Sacaj emerges victorious in Jamaica 60 Festival Song Competition
KINGSTON, Jamaica – The lone female in the Jamaica 60 Festival Song Competition, Sacaj turned the tables on her male competitors with her crowd favourite ‘Nuh Weh Nice Like Yard’ and walked away with $3 million in cash.
The show was held at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston.
Magic Flute’s I am a Proud Jamaica placed second while, surprisingly, Nitty Kutchie’s Defend Jamaica, which had been endorsed by A-list artistes such as Bounty Killer and Buju Banton, emerged in third place.
The top prize money of $3 million is split among the producer, writer and singer.
The other finalists were: Dez I Boyd (Jamaica Sweet Again); by Intrestt (Rock to da Beat); Inspiyah (Jamaica Nice Again); Nazzle Man ( Out Of Many); One1 ( Sixty); Orkid ( Diamond Jubilee); and Rory Stamp ( Bring Back The Love).
Dressed in a snazzy green ensemble complimented by black pants and bright yellow sneakers, Sacaj tipped the scales in her favour with a commanding performance where she left the stage and walked between the aisles and even coaxed a male member of the audience out of his seat.
“If yu proud ah yu place, buss a blank,” she belted out to enthusiastic cheers.
The show was aired live on Television Jamaica (TVJ) and the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ), and streamed live on the JCDC website, YouTube channel and the Culture Ministry’s and the minister’s Facebook pages.
This year, Jamaica marks its 60th Anniversary of Independence, a Diamond Jubilee, under the theme, ‘Re-igniting A Nation for Greatness’.