Veteran reggae gospel artiste Carlene Davis delivered a soul-stirring and energetic performance at the Barbados Reggae Weekend, held at the National Botanical Gardens, where crowds packed the venue to capacity across all three nights.

The well-attended festival was held between April 25-27.

Davis took the stage during the highly anticipated Legends of Reggae night on April 25 joining a powerhouse line-up including Courtney Melody, Glen Washington, Wayne Wonder, Super Cat, Lloyd Parks & We The People Band, and Barbados’ own Wendy Allen and Friends.

While Davis was invited to perform her beloved early hits in keeping with the night’s theme, she also seized the opportunity to share her personal journey of faith through her gospel music.

“I saw this as a divine moment to not only entertain but to minister — to take the audience on a journey of hope, purpose, and transformation,” she said.

She opened with It Must Be Love, instantly engaging the audience and setting a powerful tone for the evening. The crowd sang along to classics like Going Down to Paradise and Dial My Number, and was deeply moved as Davis reflected on her music’s role in the anti-apartheid movement, leading into a stirring performance of Winnie Mandela.

She also paid tribute to her reggae roots, referencing Jimmy Cliff’s The Harder They Come — a song that marked her return to Jamaica and her 1980 debut at Reggae Sunsplash. This was followed by her renditions of Everything I Own and
Three Little Birds from her acclaimed album Songs of Bob Marley — still the only full Bob Marley tribute album recorded by a female vocalist.

Backed by the rich harmonies of vocalists Adassa Michelle, Alicia Watson, and Latoya Newell, the audience was captivated from beginning to end.

One of the significant moment of the night came during her performance of Still In Love (a reimagining of the song Stealing Love). The singer invited her husband and longtime producer Tommy Cowan to the stage, sharing the story of how he introduced the song to her years ago, while working as marketing manager at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Records for release on the 56 Hope Road label. Truly a message of redemption and enduring love that resonated deeply with couples in the audience.

“We’ve been together 44 years,” Davis told the audience. “After surviving a robbery at gunpoint and battling cancer, I realised it was time to stop running from God — and start running to Him.”

That turning point led to a new lifestyle, “and as I’m still in love,” Davis declared, she continued with uplifting favourites including Praising God, The Goodness of God, This Island Needs Jesus — featuring two dancers waving the flags of Barbados and Jamaica — and Everybody Sing Praise. She closed with her chart-topping ballad Like Old Friends Do, ending the night on a nostalgic and joyful note.

Social media lit up with praise, and next day, fans stopped her in the streets to thank her for the encouragement and share their own stories of faith.

The singer explained that she takes great care in preparing for each performance, which is ultimately supported by God.

“First and foremost, I rely on the Lord to move in a way that only He can. But practically speaking, it’s also about being intentional — tailoring the presentation to connect with the audience in front of you.

“After preparing well, I trust that those who attend will walk away uplifted, inspired, and maybe even a little more hopeful than when they arrived. As I often say: I love those who’ve supported my journey, and it’s my joy to lead them forward — while hopefully winning some new hearts for the Kingdom along the way,” she said.