The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) has passed a resolution to award gospel legend Priscilla Marie Love, better known as CeCe Winans, the key to the city of Kingston in recognition of her decades-long musical, spiritual, and humanitarian influence on Jamaicans.
The resolution, moved by Councillor Waynette Strachan-Nelson of the Hagley Park Division, honors Winans as a “spiritual force” whose music has left an indelible mark on the nation’s cultural and emotional landscape.
“Cece is not just a celebrated artiste, she is a spiritual force, a humanitarian, a cultural icon whose work has touched hearts across the globe, and especially here in Jamaica,” said Strachan-Nelson. “Her voice has travelled across borders and generations, but has always found a home in this our nation… We have not merely listened to her music, we have leaned on it and lifted it in our most intimate moments.”
Winans, the most awarded female gospel artiste of all time with 15 Grammy Awards and over 17 million records sold, has seen her songs—such as Goodness of God—transcend traditional worship settings.
“It has become an anthem for Jamaicans, I believe, from Sunday morning worship to bustling taxi and bus routes, from the stillness of hospital doors to our street corners downtown… it has also become a staple on our political platforms when we’re ready to invite the presence of God,” said Strachan-Nelson.
She noted that Winans’ music has united Jamaicans across denominations and social divides.
“Cece Winans has done what few can do: She has crossed denominational lines, bridged social divides, and unified us in worship,” she said. “Even when we are weary, her music not just speaks to us, but it speaks to us in the language of spirit, survival and praise.”
Beyond her music, the resolution also recognized Winans’ global humanitarian work.
“In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was silent and suffering, Cece lent her voice to a global campaign that raised funds for struggling families in over seven countries,” Strachan-Nelson stated. “Her influence is not confined to stage or screenings. It enters schools, shelters, and slums, often without a camera in sight.”
Winans is scheduled to host the Kingston leg of her More Than This World tour on August 1 on the East Lawns of King’s House. The event will raise funds for five local charities, including the Ophthalmology Department of Bustamante Children’s Hospital, the Yadel Home for Children, Open Door Jamaica Foundation, the Governor General’s I Believe Initiative, and the Students’ Christian Fellowship and Scripture Union.
“In one night, Cece will be a blessing to thousands across Jamaica, from the blind to the broken, from the child in need to the student in purpose…Cece Winans has already opened doors for others, and I think it’s fitting that we open the doors of the city of Kingston by conferring her with the keys to the city,” said Strachan-Nelson.
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