The quest to find the Jamaica Festival Song for 2025 has begun.

After reviewing 161 entries received for this year’s competition, the National Festival Song Committee have arrived at 30 performers. From these, the top 10 finalists will be chosen following a showcase set for this Saturday, May 10, at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew, starting at 5:00 pm.

For Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange, this semi-final showcase offers the artistes who have made it this far in the competition a chance to perform their songs for a panel of judges and a live audience.

“The Festival Song Competition, which is organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), is one of the marquee events on the annual independence celebrations. Over the years, we have had some impressive winning songs and artistes that have gone on to become part of the musical history of our country. It is therefore critical that we give the performers all the exposure that is possible,” she said.

Minister Grange also shared that on Saturday’s show, the shortlisted semi-finalists will perform their songs with backing tracks and, based on this performance, the adjudicators will determine the 10 finalists for this year.

The Festival Song Competition has been a vital platform for songs that capture the essence of Jamaica’s identity, struggles and triumphs. Iconic tracks like Bam Bam by Toots and the Maytals (1966), This Is The Land Of My Birth by Eric Donaldson (1977), Give Thanks and Praises by Roy Rayon (1987), and Buju Banton’s I Am A Jamaican (2020) have all emerged from the competition, continuing to inspire generations of Jamaicans worldwide.

Last year, Kimiela “Candy” Isaacs emerged from a competitive field to win the title with her song One Jamaica. This marked the first time the competition, first introduced in 1966, was being won by a visually impaired performer. This was her second attempt at the festival song title following her entry in 2021 with Birthday Bash Jamaica.

Isaacs said the song was inspired by God and the many accomplishments that Jamaica has made over the years since achieving political independence.