SINGER Abby Dallas says Sacaj’s win in this year’s Jamaica Festival Song Competition should serve as a boost for female entertainers, especially as the island celebrates its 60th anniversary of Independence from Great Britain.

“Sacaj’s win should convince Jamaicans that there is more than a handful of talented and determined female entertainers,” said Dallas, who won the competition in 2012 with Real Born Jamaican.

“This year marks our 60th year of Independence and, for a woman to win, nuff respect and praises to her entire team… This type of result should motivate our females, just as it was when Portia Simpson-Miller was sworn in as Jamaica’s first female prime minister of Jamaica,”” she continued.

Simpson-Miller served as Jamaica’s prime minister from March 2006 to September 2007 and, again, from January 2012 to March 2016.

Sacaj, whose given name is Danece Jacas, won the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC)-organised Jamaica Festival Song Competition on Thursday. The sole female in the contest, her entry was entitled Nuh Weh Nuh Nice Like Yard. It was produced by Newell Morgan.

The event was held at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St Andrew. Second place went to Magic Flute with I am a Proud Jamaican, while Nitty Kutchie took third place with Defend Jamaica as well as the Best Performer trophy.

The other finalists were Dez I Boyd (Jamaica Sweet Again); Intrestt (Rock to da Beat); Inspiyah (Jamaica Nice Again); Nazzle Man (Out Of Many); One1 (Sixty); Orkid (Diamond Jubilee); and Rory Stamp (Bring Back the Love).

Sacaj is the fifth female to have won the coveted competition. In addition to Sacaj and Abby Dallas, the others are Heather Grant (1992), Cheryl Clarke (1999), and Stacious (2021).

“Is woman time now! For too long the competition has been ruled by males with such artistes as Eric Donaldson’s Cherry Oh Baby, Roy Rayon’s Give Thanks and Praise. The playing field has become level, so watch out men, we are coming stronger and stronger,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“When I went to the competition back in in 2012, I told myself no way would I allow any of my male competitors to beat me. Stacious did not drop the baton and we can now expect more females with the hope of winning entering the competition,” she continued.

Abby Dallas had a word of advice for prospective female participants.

“My advice is other females who desire to enter the Festival Song Competition is to keep writing. Find yourself a good producer, and don’t go into the competition as if you are an underdog but a full-blown pedigree,” she said.

Started in 1966, the Festival Song Competition (formerly the Popular Song Contest) is one of the highlights of Jamaica’s Independence celebrations.

The inaugural contest was won by The Maytals with Bam Bam. Other winners include Ba Ba Boom by The Jamaicans in 1967; Desmond Dekker & The Aces’ Intensified in 1968; Eric Donaldson’s enduring Cherry Oh Baby and Land of My Birth in 1971 and 1978, respectively; and Give Thanks and Praises by Roy Rayon, which won in 1987.

Abby Dallas grew up in Portmore, St Catherine, and attended Bridgeport High School in the parish. She was a member of the school’s choir.

In 2005 she entered and won the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) Best Junior Soloist Award. She holds a diploma in music from Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing Arts in St Andrew.

She is currently promoting two songs — One and Only and Poppy Show.

Her other songs include Rude Boy Loving and He’s Just Not Into You.