Jamaica's Festival Songs
From Current to its Inception
Following Jamaica's independence from British rule in 1962, Minister of Development and Welfare Edward Seaga established "Jamaica Festival" in 1963 to commemorate the island's new status as an independent nation. This celebration soon inspired an annual musical showcase, leading to the official launch of the Jamaica Festival Song Competition in 1966. Created to "mobilize the spirit of the people" through music, the inaugural contest coincided with Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia's historic state visit to the island.
Below is the complete chronological catalog of every winning festival song from 1966 to the present. Listen to the original tracks, explore the history of each winning artist, and cast your vote in the community poll for the greatest Jamaica Festival Song of all time.
The inaugural year of the competition was 1966, the same year that Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia visited the island.
Vote for the Best Festival Song of All Time
Enter any winning year (1966 to present) or select from the list. You may update your choice during this visit.
Years 2000 to 2030
| Year | Song Name | Singer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | I Love Jamaica | dBurnz | YouTube Music |
| 2025 | Sweet JA | Abigail "Abi-D" Dunstan | YouTube Music |
| 2024 | One Jamaica | Kimiela 'Candy' Isaacs | YouTube Music |
| 2023 | Best in the World | Slashe | YouTube Music |
| 2022 | Nuh Wey Nice Like Yard | Sacaj | YouTube Music |
| 2021 | Jamaican Spirit | Stacious | YouTube Music |
| 2020 | I am a Jamaican | Buju Banton | YouTube Music |
| 2019 | Loaded Eagle | Raldene Dyer | YouTube Music |
| 2018 | Jamaica A Wi Home | Oneil "Nazzle Man" Scott | YouTube Music |
| 2017 | None | No Competition Held | — |
| 2016 | No Weh Like Jamaica | Oneil "Nazzle Man" Scott | YouTube Music |
| 2015 | Celebration | Lee-Roy Johnson | YouTube Music |
| 2014 | I Love JA | Deep Jahi (Rushane Sanderson) | YouTube Music |
| 2013 | None | No Competion Held | — |
| 2012 | Real Born Jamaican | Abbygaye Dallas | YouTube Music |
| 2011 | Oh if We | Everton David Pessoa | YouTube Music |
| 2010 | My Jamaica | Kharuso | YouTube Music |
| 2009 | Take Back Jamaica | Winston Hussey | YouTube Music |
| 2008 | Rise and Shine | Roy Rayon | YouTube Music |
| 2007 | Woman A Di Beauty | Neville 'Gunty' Winters | YouTube Music |
| 2006 | Remember the Days | Omar Reid | YouTube Music |
| 2005 | Poverty | Khalil N Pure | YouTube Music |
| 2004 | Ole Time Jamaica | Stefan Penincilin | YouTube Music |
| 2003 | Jamaican Tour Guide | Stefan Penincilin | YouTube Music |
| 2002 | Progress | Devon Black | YouTube Music |
| 2001 | Lift Up Jamaica | Roy Richards | YouTube Music |
| 2000 | Fi Wi Island A Boom | Stanley Beckford | YouTube Music |
Years 1966 to 1999
| Year | Song Name | Singer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Born Inna JA | Cheryl Clarke | YouTube Music |
| 1998 | Jamaica Whoa | Neville Martin | YouTube Music |
| 1997 | Peace and Love | Eric Donaldson | YouTube Music |
| 1996 | Meck We Go Spree | Zac Henry & Donald White | YouTube Music |
| 1995 | Join de Line | Eric Donaldson | YouTube Music |
| 1994 | Dem a Pollute | Stanley & The Astronauts | YouTube Music |
| 1993 | Big It Up | Eric Donaldson | YouTube Music |
| 1992 | Mek wi Put Things Right | Heather Grant | YouTube Music |
| 1991 | Come Rock | Roy Rayon | YouTube Music |
| 1990 | Island Festival | Robbie Forbes | YouTube Music |
| 1989 | Stop and Go | Michael Forbes | YouTube Music |
| 1988 | Jamaica Land We Love | Singer Jay | YouTube Music |
| 1987 | Give Thanks and Praise | Roy Rayon | YouTube Music |
| 1986 | Dem a fe Squirm | Stanley & The Turbines | YouTube Music |
| 1985 | Love Fever | Roy Rayon | YouTube Music |
| 1984 | Proud to be Jamaican | Eric Donaldson | YouTube Music |
| 1983 | Jamaica I'll Never Leave You | Ras Karbi | YouTube Music |
| 1982 | Mek Wi Jam | The Astronauts | YouTube Music |
| 1981 | Nuh Wey Nuh Betta Dan Yard | Tinga Stewart | YouTube Music |
| 1980 | New Jamaica (Come Sing With Me) | Stanley & The Turbines | YouTube Music |
| 1979 | Born Jamaican | The Astronauts | YouTube Music |
| 1978 | Land of my Birth | Eric Donaldson | YouTube Music |
| 1977 | Sweet Jamaica | Eric Donaldson | YouTube Music |
| 1976 | Dance This Ya Festival | Freddie McKay | YouTube Music |
| 1975 | Hooray Festival | Roman Stewart | YouTube Music |
| 1974 | Play de Music | Tinga Stewart | YouTube Music |
| 1973 | Jump In The Line | Morvin Brooks | YouTube Music |
| 1972 | Pomp and Pride | Toots & the Maytals | YouTube Music |
| 1971 | Cherry Oh Baby | Eric Donaldson | YouTube Music |
| 1970 | Boom Shacka Lacka | Hopeton Lewis | YouTube Music |
| 1969 | Sweet and Dandy | The Maytals | YouTube Music |
| 1968 | Music Like Dirt (Intensified '68) | Desmond Dekker & The Aces | YouTube Music |
| 1967 | Ba Ba Boom | The Jamaicans | YouTube Music |
| 1966 | Bam Bam | The Maytals | YouTube Music |