« Busy Signal's "Pon Di Egde" still in the # 1 Spot | Main | Rihanna's legs are worth 1 million dollars »
February 22, 2008
Festival Song Revival
By: Joseph Cunningham
In February, Reggae Month initiatives continue to flow to make Reggae Land, Jamaica, the most prolific brand. In order to bring back the pride of Jamaicans at Independence, the board of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has decided to bring back for 2008, what was once known as the Jamaica Festival Song Competition.
Renee Robinson, Director of Programmes Management at JCDC, said, "We seek to identify a song that is reflective of the spirit of the Jamaican people at Independence time."
Entries are currently being accepted for the competition that will take the familiar format of ten finalists being selected via island-wide road shows and public voting in order to declare a winner.
Music composed from any genre was accepted, and contestants were asked to keep the lyrics in line with the spirit of festivity and celebration. The original song competition will be returned to the series of activities hosted by the JCDC over the July to August "Emanci-pendence" period.
Past winners and icons of Jamaica festival, are Roy Rayon, Toots & The Maytals, Eric Donaldson, Desmond Decker, Stanley and the Astronauts.
.