Star-studded Kingston concert raises funds after Hurricane Melissa
Reggae and dancehall heavyweights Shaggy and Sean Paul are headlining a major benefit concert in Jamaica to raise money for communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa. The “Jamaica Strong” show, announced by organisers and detailed in an interview with Rolling Stone, brings together some of the island’s biggest names for a one-night event aimed at funding emergency relief and long-term rebuilding. The storm ripped through parts of the Caribbean earlier this month, damaging homes, knocking out power and leaving many residents without clean water or shelter. Shaggy described seeing people sleeping on the streets and bodies still trapped in collapsed houses, saying the scale of destruction made it impossible for artists to stay on the sidelines.

Proceeds from ticket sales, sponsorships and a parallel online donation drive will go toward housing repairs, school reconstruction and medical support in hardest-hit parishes. Organisers say they are working with local NGOs and churches to make sure funds are channelled quickly to families who have fallen through the cracks of official aid. The concert is also intended as a moral boost, offering residents a night of music and community after weeks of anxiety and loss. In addition to Shaggy and Sean Paul, the line-up features a mix of veteran performers and younger acts, reflecting the breadth of Jamaica’s music scene and its long history of using culture as a tool for resistance and recovery.

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The benefit arrives at a moment when climate-driven storms are placing new strains on Caribbean societies already grappling with high debt, inequality and fragile infrastructure. Meteorologists say warmer ocean temperatures are fuelling stronger, wetter hurricanes that can linger over islands and cause catastrophic flooding. For coastal communities dependent on tourism and agriculture, each major storm brings not only physical damage but also long-term economic uncertainty as visitors stay away and crops fail. Artists involved in “Jamaica Strong” have framed the concert as part of a broader call for both local preparedness and international climate justice—arguing that small nations should not bear the cost of a crisis they did little to create.

At the same time, the event highlights the enduring global reach of Jamaican music. Streaming platforms and social media mean that performances from Kingston can be amplified far beyond the stadium, potentially turning clips from the show into fundraising vehicles of their own. Fans abroad are being encouraged to donate, buy merch or support partner charities even if they cannot attend in person. For many, the concert offers a reminder that Caribbean culture is not just a soundtrack for beaches and resorts but a living, responsive tradition that speaks to struggle, solidarity and survival. If successful, organisers hope “Jamaica Strong” could become a model for future artist-led responses to climate disasters in the region.