Festival Song and Buju; What A Bam Bam!

Buju Banton’s “I am A Jamaican” is the winner of the 2020 Jamaica Festival Song Competition and what a "bam bam" it has caused.  In what should clearly be a time of celebration the jury is still out regarding whether or not Buju Banton being an international recording artiste should have been allowed to enter the competition. The same argument should also be made against Freddie McGregor, another international recording artiste who also entered the 2020 edition of the Jamaica Festival Song competition. There are those who argue Banton’s entry into the Jamaica Festival Song Competition robbed up and coming artistes from getting a “bus” or the exposure through this national platform which is organized by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC). Many are of the view that Buju by virtue of his star power and wide appeal to the Jamaican audience was already the winner and as such the Jamaica Festival Song Competition was unfair.  The winner of this year’s competition was decided by popular votes. As a former Grammy winner, in the Reggae category Buju perhaps had an advantage. Buju is a household name in Jamaica. Buju has a huge follower especially among the females and undoubtedly, this helped him to secure the title.  In a letter to the editor on June 17, 2020, Parris Taylor stated, “I recognized that the format of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festival Song Competition has changed, to the detriment of the amateurs who should have been the basis of the competition. All of a sudden, seasoned artistes are on the prowl in the competition.” The questions were asked. Are you satisfied with the answers?  Jamaica’s first festival song winner in 1966 was The Maytals with their song, “Bam Bam”.
History of Jamaica Festival

Edward Seaga, Prime Minister of Jamaica 1980-1989 was responsible for the framework of Jamaica’s Festival in his Long-term Development Plan for Jamaica (1963-8).  Seaga added, “Festival was integral to national development because it was a way of giving Jamaicans a sense of who we are, and what our history and culture is all about. These concerns took on added importance during that immediate post-Independence period.”  Seaga played a pivotal role in the Independence Festival celebrations of 1962 which he helped to coordinate and which laid the groundwork for the real start of festival as we know it today. Jamaica's independence (August 6) was achieved gradually and an opportune day near to Emancipation Day was chosen (the first Monday in August) to mark Independence. There was therefore a need he said, for "something to mobilize the spirit of the people". That something as Seaga stated became Jamaica Festival, the first of which was really held in 1963, on the anniversary of the previous year's Independence celebrations. Jamaica festival has since been staged every succeeding year without fail. Even in the midst of COVID-19 a deliberate effort was arrived at to have the Jamaica Festival Song Competition. Jamaica is recognized as a creative and cultural superpower. This island of just under 3 million people has produced the likes of Bob Marley, king of reggae; we have had 3 Miss Worlds. Jamaica is known for her spices, such as jerk seasoning. Our jerk chicken and pork are known worldwide.  Edward Seaga in 1968 sought to institutionalize and formalize festival proceedings by proposing to establish the Jamaica Festival Commission. The Act was passed unanimously. In 1980 another Bill was passed in Parliament making The Festival Commission the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), the name by which it is known today, and a name befitting for the work the JCDC does to manage and coordinate all spheres of our cultural offerings and development.  The JCDC IS also responsible for organizing aspects of the country's annual independence celebrations.

Charity
Buju emerged the winner from a field of 10 finalists.  This year, there were more than 250 entrants. The Grammy winner walked away with the $3 million prize and suggested that his charity, Sunbeam Boys’ Home would be a beneficiary. To say our places of safety are under resourced would be an understatement. Banton did not say all his prize money would go to the Sunbeam Boys Home; instead he stated the boys home would be a beneficiary not the beneficiary. We need to pay attention to what was said and not reinterpret what was said. Over the years our festival songs have been a unifying force. This year 2020 winner is clouded in controversy, not so much regarding the lyrics of the song but what some may say is an unworthy winner. In the past we have had controversial festival song winners. In 1989 Michael Forbes “Stop and Go” was a very unpopular winner. Many persons continue to be baffled on what grounds such a song could have won. Perhaps the Jamaican public needs to demand more accountability and transparency from the promoters; the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission regarding the selection of festival songs.  2020 will go in the history books for many reasons, the main one being the coronavirus pandemic. Notwithstanding, the year will also be remembered for the controversy surrounding Buju Benton’s winning festival song “ I am a Jamaican”.  
Lyrics to I am a Jamaican
Hail yardman!
Yah yardman don’t?
Respect

I man too iyah

Respect and love man to all Jamaicans

No matter wey unuh
Deh inna di world
Own I like I own you  

No matter where in this world I go

I am a Jamaican
No birth papers
I have to show
Cause I am a Jamaican

I have Jamaican walk

Dem hear Jamaican talk
Cause I am a Jamaican

Dem hear Jamaican chat

Dem see Jamaican bop
Cause I am a Jamaican

Now, anywhere in this

World I go
I am a Jamaican

And no ID I will have to show

Cause I am a Jamaican

Dem seh lawd

what a boy can run
That is a Jamaican

When dem see the

Rasta man from Jamdown
This is a Jamaican

Dressmaker, tailor, baker

shoemaker, market woman
inna donkey cart

Rivers and streams

Fountains and mountains
Inna Jamaica we have it all

When you hear that music

a play outa door
It must be a Jamaican

When you smell the food

a cook
When the breeze blow
Got to be a Jamaican

Hey! Beautiful smile

God-fearing people
Known across the world

Yet you’re so simple

And it’s not your fault
That you’re so loving
and kind

Oh Jamdown

Sweet Jamaica
Jah bless this land of mine.

No matter anywhere I go

I am a Jamaican
No ID I man need to show
Cause I am a Jamaican

How dem people

laugh so much?
Got to be Jamaican

They have overcome

Struggle and been through
so much
Got to be Jamaican

You’re not strong and

You’re not hard
You’re not tough
You got to be Jamaican

Resilient and brave

Industrious
Yes, we are Jamaican

Regardless of what you think about the Jamaica Festival Song Competition the Gargamel has had the last say. The winning song will be played throughout the Emancipation and Independence celebration. It is hoped that the song will inspire patriotism and a sense of pride in all Jamaicans. I am a Jamaican.

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues.
waykam@yahoo.com
@WayneCamo
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