分类： entertainment

The Rex Nettleford Foundation has announced its selection of Kerry-Ann Henry, principal dancer of Jamaica’s National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), as the distinguished honoree for the 2026 Remembering Rex tribute performance. This significant cultural event, scheduled for Tuesday, February 10 at Kingston’s Little Theatre, will feature collaborative performances by the NDTC and University Singers celebrating the monumental legacy of the late Professor Rex Nettleford.

Professor Nettleford, renowned as a visionary scholar, pioneering choreographer, and cultural activist, co-founded the NDTC and left an indelible mark on Jamaica’s artistic landscape. The annual celebration serves as a vibrant testament to his profound impact on Jamaican cultural identity and nation-building through artistic expression.

Elizabeth Buchanan-Hind, executive director of the Foundation, emphasized the dual significance of the event: “Through an evocative fusion of dance and song, the evening will honor Professor Nettleford’s enduring contributions while recognizing Ms. Henry’s extraordinary artistry and her substantial impact on Jamaica’s cultural development.”

Henry’s remarkable journey began 31 years ago at Rose Gordon Preparatory School in St. Andrew, where her innate talent captured the attention of dance educator Joyce Campbell. Under Professor Nettleford’s expert mentorship, she evolved into an internationally acclaimed performer. Today, as the NDTC’s principal dancer, Henry continues to captivate global audiences with her technically superb and emotionally compelling performances.

The Rex Nettleford Foundation, established on May 28, 2010, perpetuates the professor’s multifaceted legacy through several initiatives: identifying and nurturing students demonstrating exceptional promise in Nettleford’s fields of interest, supporting academic programs aligned with his life’s work, and ensuring the continued relevance of his cultural vision for future generations.

The international reggae scene is witnessing the ascent of a powerful new creative force as Jamaican singer-songwriter Complex Ricki establishes herself with her latest musical offering. On January 30, the reggae-fusion artist unveiled her profoundly introspective single, ‘Signs,’ a track that demonstrates both her artistic maturation and her distinctive capacity to forge meaningful connections with a global listenership.

Further cementing her rising status, Complex Ricki delivered a memorable performance at The Bob Marley Show, held at Kingston’s iconic Tuff Gong Museum on February 6. This appearance positioned her artistry within one of Jamaica’s most hallowed musical environments, linking her contemporary sound to the genre’s rich legacy.

Born Rickolette Simmonds in Kingston, the artist’s creative foundation is deeply informed by her personal journey and a family heritage abundant with musical tradition. Her relocation to Cleveland, Ohio, introduced significant American cultural elements into her worldview, yet she maintained an unshakable connection to her Jamaican roots. This bicultural experience has become the essential catalyst for her unique sonic identity—an innovative fusion that weaves together classic reggae, lovers’ rock, vibrant dancehall, Afro-rhythms, and contemporary production.

Her breakthrough arrived with the viral success of the Afro-dancehall track ‘With Emotions,’ which amassed over a million streams on Spotify and ignited trends on TikTok. The new single, ‘Signs,’ represents an evolutionary step in her career, delving into themes of intuitive awareness, personal introspection, and emotional intelligence with refined lyrical depth.

Beyond her recorded work, Complex Ricki cultivates a robust relationship with her audience through dynamic live performances, strategic media engagements, and active presence across digital channels. Adding another dimension to her portfolio, she is also an accomplished visual artist who regularly paints and has presented her work in several exhibitions, showcasing a multifaceted creative practice that extends well beyond music.

The single ‘Signs’ is currently available for streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.

The small Puerto Rican municipality of Vega Baja erupted in collective pride as its most famous native son, global superstar Bad Bunny, took the stage during the Super Bowl LX halftime show. In the town square, approximately 100 residents gathered with beach chairs and drinks, creating a festive atmosphere that overshadowed the football game itself.

For 75-year-old retired teacher Madeline Miranda, the moment carried special significance—she remembered Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio as her former student long before his astronomical rise to fame. “I danced, I screamed, I swore, and I gave it my all,” Miranda expressed, capturing the emotional intensity shared by attendees spanning multiple generations.

The artist’s performance marked several historic milestones: he became the first Super Bowl headliner to perform entirely in Spanish, just one week after winning the Grammy for Album of the Year with a Spanish-language work. His set design prominently featured cultural symbols including sugar cane fields and his salmon-colored “La Casita,” while his song selection celebrated Puerto Rican identity.

David Fontanez, a 66-year-old retiree, articulated the prevailing sentiment: “I feel so proud that someone from Vega Baja has reached such heights. This shows that our presence is growing stronger in the United States and around the world.”

Despite some conservative backlash regarding the Spanish-language performance—including criticism from former President Donald Trump—local residents emphasized the importance of cultural representation. The performance resonated beyond Puerto Rico, with online reactions from across the Caribbean and Americas expressing delight at the recognition. Bad Bunny concluded his set by holding up a football inscribed with “We are all America,” delivering a powerful message of inclusion.

The artist’s commitment to his homeland extends beyond symbolic gestures; his wildly successful concert residency in San Juan last year provided significant economic benefits to the island. For 14-year-old Pedro Melendez Barrio, Bad Bunny serves as both inspiration and proof that “if he has achieved all this, I can achieve this too.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Professor Laxley W Stephenson, a Jamaican-born growth mindset strategist and humanitarian based in Atlanta, has made a significant intervention in global leadership discourse with his newly released work, ‘The Growth Mindset Blueprint Master Class’. This publication transcends conventional motivational literature by presenting a comprehensive leadership system that addresses the critical implications of stagnation in today’s complex global landscape.

