标签： Jamaica

New behind-the-scenes glimpses from a star-studded wedding reception have emerged, with Vogue holding exclusive rights to the full details of the high-profile celebration. Headlined by sprinter and groom Noah Lyles, the event brought together a roster of big-name guests from the global sports community, including retired Jamaican Olympian sprinter Asafa Powell, who was captured cutting a rug on the dance floor alongside the newlywed groom.
Beyond the social dancing that kept the crowd energized throughout the evening, the reception included two standout planned segments: a personal, heartfelt address from the groom to his guests and new spouse, and a one-of-a-kind special performance from Grammy Award-winning gospel recording artist Tasha Cobbs Leonard.
Vogue’s exclusive photo journal from the big day also captures a lively moment from the wedding’s bridal party, who took to the dance floor to perform a choreographed routine to the popular Afrobeat track “Shake It To The Max”, released by artists Moliy and Silent Addy, featuring dancehall stars Skillibeng and Shenseea. All official photography from the event was shot by creative studio Stanlo Photography, and full unshared details from the wedding day are available exclusively to readers on vogue.com.

OCHO RIOS, Jamaica — The 2026 edition of Jamaica’s beloved Vacae Weekend drew to a spectacular close on Monday evening at Plantation Cove in St. Ann, where the sold-out Campari Sandz Festival brought a four-day celebration of Caribbean music and culture to a rousing standing ovation. The annual Easter weekend entertainment series capped its run with a high-energy grand finale headlined by one of dancehall’s fastest-rising talents, Malie Donn, whose commanding set cemented his status as one of the genre’s most exciting new acts.

Thousands of enthusiastic music fans packed the St. Ann venue for the closing event, turning out in droves to cap their long weekend with live entertainment that blended chart-topping music, immersive production, and signature Caribbean hospitality. For years, Sandz has built a reputation as one of Jamaica’s most polished and dynamic festival events, and this year’s iteration did not disappoint. Attendees were treated to a stacked lineup that mixed live vocal performances with sets from some of the region’s most in-demand DJs, including Shukkle Bus, Chromatic, Donhot and Ricky Platinum, who kept energy high from gates open through the final encore.

The night’s undeniable highlight was Malie Donn’s performance, the latest career milestone for the V6 deejay who has quickly climbed the ranks of the global dancehall scene. Taking the stage to roaring cheers, the breakout artist delivered a 45-minute set packed with his biggest fan-favorite hits, including *7:00 pm*, *Body Tea*, and *Dragga*. His high-octane, audience-focused performance held the crowd’s attention from start to finish, with thousands singing along to every lyric and reinforcing the growing commercial and cultural traction he has earned across the Caribbean and beyond.

Complementing the on-stage talent was this year’s carefully executed *Pirates of the Caribbean*-themed production, which wove a cohesive visual narrative through every element of the festival space. From the custom-built stage design to small decorative touches scattered throughout the venue, the theme was brought to life seamlessly, creating a visually immersive atmosphere that elevated the entire attendee experience.

For event organizers, the smooth execution of this year’s Sandz Festival is a clear marker of how far Vacae Weekend has come as a premium international entertainment brand. Andrew Ellis, CEO of Twenty14 Ltd — the parent company behind Vacae Weekend — noted that the 2026 event hit every goal organizers set out to achieve. “This year, we focused on delivering a strong, satisfying finish to what had already been a perfect weekend of celebration,” Ellis explained. “From the headlining performance to the small production details, everything came together seamlessly. We’re endlessly proud of the work our team puts in to pull off an event of this scale, and to bring this kind of world-class experience to Jamaica.”

This year’s Vacae Weekend would not have been possible without the long-term support of title sponsor Campari Group, whose ongoing investment in Jamaica’s entertainment and cultural sector helped elevate every element of the event. Across the four-day series, the global beverage group integrated its portfolio of premium brands to enhance multiple attendee touchpoints, aligning with the company’s long-standing commitment to backing events that center Caribbean music, lifestyle and cultural heritage. For attendees, organizers and artists alike, the 2026 Campari Sandz Festival has set a new bar for future editions of the beloved Easter weekend tradition.

On Monday, April 6, fashion and lifestyle publication Vogue gave global audiences an exclusive first peek inside the intimate, celebratory wedding of Jamaican track and field athlete Junelle Bromfield and American Olympic sprint gold medalist Noah Lyles, held two days prior in scenic Trenton, Georgia.

The pair tied the knot on Saturday, April 4 at The Conservatory at Blackberry Ridge, a popular wedding venue nestled in the Georgia countryside, choosing a thoughtful ‘All Shades of Melanin’ theme to center their shared Black heritage throughout the celebration.

