By O’Maro Bekelé

Every August, the Grand Gala stakes its claim as the pinnacle of national stagecraft — a living blend of ceremony, culture, and spectacle. In 2025, the production reached new heights, weaving together history, technology, and mass movement into a seamless tribute to Jamaica’s 63rd Independence.

Opening Ceremony – Protocol, Propulsion, and Prestige

The proceedings began with the Guard of Honour and uniformed groups, a ritual of precision that has long anchored the Gala’s opening moments. This year, the arrivals of Jamaica’s leaders became a choreographed display in their own right, merging military formality with theatrical flourish.

A notable moment came when female officers of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) raised the national flag — a striking statement of Jamaica’s ongoing commitment to gender inclusivity.

The roll call of dignitaries included Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding, President of the Senate Tom Tavares Finson, Speaker of the House Juliet Holness, and Chief of Defence Staff Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman.

The Cycle Track as Stage

One of the evening’s most effective artistic decisions was the transformation of the cycle track, traditionally used for motor displays, into a storytelling corridor. This space was integrated throughout the show, not only as the dignitaries’ arrival path but also as a moving stage.

Here, actors brought to life national icons — notably Marcus Garvey — alongside other symbolic characters. The visual conversation between the track’s historic function and its repurposed artistic role gave the Gala a sense of continuity and motion, as if history itself was circling the arena.

Cultural Storytelling – Strength in Flow

The production’s narrative strength lay in its smooth, compact flow, with cultural, musical, and theatrical segments connected by thoughtful pacing.

• Festival Song Finalists added a burst of contemporary energy to the early programme.
• The Gospel segment, headlined by Randall Positive, Petra Kaye, and Kukudu, built to an atmosphere of praise and celebration without overstaying its welcome.
• The reggae section paid tribute to Jamaica’s musical elders and honoured this year’s awardees: Other icons, including Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, and Jimmy Cliff, were acknowledged in connection to their milestone anniversaries.

Standout Moments

Some moments stood above the rest:

• The JCF Hybrid Showcase — part live action, part theatrical simulation — demonstrated advanced police technology with dramatic flair, turning the arena into a stage for high-stakes intervention.
• The Drone Show — now a staple — unfolded like a skyborne mural, mapping Jamaica’s symbols from hummingbirds to toll roads, Port Royal to Bob Marley.
• The closing Port Royal sequence — a Cirque du Soleil–style fusion of dance, acrobatics, fire performance, and historical re-enactment — brought the evening to a crescendo.

Areas for Growth

While the Gala’s arena-style theatre has improved over the years, some moments still struggled to convey their full impact. The televised direction occasionally cut away from pivotal beats, and the single main stage is repetitive and is now limiting in comparison to all the other elements the showcase has. In essence the spatial depth of the show lack dynamism on that level.

The JTB segment, which included on-screen interviews and PR-heavy messaging, felt disconnected from the celebratory mood. The power of Jamaica’s cultural export — now embodied most prominently by Usain Bolt and Bob Marley — needs no hard sell.

Grand Gala 2025 succeeded where it mattered most: it told Jamaica’s story with pride and craft. From the symbolic choices in staging to the balance of tradition and innovation, it captured the nation’s identity in motion — past, present, and future.

It was an arena filled with memory, rhythm, and forward-looking energy.
A reminder that when Jamaica tells its own story, the world listens.