Veteran dancehall artiste Frankie Sly has stepped into the simmering fallout between Buju Banton and Wayne Wonder, releasing a pointed new single, Dutty Heart, that lays bare old wounds and highlights broken friendship. There have been tension between Buju Banton and Wayne Wonder amid renewed questions over the authorship of the 1993 hit Murderer. Frankie Sly insists it was a collective effort, ma... »
A woman has died following a shooting incident that disrupted a church service in Montego Bay, sending worshippers into panic as gunshots rang out inside the church. The incident occurred at the New Testament Church of God, where congregants had gathered for a day of fasting and sermon. According to police, the victim, who was later confirmed to be female, was shot during the attack and rushed to ... »
The Reform UK political party has pointed out that it would block visas for nationals of countries pursuing slavery reparations, including Jamaica from Britain if it enters government. The proposal would apply across all visa categories, including work and visitor permits. Party leader Nigel Farage has backed the stance, while home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf described reparations demands as “i... »
Jamaican dancehall artiste Rygin King has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). King, whose given name is Matthew Smith, was reportedly taken into custody yesterday. His detention is listed on ICE’s website. No further details have been provided regarding the circumstances surrounding his detention. »
The management and legal representatives of Buju Banton have issued a formal statement rejecting what they describe as false and defamatory claims circulating on social media, as tensions continue to build Buju and his longtime friend Wayne Wonder. In a legal notice distributed to media houses on Monday, attorneys representing the Grammy-winning artiste, born Mark Anthony Myrie, stated that the al... »
WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Department of State says it is expanding its visa bond program to apply to a total of 50 countries, including Grenada, on April 2 to “combat illegal overstay rates”. The State Department said on Wednesday that the program will require foreign nationals from these countries to post a bond of US$15,000 before receiving B1 or B2 visas for business and tourism in the... »
HOLLYWOOD, United States — Michael B Jordan on Sunday won the best actor Oscar for playing twins confronted with pure evil in vampire race fable “Sinners.” He bested “Marty Supreme” star Timothee Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio of “One Battle After Another,” Wagner Moura (“The Secret Agent”) and Ethan Hawke (“Blue Moon”). The Oscars kicked off on Sunday after months of expensive campaigns, with all ey... »
KINGSTON, Jamaica, (JIS) – Design consultants are currently on the island engaging with key stakeholders to obtain the requisite inputs necessary to inform and finalise the concept design for the redevelopment of the National Stadium, says minister of culture, gender, entertainment and sport, Olivia Grange while addressing the official launch of the 2026 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls’ Athletics... »
Reggae Sumfest 2026 will not be held at its home in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay. Instead, the festival heads to a new venue, Plantation Cove in St Ann for this year’s staging, for what the organisers say will be a one-off, one-night event, even as they emphasise that MoBay is its home. “A Taste of Reggae Sumfest [will be] a special one-night experience that will take place at Plantation Cove. It’s... »
Dancehall artistes Vybz Kartel and Mavado are set to share the Reggae Sumfest stage on July 18, 2026, at Plantation Cove in St Ann. The former dancehall rivals who led a pivotal period in Jamaica’s dancehall history, the Gully and Gaza clash at Sting, are set to share the stage once more. This was announced by the event’s organisers in a social media post on Friday. “A decade of rivalry… a lifetim... »
One of Buju Banton’s sons, Jahazeil Myrie, has been sharing his spiritual journey online in recent years and over the weekend, he appeared in his most recent interview in which he talked about his father, family and the many challenges he faced in life. As per Jahazeil Myrie, as a youngster, he did not have bad experiences, however, a lot of things changed when he became a man, highlighting that h... »
International dancehall group T.O.K delivered an impressive set as the headliners of Panama’s Carnival. “It was our first time headlining the Carnival. It was an amazing experience that we definitely enjoyed. It was very humbling to see all the turnout, support, and the love of the Panamanian people. I really felt at home, and it was a good vibe and good energy. I had heard about it before, but, h... »