Bromfield made a breathtaking entrance down the aisle in a voluminous ballgown designed by Pantora Bridal, a Black-owned bridal brand based in Jamaica. The same label also crafted the elegant bronze gowns worn by the couple’s bridal party. Matching the day’s warm, inclusive theme, Lyles opted for a rich chocolate tailored suit from designer brand Musika for the ceremony.

The exclusive feature was reported by Vogue contributing wedding editor Shelby Wax, with professional photography captured by Stanley Babb of Stanlo Photography, whose images give fans a detailed look at the couple’s special day.

For years, Jamaican recording artist Yaksta has built his reputation on music rooted in cultural awareness and thoughtful reflection on national identity. Now, with the launch of his latest single *Roar*, the deejay is stepping into a far more vulnerable, unapologetically personal creative space — one defined by raw, unfiltered honesty that he says many in the music industry avoid at all costs.

Yaksta says he is ready to speak out on topics fellow artists often sidestep, even if that means sacrificing the mainstream fame and widespread popularity that most performers chase throughout their careers. “We need to understand what we are as a nation,” he explained in a recent conversation about his new work. “I think the imperfect characteristics of Jamaicans are what made us perfect. We were the rebels of the pack, of all the African diaspora, we were the voice box of the universe — and suddenly now we’re censored because of monetary gains.”

He points to iconic Jamaican artists such as Bob Marley as proof that greatness does not come from conforming to industry expectations. “All those great men never made it because they conformed,” he noted. “They may have worked within a system, but they had a mind of their own. Everybody who conforms falls in line, and I am not one of them.”

Rebellion has always been woven into Yaksta’s musical DNA, he says, though the rigid structures of the commercial music industry have at times softened that outspoken spirit. “We have always been rebellious, it’s just that past management we worked with more or less censored us in certain ways,” he shared. He also called out shifting social norms around gender identity that he says have created widespread confusion, clarifying he does not aim to bash anyone but believes the current trend is a pressing issue for society.

For Yaksta, *Roar* is far more than just a new single — it is a rallying cry to reclaim the uncompromising, truth-centered roots of Jamaican reggae music. “*Roar* is about the regrouping of consciousness in our music, in our nation,” he said. “I think we’re drifting too far from our core values. When it comes to speaking out and provoking thought about the issues actually affecting the society we live in now, people shy away from that. But reggae was never a pretty, polished genre — it was always about truth and empowerment.”

The artist argues that much of the music dominating current radio and streaming playboxes has strayed far from these foundational principles, and he is aiming to hit reset on the genre ahead of the release of more new music. He specifically pushes back against the misogynistic lyrics that are common in many contemporary tracks, noting he refuses to participate in the degradation of Black women, who he identifies as queens. “We have given them 20 years of foolishness, we must be able to give them one year of consciousness,” he stated.

*Roar* is a preview of Yaksta’s upcoming full-length album, *The Microphone Saved Me*, a project he describes as a bold, unapologetic declaration that refuses to bend to the pressures of an industry he believes has lost both its authenticity and moral compass. He argues that modern music’s focus on exploitative and harmful content has negatively influenced young people, noting that artists are often the primary role models for youth when parental figures are absent. “We have to know that we have a responsibility,” he emphasized. “Fans spend their time, their money, their essence to make you important. So we have to reverse that harmful trend.”

Yaksta says he is fully prepared to face criticism and backlash for his outspoken stances, clarifying that this creative shift is not about adopting a new persona — it is about embracing a deeper understanding of his purpose as an artist. “The moment I started doing me, saying what I wanted to say, it started resonating more with audiences,” he explained. “I may not be booked for local shows every day, and it is not because they won’t call me — it is that certain shows are not aligned with my message and the brand I am building.”

The deejay also opened up about the personal costs of sudden fame, noting that his early experience in the industry taught him how quickly envy can erode even close relationships. “I had a normal life before all the popularity, but popularity taught me how envious love can become in the blink of an eye,” he shared. “If you’re not grounded, it is easy for artists to lose their way, fall off, or break when all this success comes to you overnight. I’m the kind of person that when the rush of fame comes, I step back and assess my choices carefully. I found out that the real enemies were often the ones that stood with me. I’ve seen family change, friends get envious — but where love is, hate follows. That’s where the microphone saved me in real life.”

The album is scheduled for a May release, and Yaksta plans to take an unconventional, fan-focused approach to rolling out the project, skipping large traditional stage shows in favor of intimate direct engagement. “What I’m going to do for this album is bring it directly to the people,” he said. “I’m going to host pop-up shops, showcase my merch, and give fans free live performances. You may not see me on a big festival stage, but come to my show.”