The vibe was positively electric inside the Lauderhill Performing Arts Center in the South Florida city of Lauderhill, last Saturday, when reggae superstars Marcia Griffiths and Beenie Man headlined the city’s celebration of Jamaica’s 64th anniversary of Independence.

With a capacity of more than 1,000 people, almost every seat inside the performing arts centre was filled, in an enclave of Florida which has one of the largest concentrations of Jamaicans in the United States.

Along with these thrilling performances, the night was full of surprises.

Miami Consul General Oliver Mair, who has been tapped to serve as consul general in New York after serving in Florida for just over seven years, was given the key to the city by Lauderhill’s Jamaican-born Mayor Denise Grant, in recognition of his undeniable impact on Diasporans throughout South Florida and beyond.

The show started with a rousing rendition of the American anthem, as the Jamaicans paid homage to their adopted home which celebrated its 250th anniversary of Independence on July 4, 2026. That was followed by an equally energetic presentation of the Jamaican anthem, both led by noted tenor Steve Higgins.

The headliners performed some of their greatest hits, with Griffiths, who took the stage with her son Taf, to great applause, closing out her set with her internationally acclaimed hit song Electric Boogie. Her rendition of the song drew enthusiastic audience participation in the electric slide — the much loved line dance that accompanies the song.

There were also energetic performances by veteran reggae artiste Mikey Spice and other supporting acts like Mical Rustle, Empress Uneek and Sugah. In between performances, popular deejays such as Richie Pooh, Footah Hype, DJ Fergie and others played a medley of tunes that excited the crowd which clearly came out to party.

After the show, the city hosted an after-party, where Beenie Man was presented with a large birthday cake and serenaded by the crowd with the happy birthday song, as his special day is around the corner on August 22.

Among the attendees was top Florida attorney Alison Smith, the Jamaican-American who became the first woman of colour to lead the century-old Broward County Bar Association, one of the largest voluntary bars for attorneys in the State.

Smith, who was raised in St Elizabeth and Manchester and is an ardent enthusiast of reggae music and ambassador for Jamaican culture, praised the performances, noting: “People were up and on their feet, dancing, laughing, making friends and having a good time… Jamaican music has that effect on people. As Bob Marley sang: ‘When it hits, you feel no pain.’”

Lauderhill City celebrated the 64th Independence with several other events, including a flag-raising ceremony on Jamaica Independence Day, August 6, showing respect to Jamaica’s rich history and international social impact.

— Desmond Allen

Reggae superstar Marcia Griffiths performing along with her son, Taf, at the Jamaica 64th Anniversary of Independence celebrations in Lauderhill, Florida.