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Jamaica Festival Songs - Popular (Winning) Songs Since 1966
by Wellesley
Jamaica National Flag
The Jamaica Festival Song Competition, also called the Popular Song Competition, and before 1990, known as the Independence Festival Song Competition, first took place in 1966.
It is one of the highlights of the Jamaica Independence Festival which was initiated in 1962 with the objective of showcasing Jamaica's literary, fine, and performing artists, and also to celebrate the Jamaican culture.
The Jamaica Independence Festival was the brainchild of then Minister of Community Development (and later Prime Minister), Edward Seaga.
And now, by popular demand, here (below) is a list of the all the winning festival song titles, and their singers, since 1966.
But just before...
New! Here Is The Complete Playlist, Including The Most Current Winner
1966 TO CURRENT (Year on Year)
- 1966 - The Maytals; Song: Bam Bam
- 1967 - The Jamaicans; Song: Ba Ba Boom
- 1968 - Desmond Dekker & The Aces; Song: Music Like Dirt
- 1969 - The Maytals; Song: Sweet and Dandy
- 1970 - Hopeton Lewis; Song: Boom Shaka Laka
- 1971 - Eric Donaldson; Song: Cherry Oh Baby
- 1972 - Toots & the Maytals; Song: Pomps and Pride
- 1973 - Morvin Brooks; Song: Jump In The Line
- 1974 - Tinga Stewart; Song: Play de Music
- 1975 - Roman Stewart; Song: Hooray Festival
- 1976 - Freddie McKay; Song: Dance This Ya Festival
- 1977 - Eric Donaldson; Song: Sweet Jamaica
- 1978 - Eric Donaldson; Song: Land Of My Birth
- 1979 - The Astronauts; Song: Born Jamaican
- 1980 - Stanley & The Turbines; Song: Come Sing With Me
- 1981 - Tinga Stewart; Song: Nuh Wey Nuh Betta Dan Yard
- 1982 - The Astronauts; Song: Mek Wi Jam
- 1983 - Ras Karbi; Song: Jamaica I'll Never Leave You
- 1984 - Eric Donaldson; Song: Proud To Be Jamaican
- 1985 - Roy Rayon; Song: Love Fever
- 1986 - Stanley & The Turbines; Song: Dem A Fe Squirm
- 1987 - Roy Rayon; Song: Give Thanks and Praises
- 1988 - Singer Jay; Song: Jamaica Land We Love
- 1989 - Michael Forbes; Song: Stop and Go
- 1990 - Robbie Forbes; Song: Island Festival
- 1991 - Roy Rayon; Song: Come Rock
- 1992 - Heather Grant; Song: Mek Wi Put Things Right
- 1993 - Eric Donaldson; Song: Big It Up
- 1994 - Stanley & The Astronauts; Song: Dem a Pollute
- 1995 - Eric Donaldson; Song: Join De Line
- 1996 - Zac Henry & Donald White; Song: Meck We Go Spree
- 1997 - Eric Donaldson; Song: Peace and Love
- 1998 - Neville Martin; Song: Jamaica Whoa
- 1999 - Cheryl Clarke; Song: Born Inna JA
- 2000 - Stanley Beckford; Song: Fi Wi Island A Boom
- 2001 - Roy Richards; Song: Lift Up Jamaica
- 2002 - Devon Black; Song: Progress
- 2003 - Stefan Penincilin; Song: Jamaican Tour Guide
- 2004 - Stefan Penincilin; Song: Ole Time Jamaica
- 2005 - Khalil N Pure; Song: Poverty
- 2006 - Omar Reid; Song: Remember The Days
- 2007 - Neville 'Gunty' Winters; Song: Woman A Di Beauty
- 2008 - Roy Rayon; Song: Rise and Shine
- 2009 - Winston Hussey; Song: Take Back Jamaica
- 2010 - Kharuso; Song: My Jamaica
- 2011 - Everton David Pessoa; Song: Oh if We
- 2012 - Abbygaye Dallas: Song: Real Born Jamaican
- 2013 - Competition was suspended. Read more.
- 2014 - Rushane "Deep Jahi" Sanderson: Song: I Love JA
- 2015 - Lee-Roy 'Ancient Priest' Johnson: Song: Celebration Time
- 2016 - Oneil “Nazzleman” Scott: Song: No weh like Jamaica
- 2017 - Suspended (Second Time). Read More.
- 2018 - Oneil “Nazzle Man” Scott: Song: A Wi Home
- 2019 - Raldene Dyer: Song: Big Up Jamaica
- 2020 - Buju Banton: Song: I Am Jamaican
- 2021 - Stacious: Song: Jamaican Spirit
- 2022 - Sacaj: Song: Nuh Wey Nice Like Yard
- 2023 - Slashe: Song: Best in the World
What's My All-Time Favourite?
I have quite a few, including some of Roy Rayon's.
But if you poke me, I'd have to say this one below, Eric's Donaldson's Sweet Jamaica, click to PLAY on YouTube.
Love it, Love it, Love it!!!!!
By the way, if you are interested in purchasing copies of any of them, simply Google the name of the artiste and the title of the song, or visit our Amazon partner page by clicking this Jamaica Festival Songs link.
You may also simply do a YouTube search and watch the videos there.
You are also welcome to visit my YouTube Channel where I share lots more of the real Jamaica.
So, do you know (remember) any of these? What's your favourite?
Please share your feedback in the the comment link below.
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About The Author
A patriotic Jamaican who adores its culture, Wellesley has been using this medium to share what he calls 'the uniqueness of Jamaica with the world' since April 2007.
To date, he serves over 9,300 unique readers / viewers per day (and over 1.1millon page views monthly)
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