Canada accounts for five of the eight semi-finalists in the sixth Jamaica International Independence Foreign Song Competition (JIIFSC), which is scheduled to end on July 25 in Snellville, Georgia.
Heading the list of representatives from Maple Leaf land is Ammoye, arguably the most visible reggae act in Canada in the last five years. Her entry is ‘A Yard’, which features Lord Sassafrass.
Also representing Canada are Clement Gordon (‘Granny’); Tyson Knight (‘Jamaica is A Woman’); Derrick Watson (‘All Jamaicans’); and Horace Martin (‘Awake’).
The JIIFSC format is based on the Festival Song Competition in Jamaica, which started in 1966. The inaugural contest in 2021 was won by Canada-based Lavie Lujah with ‘Certified Yardie’.
Back to defend his title is Lee “Priest” Johnson, who is based in Georgia. He won the 2025 edition with ‘Jamaica ina mi Blood’. His entry this year is ‘One of A Kind’.
Florida has two representatives in D Mack (‘Jamaica is The Place’) and Owen Silvera (‘I Wouldn’t Change a Thing’). D Mack lived for many years in Toronto, where he was a singer/musician in the city’s club scene.
Completing the semi-finalists are Peter Positive out of Pennsylvania with ‘Love mi Yard’ and Richardo “Bringle Faya” Amos, who represents Italy with ‘Woii’.
Dr. Garfield McCook, founder and organizer for the JIIFSC, said there were initially 15 entries for the 2026 staging. Five judges and online voting will determine the finalists who will be announced on July 1.
The winning artist will receive US$8,000. Runner-up gets US$4,000 and third place US$1,000.