Third Jamaica International Independence Foreign Song Competition Will be Decided on July 29

The third Jamaica International Independence Foreign Song Competition (JIIFSC) will be decided on July 29 with the final taking place at Shiloh High School Theatre in Snellville, Georgia.

Seven contestants are up for the top prize of $8,000. They are:Garfield McCook

Jamaican in Mi --- Leon "Le'Tonick" Denton (Ohio)

More Jesus For Jamaica --- Yvonne Johnson (Georgia)

Jamaica 61 --- Tania Lou (Canada)

A Jamaica mi Bawn And Grow --- Ernel Earlington (Georgia)

Island Life --- Nikki Spice (Florida)

Island Jamaica --- Marlon Christy (Georgia)

Play Ina We Yaad --- Dex Daley (Florida).

The runner-up will receive $4,000 with third place getting $1,000. Judges selected the finalists from a semi-final field of 10.

Garfield McCook, a Jamaican businessman based in Atlanta, is founder and organizer of the JIIFSC. He told Caribbean Today that it’s all systems go for the final.

“Things are on target. We are looking forward to a great evening,” said McCook, who started the contest to give artists in the Jamaican Diaspora an opportunity to compete in an event similar to the long-running ‘Festival’ in Jamaica.

The inaugural JIIFSC was won by Certified Yardie by Lavie Lujah, who is based in Toronto, Canada. Last year, IRIE by Goddy Son out of New York topped six rivals for victory.