Sumfest 2025: Fever Pitch as Vybz Kartel Crowned, Masicka, Govana, & Jamal Left It All on Stage

Reggae Sumfest 2025 delivered commanding sets from some of dancehall’s finest, including Masicka, Govana, and Montego Bay’s very own Shaneil Muir and Jamal. But the highlight of the night came when the undisputed king of dancehall, Vybz Kartel, was officially crowned

Another unforgettable chapter in the legacy of Reggae Sumfest (Photos: Jamar Cleary, Cavuaghn Edwards)

One of the marquee events on the Jamaican entertainment calendar kicked off in style with Night 1 of Reggae Sumfest. As expected, eager fans flooded the roads leading to Jamaica’s northwestern coast, causing traffic buildups on the way to Catherine Hall.

Veteran dancehall artiste Harry Toddler delivered a solid performance to warm up the crowd, followed by singjay Laden, who entered the stage to the sounds of his 2009 hit “Time To Shine.”

Dressed in a sharp red suit, D’yani captivated fans, especially the ladies,with stripped-down renditions of his hits and invited Maestro Don on stage for their collaboration “Senorita.”

Montego Bay’s own Shaneil Muir took the stage next, commanding over half an hour with a hit-filled set that included “Exclusive,” “Blessings,” and “Pretty Naturally,” proving once again why she’s dubbed as the Top Gyal.

Shaneil Muir delivered a standout set as the Top Gyal (Photo: Sumfest)

Dancehall star Govana commanded the stage in a striking white pilot suit, delivering a powerful set packed with hits that reflected his steady ascent in the genre—from his early days with the 4th Genna camp to his status as one of dancehall’s leading voices. The performance featured tracks like “Bake Bean,” “Hamants Convo,” “Gyal Clown,” and more. He then brought his mother, Sonia Eccleston, on stage during his performance of “Four Storey” and surprised her with the keys to a brand-new Honda CR-V, a heartfelt gesture that brought her to tears.

Clad in tailored Balenciaga suit and black sunglasses, dancehall superstar Masicka made his highly anticipated return to Reggae Sumfest for the first time since 2023. the dancehall powerhouse opened with “Reverse Time” and “Limelight” before launching into a commanding one-hour set. The Genahsyde boss unleashed his full arsenal, flowing effortlessly from anthems like “Buss Di Cylinder,” “Changes,” “Like Gold,” and “Image” to chart-toppers such as “20 Matic,” “Whites,” “Tyrant,” and his recent smash, “Mute.” The performance stood as a testament to Masicka’s tireless work ethic and undeniable evolution, firmly cementing his status as one of the leading forces in dancehall today.

Masicka left everything on stage (Photo: Jamar Cleary)

Montego Bay’s very own Jamal took the stage for his first solo set, lighting up the venue with standout performances of his hit single “Time,” breakout track “Balland'or,” and more. A strong showing from the 39 Gud.

Jamal, “We never give up dawg, we nah stop try” (Photo: Reggae Sumfest)

And then, the highly anticipated moment arrived, the undisputed King of Dancehall, Vybz Kartel, returned to the Reggae Sumfest stage for the first time since his release from prison. As is tradition, he wore a jersey representing the place he performs; this time, it was the Reggae Boyz jersey.

He was greeted by a massive, sold-out crowd that erupted as he entered on stage. Backed by MC Nuffy and Ricky Platinum, Kartel delivered an electrifying hour-long set packed with hit after hit. The crowd turned into a unified chant, singing every word of tracks like “My Scheme,” “Broad Daylight,” “Go Go,” “Benz Punany,” to mid-2010s ones, including "Fever" among many more from his extensive repertoire.

The event reached new heights as Vybz Kartel was officially crowned the king of dancehall by his longtime collaborator, the queen of dancehall, Spice. The sold-out crowd erupted as Spice declared, “On behalf of the music fraternity, the entire Jamaica, Joe Bogdanovich, Reggae Sumfest, and the entire world, we are here to crown the legend, Adidjah Azim Palmer. All hail the king of dancehall, Vybz Kartel!”

“On behalf of the music fraternity, the entire Jamaica, Joe Bogdanovich, Reggae Sumfest, and the entire world, we are here to crown the legend, Adidjah Azim Palmer. All hail the king of dancehall, Vybz Kartel!”

Elated after receiving the crown, Kartel sat in a king’s chair and addressed his fans. “Thank you, Jamaica... People, a unuh do it. God is the greatest,” he said, expressing heartfelt gratitude in a moment that marked a triumphant return and long-overdue coronation.

Next in line was Skeng, who introduced a bold new look with bright green dyed hair and white makeup. He delivered his signature high-energy set with hits like “London,” “Curves,” “Vibes,” and more, before inviting Bayka for a brief segment featuring his recent single, “Pretty Miss.” Skeng then closed his performance with Tommy Lee Sparta, who made a dramatic entrance on stage riding a bike, electrifying the crowd with their smash hit “Protocol.”

However, Sparta’s solo set was cut short due to crowd unrest following Kartel’s coronation, which reportedly left several people injured. The incident led to a premature end to his performance before he could bring out additional guests.

Night one of Reggae Sumfest reaches peak as Vybz Kartel received his crown (Photo: Jamar Cleary)

Still, the night cemented itself as another unforgettable chapter in the legacy of Reggae Sumfest, dancehall, and Jamaican culture.