On Friday, August 1, as Jamaicans across the world celebrated 187 years of Emancipation, Montego Bay, St James, took things one step further by celebrating everything that makes Jamaica unique at the 16th staging of the Montego Bay Jerk & Food Festival.

The annual event was attended this year by approximately 7,000 patrons who came to not only taste the best food that Jamaica has to offer but experience the cultural representation that defines Jamaican.

“Our festival is way more than just being about food. It is about experiencing something that binds us together as a common people. And, as long as Jamaicans continue to be the special and different persons they are, then the MoBay Jerk & Food Festival will have something to celebrate,” said John Lindo, festival director and organiser.

The highlight of the festival continues to be the famed celebrity cook-off which was gladly powered by Walkerswood brand. The competition saw notable contributors of society compete to see who can prepare the best jerked chicken.

This year, deputy mayor of Montego Bay Dwight Crawford, David Mullings of Blue Mahoe Group, Oshane Archer of SwayKitchen, and Dr Jodine Jackto-Tafari went head to head in the hour-long challenge, employing a wide range of herbs and spices to ensure their chicken was the best.

“Our celebrity cook-off competition encapsulates everything that is jerk fest and Jamaican culture. In almost every community across this country is a jerk man who thinks he is the best at what he does. So we really want to thank Walkerswood for giving persons who say they are the best and opportunity to prove it,” Lindo said.

Archer came out on top this year, narrowly beating out the deputy mayor and claiming the top prize.

With the food aspect now out of the way, there was one more cultural aspect that needed celebration, authentic Jamaican music.

As patrons captured their spaces on the lawns of the Catherine Hall Entertainment Centre, the gospel concert portion of the festival got underway with artistes like Donna Wedderburn and the Soundtrack Band and Orville Sutherland blessing the grounds.

The night quickly turned into a true celebration of dancehall culture as a slew of young and talented entertainers had the crowd begging for more.

One standout artiste, Ayetian, left it all on the stage with hits like
Balance, Anyweh, and
Tip. It was clear the younger persons of the audience had been captured by every word and accompanying pyrotechnics. He was quickly followed up by fellow young acts Adofo, Kraff,and Bandit7teen, who showed dancehall unity.

Dancehall elites Valiant and Ding Dong brought the curtains down on the festival leaving little to be desired.

“This is what the Mobay Jerk & Food Festival is about! Jamaica is known around the world for its amazing music, and it is our hope that we can continue to celebrate it both here in real tangible ways,” Lindo said.

Approximately 7,000 patrons attended this year’s staging of MoBay Jerk & Food Festival in St James.

Dancehall heavyweight Valiant keeps the crowd entertained at MoBay Jerk & Food Festival on Emancipation Day.