The world's largest reggae festival, "SUMFEST," celebrated its 31st anniversary this year. For one week, Montego Bay, the host city, was jammed with reggae fans from around the World, causing the famous "SUMFEST traffic." The two main stage show days impressed audiences with outstanding performances by top reggae, dancehall, and R&B artists, creating unforgettable musical experiences and showcasing Jamaica's lively music scene.For Japanese fans, it was a particularly happy moment as Notorious Sound, led by Badgyal Marie, won the sound clash competition.
This year, a Category 5 hurricane made landfall in Jamaica, but Montego Bay quickly restored electricity and water. The SUMFEST team undertook a massive beach cleanup before the festival, supported by the main sponsor, Caribbean Airlines. The airline operated a special SUMFEST flight from Trinidad, complete with logo branding, and provided hotel transfers and transport to the venue for passengers.
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Text and pics by OKAMAI (https://www.instagram.com/okamai_ja/)
Read the 2023 Sumfest article here (https://sd.reggaezion.jp/articles/20230806_sumfest)
The SUMFEST GLOBAL SOUND CLASH on Wednesday featured notable competitors: Code Red and Body Guard from Jamaica, Dynamq from Sudan, Warrior from Germany, and the Japan-Jamaica duo Notorious Sound representing Japan. Despite keeping the excitement high throughout, Notorious Sound's dramatic reversal in the final "Tune fi tune" round fired up the audience even more.
Marie, performing as Badgyal Marie, has lived in Jamaica for 15 years, working as part of the sound duo with her husband. Her victory at SUMFEST, alongside numerous media interviews during the event, left a lasting impression on many.
Thursday's SUMFEST Jamaica Rum Festival / Blitz event saw a large turnout despite the muddy conditions from evening rain. The audience enjoyed rare performances, including Beenie Man with an orchestra and Major Lazer's Walshy Fire.
As SUMFEST Night 1 approached, attendees lined up according to their tickets, underwent bag checks, and entered the venue.
Some wrapped their sneakers in plastic to navigate the muddy grounds.
The food booths offered a wide range of options, from Jamaican cuisine to pizza.
Sponsors' booths featured games, prizes, samples, and photo spots, adding to the festival's enjoyment.
A much-loved giveaway this year was Red Stripe's insulated cups.
The rising dancehall artist Armani thrilled the crowd with his hit single "Hard," renowned as the song of the summer.He was interviewed in the media tent by hosts Wayne Marshall and Tami Chin.
Munga
Just like last year, Rich and Rich's Pablo YG and Malie Don performed, followed by gangsta artist Munga, who returned to the stage for the first time in five years. He made a comeback with an energetic performance, delivering old hits like "Bad from Mi Born" and the lively "Nah Mad."
YG MARLEY
ZION MARLEY
With a photo of Bob Marley displayed on the screen behind him and a thick spliff in hand, YG Marley slowly emerged on stage to the sound of the MC announcing his name. He opened with original songs like "Meant to Be" and "Survival." His eldest son, Zion Marley, also performed a song on stage, and dancehall artist Jahshii joined them as well.
And most importantly, the surprise appearance of Lauryn Hill was the highlight of the night. Initially not scheduled to perform, she took the stage and threw the crowd into a frenzy. She delivered solo hits like "Ex-Factor," "Lost Ones," which was recorded at 56 Hope Road in Kingston, and Fugees classics like "Killing Me Softly" and "Ready or Not," receiving thunderous applause. As the vuvuzelas continued to sound, YG Marley performed "Praise Jah in the Moonlight," and the crowd sang along. This special collaboration with his mother Lauryn Hill was a historic surprise moment. The night concluded with an improvised acapella performance of "Turn Your Lights Down Low," amid continuous loud cheers.
With the excitement still in the air, energetic dancers took the stage to celebrate the 25th anniversary of sponsor Magnum. The stage was further hyped up by surprise performances from both new and old dancehall artists, including Voice Mail and Ding Dong.
When the artist Dexta Daps, from Seaview, a ghetto in Kingston, appeared, the female audience members screamed and rushed to the fence near the stage. He Attracted the women with songs like "7 Eleven," "Breaking News," and "Owner," and got the male fans excited with "Miss You," "Shabba Madda Pot," and "Leader." The performance ended with the song "Call Me If" to loud cheers.
The stylish Aidonia appeared on stage full of energy, Attracting the audience with emotional performances from bad man tunes to choir songs. He climbed the fence and interacted with the audience, making the girls dance with gyal tunes, and Govana also appeared. The stage lights and graphics were impressive. His varied and engaging performance was considered the best of Dancehall Night by many.
