Dancehall artist Stacious, known for saucy songs like “Come Into my Room” (with Mavado) and “Touch me Right”, won the Jamaica Festival Song Competition on July 22 with “Jamaica Spirit”.
She became the fourth female to win the contest which has been held annually prior to Jamaica’s Independence celebrations since 1966.
The event, which also attracted mainstream acts like Lutan Fyah, the Fabulous Five and I-Octane, was held virtually from the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston to meet Jamaica’s Covid-19 protocols.
Twelve contestants vied for top prize of US$20,000.
DB placed second with “Love Jamaica My Land”. He also won the Best Performer trophy for his “spirited performance.
Tamo J, another dancehall artist, was third with “Talk”.
Stacious follows Abby Dallas, Chetenge and Heather Grant as women who have won the Jamaica Festival Song Competition which was being held virtually for the second straight year.
In 2020, Buju Banton won with “I am A Jamaican”.
Like last year when Toots and The Maytals and Freddie McGregor also competed, organisers, the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, offered attractive cash incentives to lure mainstream artists.
In its heyday, the event drew the biggest names in Jamaican music. Toots and The Maytals won the inaugural staging; other notable winners include Desmond Dekker and The Aces, Tinga Stewart and Freddie McKay.
Written By Howard Campbell