Sweet JA, by Abigail “Abi-D” Dunstan, emerged as the winner of the 2025 Jamaica Festival Song Competition.

The winner was announced during the results show at Emancipation Park in St Andrew on Saturday, July 26.

Sweet JA was selected through a combination of votes from a panel of judges and the public.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport Olivia Grange presented the Jamaica Festival Song Trophy to Dunstan, whose winning entry also earned the $3-million cash prize.

The award will be shared equally among the performer, the songwriter, and the producer, in recognition of their collaborative achievement.

Second place was copped by Brother C and Jegz for their entry Come Mek Wi Rally, while third place went to Raldene “Loaded Eagle” Dyer for JamDung.

Brother C and Jegz also won the Best Performer award.

Chief Judge Owen Brown noted that the competition attracted over 160 entries from talented Jamaicans islandwide.

“After a meticulous selection process, our panel of experienced musical professionals selected the top 10 finalists… [who] were evaluated on originality, lyrical strength, cultural relevance, production quality, and overall performance,” he said.

During the live show, attendees were entertained by reggae icon Richie Spice; 2024 Festival Song winner Kimiela “Candy” Isaacs, who performed her winning entry
#One Jamaica, and the 2025 finalists each performing their competition entry alongside their favourite past festival songs.

The Jamaica Festival Song Competition has been cemented in the landscape of Jamaican music culture and, today, is the longest running original song contest in the island.

The competition has become a show ground for aspiring artistes, songwriters, and producers to showcase their talents, and aims to identify a new and original song each year that reflects the spirit of the Jamaican people.

The event is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport through the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC).

Patrons at the 2025 Jamaica Festival Song Competition celebrate as Sweet JA by Abigail “Abi-D” Dunstan was declared the winner.

Second runner-up in the 2025 Jamaica Festival Song Competition Raldene “Loaded Eagle” Dyer displays his plaque after the final on Saturday, July 26, at Emancipation Park in St Andrew.

Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund CEO Wilford “Billy” Heaven (left) presents a plaque to first runner-up in the 2025 Jamaica Festival Song Competition, Brother C and Jegz, at the final on Saturday, July 26, at Emancipation Park.