Dancehall Artist Stacious Makes History As She Wins 2021 Jamaica Festival Song Competition

Dancehall artist Stacious has achieved her objective and made history while doing so, as she was on Thursday (July 22) named the winner of the 2021 Jamaica Festival Song competition.

In the 55 year history of the competition’s staging, Stacious is the fourth woman to have won the contest with her song titled, Jamaican Spirit which saw her walk away with the whopping $3 million prize.

Prior to her win, the dancehall artist known for songs like Falling Down, It’s Over, Fight Back, and Come Into My Room which featured Mavado, told news outlets she was aiming to add more females to the competition’s list of winners. In addition, Stacious, said she wanted to help popularize the festival song competition among a younger audience.

“Guys, we did it, we did it. I just want to say thanks to everyone who voted , I appreciate the support, mi just happy, I don’t get speechless often and this is one of those moments,” Stacious said in a video that she broadcast via WhatsApp messenger last night.

Stacious, whose real name is Stacey Scarlett Bryan joins Buju Banton, Toots and the Maytals who are among a long list of winners of the popular competition.

This year’s competition had 12 finalists instead of the usual 10 with competition favourite, DB, taking the second place spot with his tune Love Jamaica My Land, while Tamo J took third place with the track, Real Talk.

The Festival Song Competition began in 1966 with the winning song used for Independence day celebrations.

Heather Grant was the first woman to win the Jamaica Popular Song Contest in 1992 with Mek Wi Put Things Right, followed by Cheryl ‘Chetenge’ Clarke in 1999 and Abbygaye ‘Abby’ Dallas in 2012.

The 2021 show was hosted by Christopher ‘Johnny’ Daley and live streamed on the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s website.