Take a look at the scene at Best of the Best, Miami’s celebration of Jamaican music

From the long lines for jerk chicken and other Caribbean fare to the waving flags during the islands’ roll calls, Best of the Best music festival made its big return on Sunday after a two-year hiatus, taking over downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park.

One of the biggest showcases of dancehall, reggae and soca music, the Caribbean music festival finally returned this year with its 19th edition and a highly-anticipated performance by legendary showman Buju Banton, the final act.

Before Buju Banton took the stage to remind the crowd why he remains one of dancehall’s biggest stars (even despite his seven-year U.S. incarceration), the crowd was treated to performances by the queen and king of Lover’s Rock, Marcia Griffiths and Beres Hammond, dancehall’s Wayne Wonder and Romain Virgo, and soca artist Skinny Fabulous, among others.

Representing “the small islands,” Skinny showed that even among dancehall and reggae fans you can get a Carnival vibe as the crowd, estimated at 12,000 by the City of Miami police, jumped and wined, while proudly waving their country’s flags from across the Caribbean.

“We represent,” said Palm Beach resident Michelle Francis, a native of Grenada who attended the concert with friend Janet McClure of Orlando. A fan of soca music, Francis said she came to see Buju Banton and “he didn’t disappoint.”

McClure likes Buju Banton also, but her draw was Hammond, who at 69 cannot only still move on the stage but showed with his live band and five backup singers that longevity generates multi-generational appeal. The concert, McClure said, gave her an opportunity “to connect with my culture.”

And connect concert goers did. From welcoming Wayne Wonder’s performance of his new song, “Jah Lift Me Up,” to singing along with classics like “Bashment Girl” and “Saddest Day of My Life,” the crowd took it all in with approving screams.

But it was Buju Banton, whose high-energy performance had attendees raising their fists and cellphones in the air as he belted out an array of songs including “Untold Stories” and “Hills and Valleys,” that showed Caribbean music has a devoted following — and Jamaican artists, no matter the age, longevity.

Mid-way through his set that ended abruptly at 11 p.m., Buju Banton welcomed Wayne Wonder back onto the stage and joined him in singing Stone Love’s dubplate, “Forever Young,” and then the two sang, “I Don’t Know Why.”

“Best of the Best,” Buju Banton said, “is an annual display of the best of the best of the culture, reggae music.” Then he brought out another guest, singer Nadine Sutherland. The two performed “Anything For You” and “Wicked Dickie.”

“The show was awesome, wonderful,” said Miami resident Charmaine Smith, was was out with friends celebrating her birthday weekend.

Here are more of the scenes from Best of the Best:

This story was originally published May 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM.

Jacqueline Charles

Miami Herald

305-376-2616

Jacqueline Charles has reported on Haiti and the English-speaking Caribbean for the Miami Herald for over a decade. A Pulitzer Prize finalist for her coverage of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, she was awarded a 2018 Maria Moors Cabot Prize — the most prestigious award for coverage of the Americas.