Acapella with "A Change is Gonna Come," Teejay, originally from Montego Bay, took the stage. He gave praise to his son Jade, the new artist Nhance, and the impactful dancer and choreographer Gabidon from "Drift".
Around 5:30 AM, Turbulence came on stage. Despite having only 15 minutes, he showed his veteran skills, firing up the audience with freestyle from Notorious and delivering a quick and spicy perfect show with "Ex-Girlfriend," "Want a Natty," and "Name and Number."
With the appearance of Fireman Capleton, the audience, who must have been tired from the long festival, was instantly hyped up, reaching the highest level of excitement, and the sight of everyone jumping was overwhelming. He received the "Living Legend Award" from Red Stripe, and it was also nice to see his wife join him on stage to receive the award. "No matter what, be yourself. Know yourself. Know where you come from and where you're going. Never set limits. Take your time to know yourself. If you ask God about yourself, God is within you. Do you want to go to heaven? Heaven is within you. Hell too. Happiness is a choice." From start to finish, he was a king burning with passion.
Although kraff, Jada Kingdom, and Valiant were present, they unfortunately did not perform, but the energy of Sumfest Night 1 remained at an all-time high.
Sumfest Night 2 featured Christopher Ellis, who recently toured Japan in March. He began with "Here We Are" and showcased his father Alton Ellis's hit catalog, with the audience singing along and vuvuzelas sounding. He made a strong debut at Sumfest with high scores.
Samory I delighted fans as a surprise guest in Wray and Nephew's Dubwise set.
Sevana's performance showed her growth, dancing sexily to an upbeat Cartel song and ending with "Nobody Man," impressing many with her outstanding vocal talent.
Following roots reggae artist Ras-I's "King Man Thing," the highly anticipated rising star Nigy Boy appeared in an alien-like costume with a giant robot. Despite being blind, Nigy Boy graduated from an American university with a degree and hails from the Infamous ghetto Flankers in Montego Bay. This area, known for crime and violence, has produced many talented entertainers like Nigy Boy, Jah Cure, Tommy Lee, dancer Marvin, and the Merital Family.
The audience was deeply moved to see the boy who once attended Sumfest with his mother now confidently performing on stage. Songs like "Judgement" and "Continent" led to a massive sing-along, and the performance ended with thunderous applause. After his performance, the mayor of Montego Bay presented him with a special award, recognizing him as a promising big artist of the new generation.
The highly anticipated appearance of Beres Hammond had everyone on their feet. He started with "Rise and Shine," declaring, "Jamaica!!! Jamaica! We are a brand!" The usual cheer of "Familyyyy" from Beres brought roars of applause. "Let's look back at memories," he said, as the audience sang along to "Groovy Little Thing" and "Tempted to Touch." "I never thought I would make it this far. I appreciate everyone's energy. I don't know how many more of these meetings we can have. I call them meetings. I wish there were more, but every time I get on stage, I try to show my best," he said in a meaningful talk. His 45-minute set was shorter than usual but packed with hits. He drank water, joked, "Cheers! It's on me!" and imitated Buju to delight the crowd with "Fall in Love Over Again." During "One Step Ahead," he reminisced, "This was my first hit. And then I released," mixing memories with "Yes I'm in Love with You," taking the audience on a musical journey. Sitting down for "No Disturb Sign" and "Rock Away," he expressed gratitude for the great era of dance music and the legendary artists like Alton Ellis and Ken Boothe. Photos of these late legends were displayed on the back screen, creating a wave of emotions. He ended the performance with a strong message to elevate the motivation of Jamaicans, "Jamaica is a brand," showcasing the power of the beloved national treasure's music.
Before Babyface's eagerly awaited show, the media were cleared from the front of the stage, and Sumfest's official YouTube live was interrupted. Backstage personnel were restricted from leaving their tents, and all contact with the artist was blocked. The 65-year-old American singer-songwriter, producer, and 13-time Grammy Award winner Babyface appeared on stage at 2:40 AM. The crowd's excitement soared as he started with "Every Time I Close My Eyes," followed by "Cool in You," "Never Keeping Secrets," and "Two Occasions," leading to a big sing-along. He performed a medley of songs he wrote and produced, creating a dreamlike moment for women over 45 who sang and danced, reminiscing about the past. Although only those at the venue could see the performance, and many disappointed YouTube live viewers criticized the decision, it was an undeniably special time for those who attended.
After that, Dyani changed the atmosphere with sexy pole dancers and a performance involving a bathtub with a woman. Following the long-awaited return of Norris Man, Luciano's sacred presence closed Sumfest 2024, leaving behind unforgettable performances and energy, marking the end of the world's greatest reggae festival.
