On a vibrant Saturday in downtown Kingston, Digicel’s corporate headquarters was transformed into a sea of deep crimson, as hundreds of attendees gathered to mark the telecommunications giant’s 25 years of operations in Jamaica. Loyal customers, senior company leadership, government representatives, and some of Jamaica’s biggest music stars all dressed in the brand’s signature red to join the anniversary celebrations, turning the company’s parking lot into one of the year’s most energetic public gatherings.
From the first hours of the event, electric anticipation filled the air, with popular hosts Talia Soares-Brown and Christopher “Johnny” Daley keeping the growing crowd engaged and entertained. Early arrivals were rewarded with exclusive giveaways, where quick reflexes and a bit of luck let dozens of happy customers walk away with hundreds of dollars in free mobile credit.
The centerpiece of the day was a star-studded musical showcase that highlighted the full breadth of Jamaica’s iconic musical talent. Opening the performances was instrumentalist Verlando Small, whose smooth, soulful set featuring reimagined versions of *Loving You*, *I Wanna Know*, *Can We Talk*, and *Best Part* resonated deeply with the audience, drawing particularly warm applause from female attendees. Next up was beloved gospel artist Jermaine Edwards, who shifted the energy with uplifting, soul-stirring performances of *God Is With Me* and *It’s a Beautiful Day*, adding a heartfelt spiritual layer to the celebratory occasion.
Fresh off his 2024 Digicel Rising Stars win, Akeen Fennell took the stage next with a nostalgic set paying tribute to Jamaican reggae legends. He worked through classic tracks including Sanchez’s remake of *Missing You Now* and Wayne Wade’s *I Love You Too Much*, before transitioning into fan favorites *Oh Me Oh My* and *Stuck on You*. He ramped up the energy with a rousing rendition of Buju Banton’s *Love Me Browning*, closing his set with his own original hit *It’s Over*.
Powerhouse vocalist Tessanne Chin kept the momentum building, drawing from her decades-long catalog of hits to deliver crowd-pleasing performances of *Messenger*, *Underneath It All*, and *Hideaway*. Following Chin was iconic reggae artist Bugle, one of the event’s special invited guests, who turned the venue into a lively Rasta party with his electrifying set. His performances of *What I’m Gonna Do*, *Don’t Blame Life*, *Pearly Gate*, and *Nuh Compatible* served as an unexpected bonus for the already hyped gathering, leaving fans cheering for more.
Dancehall breakout star Valiant took command of the stage next, delivering a short but high-octane set packed with his viral fan favorites, including *100 Milli*, *Passenger Princess*, *West Indies*, *Narcissistic*, and *Baddiedeh*, leaving the crowd buzzing with raw energy.
The night came to a close with a headline set from Chris Martin, one of Digicel Rising Stars’ most successful alumni, who took the stage after a dazzling cake-cutting ceremony and fireworks display that drew gasps from the crowd. Martin took attendees on a nostalgic journey through his 21-year career, opening with *A Change Is Gonna Come*, the track that first launched him to fame on the Digicel singing competition. He followed with a string of his biggest hits, including *Big Deal*, *Cheaters Prayer*, *Giving It*, *Chill Spot*, *Paper Loving*, and *Wife and Sweetheart*. The night’s biggest highlight came when Martin brought out fellow Digicel Rising Stars winner Romain Virgo for a surprise joint performance. The two artists wowed the crowd with their natural chemistry on *Leave People Business*, before Virgo transitioned into *Fade Away*, his popular collaboration with Agent Sasco. Martin stepped seamlessly into Sasco’s verse, showcasing the close camaraderie and shared musical roots between the two Jamaican stars.
In a reflective speech marking the 25-year milestone, Digicel Jamaica CEO Stephen Murad shared his pride in the company’s transformative journey across Jamaica. “Who would have thought 25 years ago Digicel would come along and change the face of the telecommunications industry in Jamaica? We now have thousands of employees here in Jamaica and over 2 million mobile customers that we serve every year. Tonight we’re here in the car park of our headquarters, and just seeing everyone in the crowd listening in on this amazing concert I’m so proud and I want to say thank you to all of our customers,” Murad said.
Daryl Vaz, Jamaica’s Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, also praised Digicel’s far-reaching impact on the country beyond its telecommunications services. “This is a very huge achievement. Digicel came in as the new kid on the block 25 years ago and they have established themselves as a corporate entity with a lot of social benefits to Jamaica through their foundation which has proven to be one of their most successful foundations in terms of upliftment across Jamaica, and so I wish them well,” Vaz said.
Fresh off his closing performance, Martin shared his gratitude for the opportunity to help mark the milestone that launched his own career. “I’m feeling great. It’s the 25th anniversary, my career started with this and now to close out this special occasion, it’s big vibes. They said 30 minutes so we tried to cram as much songs as we possibly could. The energy was awesome and the vibes from the people was infectious, so we give thanks. At the end of the day we can do music and it fall on deaf ears. So to be doing this for 21 years and people still love me and we stay relevant and we still in the people’s hearts, it’s a blessing.”