MONTEGO BAY, St James — “It makes you want to dance! I think so. It sums up the vibrancy of Jamaica’s culture and music,” Londoner Tracy Kandohla said Wednesday as she glanced appreciatively at a wall with vibrant images of some of Jamaica’s iconic entertainers.

“It’s lovely; the artists did a good job. Nice for a happy story,” she added.

The already popular murals were unveiled just two days before, an art walk created by S Hotel along Montego Bay’s heavily used Jimmy Cliff Boulevard.

Mark Large, who admired the artwork alongside Kandohla, also had rave reviews for the paintings.

“It looks very real; the texture, the skin, and the way its textured makes it look almost life-like. Very impressive. Otherwise the white wall like that would look boring,” he said.

Commissioned by S Hotel CEO Christopher Issa, the art walk is a colourful tribute to the rich legacy of reggae, ska, and dancehall. Featured artistes include Jimmy Cliff, Peter Tosh, Beres Hammond, the Jolly Boys, Coco Tea, Cynthia Schloss, Lady Saw, Buju Banton, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Spice, and others — each immortalised in bold, expressive artwork that captures the spirit of Jamaican music.

Mark Spencer and Nicky Lynch from Liverpool, were equally impressed when they passed by on Wednesday.

“It makes a boring wall so beautiful. It is nice to see people you recognise on a board,” Spencer said.

Lynch expressed similar sentiments.

“Beautiful, absolutely beautiful,” she said.

American siblings of Jamaican parents, Edward and Ashley Gallimore, were also captivated by the images of the artistes memorialised.

“It catches our eyes to the wall as we drive in…This adds beauty to the city, even though there are some places that could use a little more beautification,” Ashley told the Jamaica Observer.

Both siblings commended the artists who worked on the project.

“It’s pretty nice as far as the artwork is concerned; it’s colourful, very detailed,” Edward said.

S Hotel’s Issa explained that the idea for the art walk was born in 2019, following the opening of S Hotel Montego Bay. Inspired by the work of Kingston Creative in the capital, the team reached out to its founder Andrea Dempster. Despite her busy schedule, she offered guidance and a small committee was formed. Initial planning began but was soon put on hold because of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the momentum returned after Dempster reached out with an unexpected offer from a tourist visiting Jamaica on his honeymoon: he wanted to contribute a mural. While staying at the Grand Palladium, the visitor and his wife coordinated with the team to create the first mural on the back wall of the strip before their departure.

It was later expanded with contributions from local artists Damion Elliot and Rohan Blair, who vividly captured the essence of Jamaican creativity. More recently, the project has grown to include two striking pieces by Anthony Smith, also introduced by Dempster.

Among the most notable additions is a mural of reggae legend Jimmy Cliff who, though unable to attend Monday’s unveiling in person, approved the selected image now proudly displayed along the boulevard named in his honour.

During the project’s unveiling, Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay Dwight “Debo” Crawford commended Issa for the initiative.

“We’re very proud of you. The [St James] Municipal Corporation is very proud of you and S Hotel and the entire team for the work that you’re doing. I myself feel very proud when I pass here,” he said.

Opposition spokesperson on tourism Senator Janice Allen also welcomed the initiative.

“I think our visitors to the city will always be encouraged by this display of our culture in the way that it’s being done,” she said.

The mural of musical greats is the second one done in the western city within the last two years. There is an already popular one that decorates a section of the perimeter wall of Catherine Hall Complex, the venue for Reggae Sumfest.