The book’s foundational thesis presents a compelling paradigm: growth represents an essential responsibility rather than a mere option. Through insights derived from his A Collision With Purpose Movement, Stephenson reconceptualizes mindset as the fundamental architecture underlying organizational culture, performance metrics, adaptive capacity, and resilience mechanisms. The work contends that leadership effectiveness stems not merely from strategic planning but from the core belief systems that inform decision-making during challenging circumstances.

Distinguishing itself through practical application, the publication functions as an active operational tool rather than passive reading material. It systematically identifies constraining belief patterns, critically examines leadership behaviors, and establishes rigorous accountability frameworks. While Stephenson’s companion volume, ‘Living the Growth Mindset Blueprint’, extends these principles into daily practice, the foundational text establishes mindset as the decisive factor in institutional achievement or collapse.

The author’s expertise blends academic rigor with hands-on humanitarian leadership experience. As Founder and CEO of Global Humanity Network Inc., Stephenson’s perspectives are informed by extensive field engagement across Jamaica, the Caribbean region, African nations, and global diaspora communities. This empirical grounding provides the publication with exceptional credibility beyond theoretical constructs, connecting directly to contemporary leadership challenges.

Ultimately, the work serves as a confrontational instrument rather than an inspirational one, posing a fundamental question to leaders worldwide: What are the true consequences of resisting change? Stephenson provides Jamaican and international readers with a structured framework for deliberate development, emphasizing that transformation requires disciplined cognition, purposeful action, and sustained accountability rather than mere assumption.

Both ‘The Growth Mindset Blueprint’ and its companion volume are currently available for acquisition through ACollisionWithPurpose.com and Amazon distribution channels.

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A wave of nostalgic excitement is sweeping through Jamaica’s reggae community with the February 6 release of the ‘Jam Again Riddim’ compilation album. This carefully crafted project serves as both a musical homecoming and cultural reset, delivering the authentic one-drop rhythms that defined reggae’s golden era while addressing contemporary societal challenges.

Produced through a collaboration between Esco Da Shocker/Tall King Productions, Lando Genius, and Delmar ‘Della Danger’ Drummond’s Danger Zone Music Group, the album reimagines the classic ‘JamDown rhythm’ that previously supported hits from Cecile and Jah Cure over a decade ago. The project strategically blends legendary performers with emerging voices, creating a generational bridge within Jamaica’s music landscape.

Drummond explained the compilation’s deeper purpose: ‘Following Hurricane Melissa’s devastation and the cancellation of major events, we envisioned ‘Jam Again’ as musical therapy—offering strength, comfort, and entertainment to help guide the nation toward conscious positivity.’

The album opens powerfully with Nadine Sutherland’s ‘Niceness,’ a philosophical anthem that celebrates human resilience against technological alienation and moral decay. Her declaration ‘this is no AI simulation/a real human vibration’ establishes the project’s authentic humanist ethos.

I Octane delivers a spiritual masterpiece with ‘Humble,’ channeling roots reggae traditions while addressing betrayal and seeking divine intervention through stripped-down vulnerability. Meanwhile, Esco Da Shocker demonstrates impressive vocal versatility on ‘Highly Favoured,’ blending spiritual invocation with practical wisdom about self-belief and positive energy.

The compilation showcases multiple dimensions of reggae artistry: Pamputtae and Tanya Stephens offer playful sensuality on ‘Love Me Good,’ while legendary Marcia Griffiths provides spiritual guidance through ‘Grateful,’ reminding listeners that manifestation begins with gratitude. Newer artists like Yaksta (‘Live Laugh and Love’), Cali P (‘Kindness for Weakness’), and V8Nam (‘Stay to Mi Self’) contribute fresh perspectives on contemporary struggles with witchcraft and negative energy.

With additional standout contributions from Bamarrah, LEGATOMusic, Badda General, Chekx, and CaNn CaNn, the project represents one of the most comprehensive and well-executed reggae compilations in recent years—a conscious return to musical fundamentals that simultaneously honors tradition and advances the genre.

Jamaican dancehall sensation Teejay (born Timoy Jones) has inaugurated the new year with the dynamic release of his latest single and music video, ‘JP Morgan.’ Produced by the burgeoning label House of Talent Records, the track is already generating significant industry buzz and is widely predicted to become a major commercial success.

Hailing from Montego Bay, Teejay first ascended to prominence in 2019 and has since solidified his reputation as a consistent hitmaker. His discography includes popular anthems such as ‘Drift,’ a global chart-topper considered one of the decade’s defining dancehall tracks, alongside ‘Up Top,’ ‘People,’ and ‘From Rags To Riches.’

Representatives from House of Talent Records expressed strong confidence in the new release. Rajee Marshall described the song as possessing an infectious, feel-good energy perfect for sustaining a vibrant atmosphere. ‘When you want to hold a vibe, just put this song on repeat… We feel very optimistic about its chances of becoming a mainstream hit,’ Marshall stated.

Echoing this sentiment, his twin brother and co-label head, Ramone Marshall, emphasized Teejay’s proven track record. ‘Teejay is a hit maker and this is another classic in the making. Our current focus is on the foundational work to ensure the song garners the widespread attention it merits,’ he explained.

Beyond this single, the Marshall brothers have ambitious plans for their enterprise. They articulated a vision of establishing House of Talent Records as a formidable global brand within the music industry. Ramone Marshall characterized ‘JP Morgan’ as merely the beginning, stating, ‘We are fully committed to creating a legacy of greatness. Music is our passion and we are here to make our contribution to the musical space.’