Lee “Priest” Johnson emerged victorious at the fifth staging of the Jamaica International Independence Foreign Song Competition (JIIFSC), held Saturday, July 26, at the Shiloh High School Theatre in Snellville, Georgia.
Originally from Blenheim, Manchester, Jamaica, Johnson—now a resident of Conyers, Georgia—won over the judges and audience with his patriotic entry “Jamaica ina mi Blood.” He walked away with the top prize of US$8,000 (J$1.28 million) and a commemorative trophy, besting six other finalists in the diaspora-based competition.
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Placing second were Ernel Earlington and Doxology, the 2024 champions, with their spirited submission “If yuh Love Jamaica sey Yes.” They received US$4,000 and a trophy. Third place went to Boston-based artist Dion Knibb for “My Sweet Jamaica,” earning a US$1,000 cash prize.
The event is the brainchild of Dr. Garfield McCook, a Jamaican businessman living in Atlanta, who launched the competition in 2021 as a diaspora counterpart to Jamaica’s iconic Festival Song Contest. He said this year’s show had its largest turnout yet.
“We had a great turnout, with intense audience participation,” McCook told Observer Online. “It was a high-energy launch to our 63rd Jamaica Diaspora Independence Celebrations—yardie style.”
The 2025 edition of the JIIFSC featured artists from across North America, including Chawlih Crux of Washington, D.C. (“Jamaica Now”), Lisa Blackford from Virginia (“My Jamaica Home Sweet Home”), IJAHKNOWAH out of Georgia (“Yardie”), and Tania Lou from Canada (“Jamaica Soul”).
Open exclusively to Jamaican artists living abroad, the JIIFSC continues to serve as a cultural bridge between the island and its global diaspora—celebrating national pride through music and creative expression.
