Labour Day gospel concert brings worship and tribute to Emancipation Park

The Labour Day 2026 Praise and Worship Concert brought Jamaicans to Emancipation Park in Kingston on Monday, May 25, for an evening of gospel music, ministry and national thanksgiving after a day of community service across the island.

The programme, hosted by Nadine Blair and Markland “Action” Edwards, opened formally with the national anthem before the hosts welcomed patrons at the park and viewers following by television and online platforms. The concert was presented by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Organisers framed the event as a spiritual close to Labour Day, noting that Jamaicans had spent the day painting schools, cleaning parks, repairing public spaces and helping their communities. The hosts said the night was intended to honour that spirit of service while giving thanks to God.

The Unity Singers opened the stage with praise and worship. A Jamaica Gospel Star flashback segment later featured 2025 top-three performers, including Clarendon singer Danil Anderson, second-place finalist Jerine Wigan and 2025 winner Raheem Betty from St Ann.

Other performers included Sebastian Graham, Jelene Mitchto, John Mark Wigan, Lubbert Levy, Prodigal Son and Jabez. The show mixed traditional Jamaican gospel, contemporary worship, revival sounds and dancehall-influenced gospel, with repeated calls for unity, faith and resilience.

A major moment of the night was a tribute to late gospel and revival artiste Kukudoo. Culture Minister Olivia Grange said she had spoken with him shortly before his death and described him as more than a singer, calling him a bridge between Jamaica’s revivalist faith tradition and modern gospel expression. She noted that he was an ordained minister of the Apostle Sinai Spiritual Church of God in Spanish Town and linked his work to the revival tradition inscribed by UNESCO in 2024.

Grange said funeral arrangements would be announced and that a special event would be held at the Randy Williams Centre. The concert closed with thanks to the performers, production team, security personnel and patrons, along with a prayer for safe travel.