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Organisers of the New Year’s Eve staging of Angola Festival, held in Old Pera, St Thomas, are hailing the event as a success following a fairly good turnout and some brilliant performances from established, mid-level and up-and-coming entertainers.
It was the first time that the New Year’s Eve fest entertained live performances and this has opened a new phase of its production, with plans for the event to tour overseas and further establish Jah Bouks’s Angola brand.
“This is the third time I am keeping something on this ground of a certain magnitude. The first two times, it was just a New Year’s celebration. So this is the first staging of the festival with live performances,” Jah Bouks told The Gleaner.
“It’s a good look,” the Call Angola singer emphasised. “From persons have been seeing it on social media, they have been giving me the thumbs-up. And mi haffi big up mi business partner, Short Ghad ... mi business partner, mi bredda, mi friend, everything inna one. Without him, this wouldn’t be possible. So Short Ghad, big up yuhself.”
Originally, there were plans to have a staging in Ghana in 2025, but those plans were shifted, even though Jah Bouks made a pilgrimage to Ghana last September to lay to rest his mother, Patricia Panton, better known as Mama Zyon. She passed away suddenly in Ghana where she had been residing for the past eight years. During his performance on New Year’s Day, Jah Bouks asked for a moment of silence for Mama Zyon at 5:52 a.m. She had been instrumental in his career during the early days and played a major role in pushing his 2013 breakout hit, Call Angola, to markets in Europe and Africa.
“We are definitely going to have Angola Festival in Ghana in 2026. We are going touring with the festival. Trinidad is also confirmed for 2026 and, as the year progresses, other places will be added,” shared Jah Bouks, whose businesses in Old Pera include a restaurant and an Airbnb, both named after his hit song, which was very well received when he sang it during his performance.
He also took time to thank all the artistes and the patrons who supported the event.
PERFORMANCES
Angola Festival was one of those events which boasted a long line-up of performers, and most of them were present. It must be mentioned that the trek to Old Pera, especially in the night for first-timers, can feel like going on a pilgrimage to a place situated somewhere “back-a God”. But, as Capleton said, once you get there, the journey is worth it.
“The air clean ... the place is beautiful. It’s my first time visiting and I love it up here,” Capleton told The Gleaner before performance.
Unfortunately, although he was at the venue from early, the Fireman didn’t get to perform a full set, owing to a late start and the police then declaring that the event had to be locked off at 6 a.m. However, the cops gave the promoter a “bly” and, at 6:08 a.m., Capleton, accompanied by Flagman Fyahstone, blazed on stage with energy that could possibly define the year.
‘Twas the season of “bunning out” all kinds of dirty living and corruption, and then sealing it with the inspirational wave. Capleton involved the entire venue and had fans jumping and waving with frenzied purpose. On the notes of Or What? and Slew Dem, he exited at 6:16 a.m. and returned by popular demand with Lotion Man, a new song about the ills of consuming certain types of meat, as well as the big hitter, Jah Jah City.
Also starting off the New Year on a high note was the self-proclaimed “hottest big woman inna dancehall”, the agile, active and evergreen Macka Diamond. The Money O goddess had the young girls in St Thomas hanging on to her every word – raunchy or not – as she declared that it was a “money 2026”. Hailing the fat anatomy girls and “di gallis dem” Macka declared that she was in an Angola mood and reeled off songs such as Bun Him, Dye Dye and Cow Foot and then called up some dancers for an on-the-spot competition, with the winner receiving a $5,000 prize
St Thomas singer, Bushman, needed no introduction, and, with the event on a time crunch, all he needed was 10 minutes to make an impact that others would need an hour to make. His set included Lighthouse, Remember the Days, and Call the Hearse.
Giving strong performances also were Ras Shiloh, Bascom X, Laden, Moyann, Nation Boss, Predator, Stalk Ashley, Shawn Storm and Jamal. Promoter Short Ghad, stepped from behind the scenes and made an appearance as an artiste. Early performers included Bobo Shabba, Bunny Balance, Money Pallet and Eddie G Bomba.
Emcees for the night were Nuffy and DJ Amber of Irie FM. Selector Boom Boom was at the controls.
English (US) ·