4 weeks ago
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When the curtains came down on the final results show of the 2025 Jamaica Festival Song Competition on Saturday night, despite the keenly contested, the top three winners didn't come as a big surprise.
In third place was the 2019 winner, Raldene 'Loaded Eagle' Dyer, with the song, Jam Dung. The fit 76-year-old Bredda C and the much younger Jegz were awarded the prize for Best Performers, and came in second with Come Mek Wi Rally. But the night's big winner was Abigail 'Abi-D' Dunstan. The seventh woman to win the competition, Dunstan's winning entry was titled Sweet Ja.
As with many competitions, there were light-hearted debates in the online forums, in particular about whether or not "the winnings" was the correct order. But it was all one love inside Emancipation Park as heartiest congratulations were heaped on Dunstan.
"I am feeling very overwhelmed and appreciative of everything and everyone who supported me. There were some amazing songs in the lineup this year, but I am so grateful to be the winner," said an elated Dunstan, for whom Sweet Ja was her first song.
After watching the competition for a number of years, Dunstan decided that this year was the time for her to step up and make her voice heard.
"I have been processing this now for about two years ... I got some encouraging words from my parents, from my friends and I spoke to my producer Yvad and asked him to assist. I wrote the song and said it's time to represent Jamaica ... and here I am," she told THE STAR.
She described the journey as being "a lot ... and nerve-racking at first", however, there were treasured high points, including meeting the other contestants [and] "the road shows with people encouraging me and telling me that I am the winner".
A dance major at the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, and a member of the ASHE Company, she plans to invest some of her winnings in her music career.
The competition, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport through the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), saw 10 finalists. The other seven were: Askia Livingstone - Nation Vow; Romane Ingram - Deh Pon Mi Mind; Oliver Ashley - Jamaica You Have It All; Jonah Jack - Vision Jamaica; ; Julene Clarke - A Jam Dung Dis; Christopher Laing - Jamaica is Big Big Everywhere; and Randeen Thomas - Naah Leave . The winner was awarded more than $3 million in cash and prizes.
Executive Director of the JCDC, Lenford Salmon, told THE STAR that this year's competition "has proven to be one of the strongest in recent memory".
"The overwhelming number of entries reaffirmed the competition's popularity and the deep value our artistes and the music industry continue to place on this national platform," Salmon said.
"What stood out this year was the remarkable diversity -- not just in musical styles, but in the ages of our participants. From seasoned veterans to emerging young talent, the Festival Song tradition is clearly transcending generations and connecting Jamaicans of all ages," he added.
Salmon shared that the response to the 10 finalists on the road shows across the island was "phenomenal", an indication of just how talented and competitive this year's group was.
"I extend heartfelt congratulations to our winner, Abi-D. As a young artiste she represents a bright and promising future for Jamaican music. The Festival Song Competition is in great hands, and its future is secure," Salmon declared.
All 10 songs are available on all major streaming platforms.
English (US) ·