Bovia eyes Festival Song glory with mento track after surviving two car wrecks

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Festival Song Competition finalist Bovia is counting on her track Jamaica pon di App to usher in better days after she walked away from two road collisions earlier in 2026. She will take the stage at Saturday’s final of the contest.

Co-produced by Fitzroy “Dave Prime Time” Green and Courick Clarke, Jamaica pon di App sits among 10 songs shortlisted for the competition’s 60th edition. News that she had reached the finals reached her in June, and she said the moment left her deeply moved.

“I was overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement. It was a very emotional moment because I know the hard work, sacrifices, and determination that went into this journey,” she told the Observer Online.

“After coming out of one minor crash in January and a major car crash in February, I never dreamed of entering the competition at all. Being selected as a finalist is an honour, and I’m grateful to God, my family, friends, co-workers, supporters, and everyone who believed in me.”

Bovia, born Beverley Henry, hails from St Catherine and has taught music for over 25 years. She has also contributed harmony vocals on recordings overseen by Third World’s Ibo Cooper.

Green and Clarke cut Jamaica pon di App at JaMin Studio in Trench Town, where the pair have been laying down recent material. Built on a mento beat, the song draws on national culture and the issues of the day, Bovia explained.

“The song was written through inspiration. Looking at the soursop tree and seeing how fragile it looked, it seemed like there was no hope for our produce in Jamaica after all the ravaging that Hurricane Melissa had done. The innate tune, ‘mi nice clean country Jamaica pon di App echoed its melody in my ears’,” she recalled.

“While the idea came naturally because of my love and care towards my country Jamaica, It was God Almighty who downloaded the lyrics to reflect the beauty, culture, resilience, and spirit of our island.”

Saturday’s final unfolds at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston. Joining Bovia in the last round are Aba Jones (Teet A fi Me), Elton Earlington (Proud A Jamaica), dBURNZ (I Love Jamaica), Ovando Levy (Jamaica School Bingi Ling), Trisstar (I Am Jamaican), Renegad (I’m From Jamaica), Brother C (Jamaica Woie), Christina Evans (Jamaica A fiwi Island) and Song Bird (My Jamaica, Land of Festivals).