Jamaica Carnival back with a bang

Jamaica Carnival

back with a bang

After breaking for seven years following the death of their leading man, Byron Lee, Jamaica Carnival returned to the streets of Kingston on Sunday to stake their claim in the island's annual soca activities.

There was a clash of Carnival revellers along the routes designated for the march as patrons from both the Jamaica Carnival Road March and the Bachannal Jamaica Road march met up on the road.

Although the Jamaica Carnival crowd was noticeably smaller than that of its competitors, their energy was just as high and with artistes such as Ding Dong, Beenie Man and Serani leading the entertainment charge, that was expected.

From the stage erected on the moving trucks, the artistes kept the crowd duly entertained. The king of the dancehall was first to greet the crowd. He heaped praises on the organisers of Jamaica Carnival for bringing the event back to the streets declaring that the late Byron Lee would have been happy to see his legacy being continued by his children.

He said how thrilled he was to be a part of the event's return and encouraged the audience to come out in 2017 when Jamaica Carnival returns. He then delighted the crowd with an energy-filled performance delivering songs such as Rum and Red Bull and Romie before handing the mic over to Ding Dong. The dancer/artiste kept the momentum going delivering strong performances of his songs Gas, Syvah, Holiday and Shampoo while the revellers danced their way to Half Way Tree Square.

While en route to Half Way Tree, the heavens opened up and the rain began to pour. The crowd didn't seem to mind though as they kept dancing in the streets. Motorists and passers-by watched from the sidelines as soaked patrons gyrated on each other stopping only to takes intermittent sips from their water bottles.

By this time the trucks had come to a halt in Half Way Tree Square as the march came to an end. The action on stage continued however with Beenie Man, Ding Dong and Oscar B from the Dragonaires keeping the crowd entertained. The event ended at approximately 6 p.m. and even after the music stopped and the artistes left the stage patrons stood in the rain asking for more.

Julianne Lee, daughter of the late Byron Lee and one of the directors of Jamaica Carnival, told the media that she was pleased with the event's turnout. She explained that the march was just a teaser and encouraged patrons to follow the event into 2017 when they will be back in full force.