Veterans make their mark at Angola Festival

'Fit like a fiddle' and dominating the stage, veteran artistes Macka Diamond and Capleton stole the show at Angola Festival on Wednesday in St Thomas.

Moulded in messages of inspiration, immoral condemnation and his known positive manifestations, Capleton said his aim through his fulfilling, high-energy performance was to ensure those messages hit the core of his audience.

"Regardless of our circumstances we affi guh out deh and give it wi best and give it wi all because we love di music and most ultimately wi love di people, so it's anything for the people," he said. "Uplifting the roots and culture fi me, is always a great joy. I love when people happy. Suh mi love [see] when di people jump, dance and wave and still dem listen too. Even though wi mek dem a party at di same time, wi still a inject di message inna dem same way in terms of demself, di culture and how wi should move forward if we want any betterment fi di people and the nation," he said following his performance.

Macka Diamond, who had the crowd in a frenzy with her gymnast-like performance and dance-off competition on stage, wowed even herself as she credited her passion for the music for her continued adrenaline.

"Any weh wi guh, wi diamond it up. Remember I'm the diamond in rough suh anyweh mi guh mi affi prove to dem seh di diamond is forever," she said. The artiste said she has always had a great rapport with her eastside supporters.

"I have a good fan base [here] suh mi neva expect nothing different. The ladies were out and represented so I had to come shell it dung and diamond it up," she said, adding that her entire set was a "freestyle".

"Everybody ask where I still find this energy but I think it's the love of the music and love for my work and I take it seriously," she added. With fans eating from her palm through her lyrical and theatrical displays, she engaged them with some of her hit tracks such as Dye Dye, Done Already, Bun Him and Hula Hoop.

Angola Festival, which was held at Angola Restaurant in Old Pera, also saw performances from reggae and dancehall acts such as Jamal, Shane O, Ras Shilo, Bushman, Stalk Ashley and Shawn Storm.

Both Capleton and Macka Diamond credited Angola Festival's organisers for providing the music space with a solid blend of musical talents and a culturally embedded stage show concept which will help live reggae and dancehall music to live on.

"The youth dem ago always experiment and music ago always evolve, but yuh cannot stray from the roots and the root or the foundation," said Capleton. He said he welcomed the responsibility and camaraderie of sharing space and musical lessons with the younger generations, calling Angola Fest a brand that has set a precedent.

Macka Diamond said the show will only get better.

"Angola Fest show dem that you can have a festival with a mix and the same [authentic] energy like we're used to back in the days and it works," she said.

Promoter and co-organiser of Angola Festival, Jah Bouks, confirmed that a global tour is already on the horizon for 2026.

"[This year] is gonna be bigger and better because this is like the starting process and it's well done. This is the start of something new for St Thomas and it's gonna stay because this is the first big stage show in this rural part of St Thomas... And wi gonna do a lot more of this beyond Jamaica, because we plan to tour Angola Festival. We going to Ghana next and other countries," he told THE WEEKEND STAR.