The Jamaica Festival Song Contest
FOLLOWING Independence in 1962 and with the introduction of the annual festival celebrations to mark the milestone, in his role as minister of development and welfare the late Edward Seaga, who would go on to become prime minister, created the Festival Song Contest in 1966.
Seaga saw this as a way to mobilise the Jamaican people, build a sense of patriotism among the citizens of the newly minted independent nation, and also viewed it as an engine of growth for the burgeoning Jamaican music industry.
Some of the winners over the years have become a staple on vintage Jamaican music playlists.
Here is a list of the winners over the years.
1966 The Maytals – Bam Bam
1967 The Jamaicans – Ba Ba Boom
1968 Desmond Dekker & The Aces – Music Like Dirt (Intensified ‘68)
1969 The Maytals – Sweet and Dandy
1970 Hopeton Lewis – Boom Shacka Lacka
1971 Eric Donaldson – Cherry Oh Baby
1972 Toots & the Maytals – Pomps and Pride
1973 Morvin Brooks – Jump In The Line
1974 Tinga Stewart – Play de Music
1975 Roman Stewart – Hooray Festival
1976 Freddie McKay – Dance This Ya Festival
1977 Eric Donaldson – Sweet Jamaica
1978 Eric Donaldson – Land of my Birth
1979 The Astronauts – Born Jamaican
1980 Stanley & The Turbines – Come Sing With Me
1981 Tinga Stewart – Nuh Wey Nuh Betta Dan Yard
1982 The Astronauts – Mek Wi Jam
1983 Ras Karbi – Jamaica I’ll Never Leave You
1984 Eric Donaldson – Proud to be Jamaican
1985 Roy Rayon – Love Fever
1986 Stanley & The Turbines – Dem a fe Squirm
1987 Roy Rayon – Give Thanks and Praise
1988 Singer Jay – Jamaica Land We Love
1989 Michael Forbes – Stop and Go
1990 Robbie Forbes – Island Festival
1991 Roy Rayon – Come Rock
1992 Heather Grant – Mek wi Put Things Right
1993 Eric Donaldson – Big It Up
1994 Stanley & The Astronauts – Dem a Pollute
1995 Eric Donaldson – Join de Line
1996 Zac Henrry & Donald White – Meck We Go Spree
1997 Eric Donaldson – Peace and Love
1998 Neville Martin – Jamaica Whoa
1999 Cheryl Clarke – Born Inna JA
2000 Stanley Beckford – Fi Wi Island A Boom
2001 Roy Richards - Lift Up Jamaica
2002 Devon Black – Progress
2003 Stefan Penincilin – Jamaican Tour Guide
2004 Stefan Penincilin – Ole Time Jamaica
2005 Khalil N Pure – Poverty
2006 Omar Reid – Remember the Days
2007 Neville “Gunty” Winters – Woman A Di Beauty
2008 Roy Rayon – Rise and Shine
2009 Winston Hussey – Take Back Jamaica
2010 Kharuso – My Jamaica
2011 Everton David Pessoa – Oh if We
2012 Abbygaye Dallas – Real Born Jamaican
2013 No competition
2014 Rushane Sanderson – I Love JA
2015 Lee-Roy Johnson – Celebration
2016 Oneil Scott – No Weh Like Jamaica
2017 No competition
2018 Oneil ‘Nazzle Man’ Scott – Jamaica A Wi Home
2019 Raldene Dyer – Loaded Eagle
2020 Buju Banton – I am a Jamaican
2021 Stacious – Jamaican Spirit