Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts graduate Kimiela ‘Candy’ Isaacs became the second visually-impaired artist to win the Jamaica Festival Song competition in its 58-year history on Saturday July 13, 2024. The first visually-impaired winner was Asley ‘Grub’ Cooper along with members of his of Fab Five band who are either blind or visually impaired.
Cooper has wrote several festival song over the years including winning numbers Give Thanks And Praises (sung by Candy at the July 13th, 2024 finals) and Love Fever by Festival King Roy Rayon, and Proud to be Jamaican by Eric Donaldson. The band itself, formerly known The Broncos has played on 9 winning songs and 19 in total.
This year’s winner, Isaacs, walked away with he $3 million cash prize for the song #OneJamaican after judges and the public voted for her exciting performance. The producer for the track Sydney Thorpe is also visually impaired.
Only three years ago the competition changed the rules to include writers and producers in the share of the prize.
The train vocalist, with a range close to Mariah Carey, also took the trophy for Best Performance,
Trishmaq took home second place for the song “Jamaica is a Big Brand,” and third-place went to Sister Novelette’s “Fi Mi Island Hope.”
Media personality Pepita was also part of this year’s lineup with the song “We Are Jamaicans.”
Last year’s winner, also a graduate of Edna Manley, former comedian Slashe known for this collaborative album “Lion Reggae Playlist” and “You Make Me Stronger” gospel singer Kevin Downswell added to the evening’s entertainment.