No after-service gatherings will take place this week, according to a pastor’s wife, whose private events have stirred debate since first coming to light in late January. She was quick to clarify that the pause is unrelated to the start of Lent, insisting that participation in the season does not serve as “a moral certificate”. Speaking again with THE STAR, she said she has been reflecting on her ... »
As Reggae Month activities intensify, the music’s influence is being felt far beyond its signature sound. Rooted in resistance and social consciousness, reggae continues to serve as a vehicle for justice. Embracing that tradition, Gramps Morgan has joined forces with Gassy Dread — the recording identity of Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne — on a new single titled Reparations. The s... »
At the start of 2026, Jamaica recorded 33 murders for the month of January, the lowest figure logged since the country began keeping disaggregated monthly crime data in 2001. The number mirrors a notable shift in the island’s crime pattern at the opening of the year. Compared with January 2025, when 74 murders were recorded, the latest total represents a 55 per cent reduction. In numerical terms, ... »
Keznamdi walked away with the Best Reggae Album award at the 2026 GRAMMY Awards, earning his first win with his second studio project, ‘Blxxd & Fyah‘. The Rastafarian singer faced an all-Jamaican shortlist that also included Lila Iké with ‘Treasure Self Love‘, Jesse Royal’s ‘No Place Like Home‘, Mortimer’s ‘From Within‘, and Kartel’s ‘First Week Out‘. Despite the competition, Keznamdi’s indepe... »
The wife of a pastor at a mid-sized church says she ran a secret women’s group inside the church without her husband’s knowledge for several years, highlighting that all sort of sexual activities would take place in the compound of the church without most people of the church knowing. According to the wife, the group operated under the appearance of prayer, counselling and women’s ministry session... »
Dancehall entertainer Kiprich and his partner, Kizzy Donn, are mourning the death of their newborn daughter, who died while receiving medical care overseas. The baby, named Miracle, was born prematurely at six months and had been in intensive care since her birth. The infant passed away approximately two weeks after delivery. A close relative of the mother confirmed the development to the Jamaica ... »
Ashia Thompson, a 28-year-old Jamaican woman from St Elizabeth has carved out a professional career in Dubai after overcoming repeated setbacks on her path to becoming a Certified Public Accountant. Thompson, now based in the United Arab Emirates, is working as a CPA and runs her own business following years of study, work and persistence. Thompson attended May Day High School, where she sat 14 CS... »
Jahneil Ballentine, the son of incarcerated Dancehall artiste Ninjaman, reportedly fell unconscious in his prison cell and later was diagnosed with a stroke Ballentine, 38, is currently being held at the St Catherine Adult Correctional Centre, where he was moved to the facility’s medical dorm following the incident. Correctional sources have indicated that arrangements are being made to transfer h... »
Jamaican Dancehall artiste Vybz Kartel has publicly addressed reports that a Trinidad-based promoter has taken legal action against him following the cancellation of a major music event in last year. The artiste, whose given name is Adidja Azim Palmer, issued a brief statement, a day after the lawsuit became public, signalling that he would not engage further as the matter is now before the courts... »
When the Trump administration recently suspended visa access for citizens of Dominica and Antigua, officials cited the US’s alleged discomfort with the sale of national passports and citizenship to foreigners as one of the main reasons for the action. They had said that they doubted the due diligence ability of local systems to properly scrutinize the backgrounds of applications from places like C... »
On Wednesday, news broke that Jamaican Dancehall artiste Akeeme Jermane Campbell, better known as Chronic Law was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE. As per reports, the St. Thomas native was detained on Tuesday and remains in custody. The immigration officials have not released official charges, or indicated where the entertainer is being held. However, some reports online ar... »
