Marcia Griffiths and Beenie Man will lead the celebration of 645th anniversary of Jamaica's independence at Lauderhill Performing Arts Centre, in Florida, U.S, on 8 August 2026.
The event will be presented by the mayor of Lauderhill, Denise Grant, and the commissioner John T. Hodgson, both born in Jamaica.
The choice of location is not accidental., since the 27% of the 75.000 inhabitants from Lauderhill has Jamaican roots, turning this city in southern Florida into one of the centers of the Jamaican diaspora in the United States, more than 20.000 Jamaicans residing there, according to what was published by Dancehall Mag.
Legacy and energy on the same stage
Regarding the artists, Marcia Griffiths He is a historical figure in Jamaican music since the late 1970s. 60, with a tour that includes rocksteady, his work with Bob Marley and the Wailers and the global connection that 'Electric Boogie' gave him.
Placing it on stage at an independence celebration is a deliberate gesture towards the legacy and memory of the Jamaican cultural movement..
Beenie Man, for his part, brings the energy of contemporary dancehall. The self-proclaimed “King of Dancehall” He has been dominating the genre for more than three decades and maintains a live reputation that sustains him at festivals beyond Jamaica..
The combination of both artists gives the event a broad generational reach, with something for every stripe of the Jamaican community in Florida.
More than a concert
Mayor Grant stated about the spirit of this event that it will be a celebration of cultural pride, identity and expression for thousands of residents who carry Jamaica in their hearts.
The presence of two officials with Jamaican roots co-organizing the event - the mayor herself and Commissioner Hodgson- It will also give it an institutional weight different from that of a private concert., and points out that the city sees this celebration as something that transcends a date on the calendar.
