived up to its motto, ‘Word, Sound and Power Is A Mission’.

Charmaine Limonious was first to grace the stage. With her guitar, she put the occasion in context by opening with Helen Ready’s 1970s’ anthem, I Am Woman, followed by People Get Ready, Unity and for a deserved encore, Moment.

It was from one generation to another as the youngest of the evening’s performers, 10-year-old Xylophone, created a stir with Thank You Mama,

Loving You and Alicia Keys’ Woman’s World.

Founder/coordinator of the Jamaica Best School Band (JBSB) competition, singer Rayven Amani Jorja, backed by her Mission Driven Band, made her mark with an incredible performance of the originals, Different Kind of Riot and I’m Black Without Apology, then Black Uhuru’s Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.

The all-female band Adahzeh gave a lively set with lead singer Kadian Hamilton the life of the party. Their performance included Island Girl, Natty and Dennis Brown’s Should I.

Keteis Oyonde, a co-founder of Womanbition, kept the positive vibe flowing with Freedom Fighter and Royal Woman; Isha Bel shone with Light Affi Shine, Bless Jah Holy Name, African Woman and Locks Grow. She invited singjay Wild Life on stage to do Spiritual Love; Wild Life then did a well-received rendition of his signature, Old Corolla.

Backed by the Rebelnation Band, Minori entertained with No More Worry, Keep Working, Reasoning and I’m A Woman. Olivia Wilmont, the High Symbal Band and dancer Zionites, also contributed to an evening of quality entertainment.

As is customary, a male guest performer closed the show. This time it was roots singer Warrior King who did his hit song, Virtuous Woman.

Womanbition was first staged in 2009 when Denise ‘Isis’ Miller, Keteis Oyonde Brissett, Emprezz Golding and Nadia Stanley joined to celebrate International Women’s Day with an event empowering women.

The term Womambition was coined by Keteis Brissett, combining woman with ambition. Womanbition has adopted two charities: the UNIA Nursing Programme and Mary’s Child Home for teenage mothers.

— Basil Walters