On this day in 1993, Jamaica’s premier summer music festival — Reggae Sumfest had its first staging in Montego Bay.
The inaugural three-day staging ran from August 11–14, 1993, at the Bob Marley Entertainment Centre in Catherine Hall, following a format similar to Reggae Sunsplash which had its first staging in June 1978 at Jarrett Park in Montego Bay.
Opening Night for Sumfest on Wednesday, August 11, saw Rita Marley receive a commemorative plaque from Summerfest director Mickey Horns.
Roots and Culture Night followed on Thursday, August 12, with legendary performances from Bunny Wailer, Sugar Minott, and others.
Dancehall Night on Friday had a fresh faced Bounty Killer, Lady Saw, Ninja Man, and Spragga Benz, delivering raw energy and crowd-thrilling sets.
The festival closed on Singers/International Night with a powerhouse lineup — Barrington Levy, Super Cat, Chaka Demus & Pliers.
U.S. rap trio Naughty by Nature became the first foreign act to perform at Reggae Sumfest in 1993, and the festival’s Singers/International Night had expanded into International Night 1 and 2, hosting global stars like Alicia Keys, Snoop Dogg, Destiny’s Child, Rihanna, Lil Wayne, Usher, Nicki Minaj, Miguel, and Jennifer Hudson.
Despite its reputation as “The Greatest Reggae Show on Earth,” Sumfest has faced its share of controversies — from profanity charges against Snoop Dogg, Beenie Man, Sean Paul, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Mavado, and Nicki Minaj, to calls in 2001 to ban Dancehall Night altogether. Lady Saw’s performances sparked bans before she returned triumphantly in 2006 and was crowned Queen of Dancehall in 2012.
Ten years later Spice was crowned Queen of Dancehall in 2022 — after Lady Saw converted to Christianity. Male stars have also left their mark, notably Vybz Kartel, whose dramatic 2010 prison-themed entrance followed his same-day release from police custody. This year Kartel was Crowned King Of The Dancehall.
Now owned by Joseph Bogdanovich’s Downsound Entertainment since 2016, Sumfest had dropped its International Nights in favor of a Jamaican-centered lineup with global livestreaming but brought it back last year with Baby Face and Toni Braxton this year. The festival generates a reported J$1 billion annually for the economy, and it remains one of the longest running annual events for Jamaican artists.
