Iyara starts $500,000 ‘goat’ dance challenge

Half a million dollars is currently on the table for any dancer or dance group that takes up the challenge and wins the 'G.O.A.T Get Weh' dance contest, which is being spearheaded by dancehall artiste Iyara.

The entertainer is enjoying the memes that have been created around the single G.O.A.T. Get Weh, and even added with a laugh that "dem never get fi curry di goat fi Christmus". Although he is focused on boosting the popularity of the song through the dance challenge, he told THE WEEKEND STAR that he is equally concerned about giving back in a meaningful way.

"I gave away a bike at Uptown Mondays and it's time for me to give back to the youngsters ... those 18 years and younger ... the kids," he said, deliberately playing on the 'goat' terminology.

Riding on a wave of popularity of the song - which was released last September - Iyara and his team are searching for a dance that will complement it.

"We released the music video [on] Wednesday and a really fun part of it was the little girl at the beginning who says 'Di goat get weh'. The story behind that is that I am in a family group and someone shared the voicenote with the little girl. Somebody knew her and so we found her and were able to get her to say the exact words with the same emotion and everything ... and I waan tell yuh ... that sell off the video," he shared.

Ideally, Iyara would want a community or school dance group to win the challenge and then use the money towards their education. However, the only stipulation is that entrants must be in the zero to 18 age range and the dance moves must be age-appropriate.

"We are looking for the best choreographed dance move to the G.O.A.T. Get Weh. The challenge will run from February 1 to 15. The dance with the most likes, comments and views will be declared the winner," Iyara shared.

Currently signed to the Florida-based Bellevue Entertainment, Iyara is also comfortably wrapped up in his Own Waay movement, which he explained did not indicate a behavioural pattern.

"Own Waay means sell off ... driven to succeed and focused on your craft. It is a positive movement," he said.

Formerly aligned to Bounty Killer's Alliance Next Generation, Iyara is getting ready to drop two more singles and his second EP, a move which he predicts will keep him in the spotlight until the summer.