Buju Banton’s ‘I Am A Jamaican’ Wins 2020 Festival Contest

Dancehall star Buju Banton, with his entry “I Am A Jamaican”, defeated nine other finalists to win the Jamaica Festival Song Competition last month.

“Buju Banton”In addition to the title, Banton also won the J$3 million first prize, which he hinted will benefit the Sunbeam Boys’ Home.

The winning song, served up over a steady reggae beat, offered a call for Jamaicans to be proud of who they are and the accomplishments of the Caribbean nation. A sample of the lyrics includes:

            “No matter where in this world I go, I am a Jamaican.

            No birth papers I have to show, ‘cause I am a Jamaican”

The competition originally featured more than 250 entrants. Runner-up was Papa Michigan, with his entry “Jamaica Dance”.  Sakina Deer finished third, singing “We are Jamaica”.

Winners were chosen via a vote by the public. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the finals of the competition was staged online.

The festival song contest is staged annually, starting in 1966. The competition aims to raise the spirit of Jamaicans around Independence, which Jamaica received from Britain in Aug. 1962.

The other finalists in this year’s competition were Toots & The Metals (“Raise Up Jamaicans”), Nazzle Man (“Jamaica Nice”), Shuga (“One People”), L.U.S.T. (“Wave Di Flag”), Radix OD (“The Place To Be”), Freddie McGregor (“Tun Up Di Sound”) and Xtra Bigg (“Jamaica A Paradise”).