KINGSTON, Jamaica – Decked in black, green and gold, tens of thousands of Jamaicans sang and danced while being entertained for approximately four hours at Jamaica’s 60th anniversary Grand Gala at the National Stadium on Saturday.

The festivities included cultural presentations, performances from some of the island’s top entertainers, groups of costumed dancers and tributes to musical stalwarts Derrick Morgan and Sanchez and Jamaica’s frontline workers who tiled hard while the COVID-19 pandemic raged.

Tidbits from several Jamaican icons were also showcased including cultural stalwart Louise Bennett-Coverley, more popularly known as Miss Lou, as well as legendary musicians Dennis Brown and Bob Marley.

The day’s event also charted some of the achievements by Jamaica at the international level, from sports to the Miss World contest which Jamaicans have won on four occasions through Joan Crawford, Cindy Breakspeare, Lisa Hanna and Toni-Ann Singh.

Singh sang the National Anthem and also performed Jimmy Cliff’s ‘Many Rivers To Cross’ in tribute to the frontline workers,

The patrons were also treated to the promised display of 300 drones, which lit up the night’s sky with a colourful display of different formations to the sound of different reggae music. Peter Tosh’s ‘Creation’ started and ended this section.

The entertainers also were at their best, with Glacia Robinson, Sister Pat and Kukudoo giving praise in the gospel, before Teejay stayed at his ‘Owna Lane’ in ‘Rags To Riches’.

Barrington Levy ended with ‘Here I Come’, ‘Black Roses’, ‘My Woman’, ‘Living Dangerously’, ‘Too Experienced’, ‘Prison Oval Rock’ and ‘Murder’.