The Festival Song Competition in Jamaica was first started in 1966 and has continued annually until now.

Each year, the competition seeks to identify a new and original song that is reflective of the spirit of the Jamaican people.

Many artistes have used the competition as a platform to launch and promote their careers. In addition,  it has been used by some artistes to boost their career as well as to propel them into the entertainment market as major talents.

The list of winners over the years are as follows:

1966 – The Maytals — Bam Bam

1967 – The Jamaicans — Ba Ba Boom

1968 – Desmond Dekker & The Aces — Music Like Dirt

1969 – The Maytals — Sweet and Dandy

1970 – Hopeton Lewis — Boom Shaka Laka

1971 – Eric Donaldson — Cherry Oh Baby

1972 – Toots & the Maytals — Pomps and Pride

1973 – Morvin Brooks — Jump In The Line

1974 – Tinga Stewart — Play de Music

1975 – Roman Stewart — Hooray Festival

1976 – Freddie McKay — Dance This Ya Festival

1977 – Eric Donaldson — Sweet Jamaica

1978 – Eric Donaldson — Land Of My Birth

1979 – The Astronauts — Born Jamaican

1980 – Stanley & The Turbines — Come Sing With Me

1981 – Tinga Stewart — Nuh Wey Nuh Betta Dan Yard

1982 – The Astronauts — Mek Wi Jam

1983 – Ras Karbi — Jamaica I’ll Never Leave You

1984 – Eric Donaldson — Proud To Be Jamaican

1985 – Roy Rayon — Love Fever

1986 – Stanley & The Turbines — Dem A Fe Squirm

1987 – Roy Rayon — Give Thanks and Praises

1988 – Singer Jay — Jamaica Land We Love

1989 – Michael Forbes — Stop and Go

1990 – Robbie Forbes — Island Festival

1991 – Roy Rayon — Come Rock

1992 – Heather Grant — Mek Wi Put Things Right

1993 – Eric Donaldson — Big It Up

1994 – Stanley & The Astronauts — Dem a Pollute

1995 – Eric Donaldson — Join De Line

1996 – Zac Henry & Donald White — Meck We Go Spree

1997 – Eric Donaldson — Peace and Love

1998 – Neville Martin — Jamaica Whoa

1999 – Cheryl Clarke — Born Inna JA

2000 – Stanley Beckford — Fi Wi Island A Boom

2001 – Roy Richards — Lift Up Jamaica

2002 – Devon Black — Progress

2003 – Stefan Penincilin — Jamaican Tour Guide

2004 – Stefan Penincilin — Ole Time Jamaica

2005 – Khalil N Pure — Poverty

2006 – Omar Reid — Remember The Days

2007 – Neville ‘Gunty’ Winters — Woman A Di Beauty

2008 – Roy Rayon — Rise and Shine

2009 – Winston Hussey — Take Back Jamaica

2010 – Kharuso (Dellisser McFarlene) — My Jamaica

2011- Everton Pressoa – Oh if We

2012- Real Born Jamaican – Abbygaye Dallas

Yvad Billings, Staff Reporter