National Festival Song Competition
The National Festival Song Competition is an annual feature ofJamaica’s Festival activities which occur during the period approaching Independence Day. The competition, organized and run by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission, aims to identify a song which embodies the spirit of the Jamaican people. While the song does not have to be aboutJamaicaor Jamaican culture, the rhythm must be Jamaican and must generate mass appeal. The winner of the competition is decided by a combination of public voting and the judges’ decision at the final show.
| Year | Song Title | Singer | Writer | Player |
| 2011 | Oh if We | Everton Pressoa | Everton Pressoa | Click to Play |
| 2010 | My Jamaica | Delisser McFarlane | Click to Play | |
| 2009 | Take Back Jamaica | Winston Hussey | Click to Play | |
| 2008 | Rise & Shine | Roy Rayon | Rayon Whittingham | Click to Play |
| 2007 | Woman A Di Beauty | Gunty | Click to Play | |
| 2006 | Remember the Days | Omar Reid | Click to Play | |
| 2005 | Poverty | Khalil N Pure | Click to Play | |
| 2004 | Ole Time Jamaica | Stefan Penincilin | Stavan White | Click to Play |
| 2003 | Jamaican Tour Guide | Stefan Penincilin | Stavan White | Click to Play |
| 2002 | Progress | Devon Balke | Derrick Morgan | Click to Play |
| 2001 | Lift up Jamaica | Roy Richards | Roy Richards | Click to Play |
| 2000 | Fi Wi Island a Boom | Stanley Beckford | Derrick Morgan | Click to Play |
| 1999 | Born Inna JA | Cheryl Clarke | Cheryl Clarke | Click to Play |
| 1998 | Jamaica Whoa | Neville Martin | Derick Morgan | Click to Play |
| 1997 | Peace and Love | Eric Donaldson | Eric Donaldson & Oswald Weir | Click to Play |
| 1996 | Meck We Go Spree | Zac Henry & Donald Wright | Zac Henry | Click to Play |
| 1995 | Join Di Line | Eric Donaldson | Carlene Thomas | Click to Play |
| 1994 | Dem a Pollute | Stanley & The Astronaunts | Calvin Cameron | Click to Play |
| 1993 | Big it Up | Eric Donaldson | Calvin Cameron | Click to Play |
| 1992 | Meck We Put Things Right | Heather Grant | Don Cunningham | Click to Play |
| 1991 | Come Rock | Roy Rayon | Joan Davis | Click to Play |
| 1990 | Island Festival | Robbie Forbes | Robbie Forbes | Click to Play |
| 1989 | Stop & Go | Michael Forbes & Duo | David Madden | Click to Play |
| 1988 | Jamaica Land We Love | Singer J | Singer J | Click to Play |
| 1987 | Give Thanks & Praises | Roy Rayon | Grub Cooper | Click to Play |
| 1986 | Dem a Fi Squirm | Stanley Beckford | Calvin Cameron | Click to Play |
| 1985 | Love Fever | Roy Rayon | Grub Cooper | Click to Play |
| 1984 | Proud to Be Jamaican | Eric Donaldson | Violet McPherson | Click to Play |
| 1983 | Jamaica I'll Never Leave You Again | Ras Karbi | Ras Karbi | Click to Play |
| 1982 | Meck Wi Jam | Astronauts | Donald Wright | Click to Play |
| 1981 | No Wey No Betta Dan Yard | Tinga Stewart | Sangie Davis | Click to Play |
| 1980 | Come Sing With Me | Alphanso Plummer | Alphanso Plummer | Click to Play |
| 1979 | Born Jamaican | Astronauts | Donald Wright | Click to Play |
| 1978 | Land of My Birth | Eric Donaldson | Winston Wallace | Click to Play |
| 1977 | Sweet Jamaica | Eric Donaldson | Winston Wallace | Click to Play |
| 1976 | Dance Dis Ya Festival | Freddie McKay | Orville Samuel | Click to Play |
| 1975 | Hooray Festival | Roman Stewart | Ernie Smith | Click to Play |
| 1974 | Play Di Music | Tinga Stewart | Ernie Smith | Click to Play |
| 1973 | Jump in the Line | Morvin Brooks | Morvin Brooks | Click to Play |
| 1972 | Pomps & Pride | Toots Hibbert | The Maytals | Click to Play |
| 1971 | Cherry Oh Baby | Eric Donaldson | Eric Donaldson | Click to Play |
| 1970 | Boom Shaka Laka | Hopeton Lewis | Hopeton Lewis | Click to Play |
| 1969 | Sweet & Dandy | Toots Hibbert | The Maytals | Click to Play |
| 1968 | Intensified | Desmond Decker | Desmond Decker | Click to Play |
| 1967 | Baba Boom Boom | Norris Weir | Jamaicans | Click to Play |
| 1966 | Bam Bam | Toots Hibbert | The Maytals | Click to Play |