Festival Song finalist hopes ‘Jamaica pon di App’ marks a fresh start after two crashes

After enduring two serious car accidents this year, Festival Song finalist Bovia is looking to "Jamaica pon di App" to usher in a period of good fortune. The song is one of ten competing in the 60th staging of the annual competition, with the final scheduled for Saturday in Kingston.

“

I was overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement. It was a very emotional moment because I know the hard work, sacrifices, and determination that went into this journey.

Bovia, whose real name is Beverley Henry, described her selection as a finalist as an "emotional moment" filled with "gratitude and excitement." She admitted that after a minor crash in January and a major one in February, she had not even considered entering the competition. "Being selected as a finalist is an honour, and I’m grateful to God, my family, friends, co-workers, supporters, and everyone who believed in me," she told Observer Online.

“

After coming out of one minor crash in January and a major car crash in February, I never dreamed of entering the competition at all. Being selected as a finalist is an honour, and I’m grateful to God, my family, friends, co-workers, supporters, and everyone who believed in me.

With over 25 years of experience as a music teacher and having worked as a harmony singer with Third World's Ibo Cooper, Bovia's new song incorporates a mento rhythm. She explained that "Jamaica pon di App" was inspired by Jamaican culture and current events, drawing a parallel between the fragility of a soursop tree after Hurricane Melissa and the perceived lack of hope for Jamaican produce. "The innate tune, ‘mi nice clean country Jamaica pon di App echoed its melody in my ears’," she recalled, attributing the lyrics to divine inspiration reflecting the island's beauty, culture, and resilience.

“

The song was written through inspiration. Looking at the soursop tree and seeing how fragile it looked, it seemed like there was no hope for our produce in Jamaica after all the ravaging that Hurricane Melissa had done. The innate tune, ‘mi nice clean country Jamaica pon di App echoed its melody in my ears’

The Festival Song Competition final will feature other notable entries, including Aba Jones' "Teet A fi Me," Elton Earlington's "Proud A Jamaica," and dBURNZ's "I Love Jamaica," among others. The event is a significant platform for artists to showcase Jamaican talent and cultural pride.

“

While the idea came naturally because of my love and care towards my country Jamaica, It was God Almighty who downloaded the lyrics to reflect the beauty, culture, resilience, and spirit of our island.