‘We dem a do’ was released in 2006, it is Mavado’s follow-up hit to his breakout hit song ‘Real Mckoy’ which was released in 2005. 2026 marks ‘Weh dem a do’ second decade or 20 years of release. ‘Mavado Weh Dem a do’ is a hardcore Dancehall song, letting everyone know that disrespects won’t be taken lightly because he has his own guns.’ “Weh dem a duh, weh dem a try, marrow wi fly to the sky... »
What would Dancehall look like without the influence and endeavours of Bounty Killer in the genre? Well, as a starter, there would be an absence of at least 10 artistes who we have grown to love over the years. He has been directly influential or indirectly influential in the career of over a dozen popular artistes, starting with ‘Scare Dem Crew’ which was originated in his home community of Seavi... »
A day after Vybz Kartel’s 50th birthday, former member of the Gaza Crew, Sikka Rymes who was labelled as the Gaza vice-president up until a few years ago is continuing his condemnation of his former boss and crew members including Shawn Storm and Mad Suss. In an interview released on Thursday, Sikka details that he initially was working with Shawn Storm, bringing him food items and doing other dee... »
Bounty Killer has been consistent in recent weeks about his support for Masicka and lack of support for members of the Gaza circle including Tommy Lee Sparta who he had a lyrical feud with in the past. Days before Christmas, he answered to a comment of someone asking him, if himself and Vybz Kartel are on good terms, he stated, “I would like to know as well bcuz I said I rather Masicka over Tammy ... »
The organisers of one of Jamaican’s most anticipated annual shows, Rebel Salute, plans on taking the event to the USA this year, right after Summer. The festivities will feature live music, food village, art, herb curb, and more. The last staging in Jamaica was on January 18, the first major Reggae show of the calendar year. It was the 31st-anniversary staging of the iconic show that looks to high... »
Organisers of the long-running Rebel Salute music festival announced that the event will not be staged in Jamaica in 2026, citing the far-reaching impact of Hurricane Melissa on planning and logistics. The decision was confirmed in an official statement released Wednesday morning, December 24. According to the organisers, the scale of disruption caused by the hurricane made it impossible to meet t... »
Jamaica has received a contingent of military engineers and medical professionals from the Republic of Ghana to assist with ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in late October. The team, 54 in total, comprising 49 army engineers and five medical doctors, arrived on the island on December 18. The group was welcomed at Norman Manley International Airport... »
Miss Universe Jamaica 2025, Gabrielle Henry, has issued her first public statement since returning to the island after sustaining serious injuries during the 74th Miss Universe pageant in Thailand. The 28-year-old shared the message on social media on Friday, thanking supporters and outlining her focus on recovery. “In a time that calls for stillness and healing, I am grateful to be in Jamaica and... »
Sprint legend Usain Bolt has partnered with sponsor Puma to donate J$5 million each to St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and his alma mater William Knibb Memorial High in Trelawny to aid in their recovery following Hurricane Melissa. Both schools were significantly damaged during the passage of the powerful Category 5 storm in late October. STETHS, located in Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, su... »
Wednesday, November 19, 2025, a special press briefing on Hurricane Melissa damages and recovery efforts, hosted by Sen. Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon was livestreamed via JIS. During the briefing, an estimated damage figure in US dollars was provided to viewers, Prime Minister Holness also gave a lengthy speech on recovery efforts and strategies, highlighting that getting back to some form of no... »
journalist Andrew Williams reported that the son of Mavado, Dantay Brooks is in police custody. Notably, Dantay was released from prison this year after spending several years behind bars. Hence, news of his arrest again has been drawing attention online. The caption for the social media post reads, “Breaking Dante Brooks, son of dancehall giant Mavado is currently in police custody.” It continues... »
“This is a powerful major Hurricane, it is heading for Jamaica,” says meteorologist Brian Shields, while talking on the latest updates regarding the system that’s just south of Jamaica. Hurricane Melissa which has turned into a category 4 system is expected to hit the island as a category 4 or category 5 in coming hours, moving slowly from south to north. The entire island is expected to be effect... »
