Seven Jamaicans based in Canada and the United States will contest the semi-finals of the Jamaica International Independence Foreign Song Competition (JIIFSC). The contestants were announced on May 17 by Dr Garfield McCook, the event’s founder.
They include Georgia-based Ernel Earlington, who won last year with ‘Jamaica Nice’, performed with his group Doxology. Their entry this year is ‘If Yuh Love Jamaica seh Yes’.
His rivals are Chawlih Crux out of Washington DC with ‘Jamaica Now;’ Lisa Blackford, who represents Virginia with ‘My Jamaica Home Sweet Home’; Boston-based Dion Knibb with ‘My Sweet Jamaica’; IJAHKNOWAH from Georgia, who does ‘Yardie’; Lee “Priest” Johnson out of Georgia with ‘Jamaica ina mi Blood’; and Canada-based Tania Lou whose entry is ‘Jamaica Soul’.
The finalists will be announced on July 1, with the final scheduled for July 25 in Snellville, Georgia. This year’s winner receives US$8,000 plus a trophy; second place, $5,000 plus trophy and third place $1000.
Toronto-based singer Lavie Lujah won the inaugural contest in 2021 with ‘Certified Yardie’. ‘IRIE’ by GoddySon out of New York won in 2022, while Ohio-based Leon “Letonick” Denton took the honours in 2023 with ‘Jamaican in Mi’.
Inspired by the popular Festival Song Competition in Jamaica, McCook launched the JIIFSC four years ago. It is open to artists in Jamaica’s Diaspora.
