Sister Nancy headlines Jamaica Day NJ’s 10th anniversary

The two-day, 10th annual Jamaica Day festival will take place at Eastside Park in New Jersey on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026. The lineup celebrates four queens of Jamaican music — Sister Nancy, gospel minister Marion Hall, Grammy-nominated reggae artist Lila Iké, and DJ Lady G — who will perform alongside gospel artists Rhoda Isabella and Golda McFarlane.

But it is Sister Nancy’s appearance — and the story behind her signature song — that event producer Matthew McKoy says makes this year’s celebration historic.

"Sister Nancy is a pioneer," Matthew told Caribbean National Weekly. "When you add Lady G, Rhoda Isabella, and Golda McFarlane, you have every generation and every part of our culture represented on one stage. That’s exactly what Jamaica Day is supposed to be."

It is hard to imagine that Sister Nancy recorded "Bam Bam" more than four decades ago — in 1982, to be exact. The track, recorded for Winston Riley’s Techniques label, has become one of the most recognized and widely sampled reggae/dancehall songs in history, appearing in more than 100 samples across hip-hop, pop, and R&B and transforming the dancehall classic into a global piece of pop culture.

The song’s reach became impossible to ignore in 2018, when Jay-Z sent his private jet to Africa to bring Damian Marley to Los Angeles to record "Bam," a single built around a sample of "Bam Bam" that appeared on his platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated album 4:44.

Sister Nancy has often called it her favorite use of the sample, not only because of its success but because Jay-Z flew her to Jamaica for the music video shoot and ensured she received proper credit and compensation. And Jay-Z is far from the only major artist to draw inspiration from the track.

Over the decades, "Bam Bam" has appeared in the catalogs of some of music’s biggest names, including Kanye West, who incorporated Nancy’s vocals into his 2016 single "Famous" alongside Rihanna. Nearly two decades earlier, Lauryn Hill sampled the song on "Lost Ones," one of the standout tracks from her landmark 1998 debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Janelle Monáe introduced "Bam Bam" to a new generation through her single "Water Slide" from the Grammy-nominated album The Age of Pleasure. Lizzo interpolated elements of the melody in her breakout hit "Truth Hurts," while Beyoncé incorporated the song’s unmistakable energy into live performances of "Hold Up." Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa also found success with their 2011 collaboration "Bomb," which featured elements of the iconic track.

For Matthew, bringing Sister Nancy back to Paterson, New Jersey — a city she once called home — highlights how far the festival has come since it was launched by the Bill McKoy Foundation a decade ago.

"Ten years ago, this festival started as a way to give our community a place to come together and celebrate who we are," Matthew said. "To be here a decade later with a lineup this powerful, honoring both our anniversary and 64 years of Jamaican independence, is something special. This isn’t just a concert — it’s a homecoming."

His father, Bill McKoy, founder of the Bill McKoy Foundation, said the organization remains committed to creating a space that celebrates Jamaican heritage.

"We are proud to continue creating a space where families, artists, businesses, and community leaders come together to honor our heritage while inspiring future generations," he said.

Jamaica Day remains free to the public, a commitment McKoy says has not changed in 10 years.

"We’ve kept this festival free and family-friendly for 10 years because that was always the point — nobody should be priced out of celebrating their own culture," McKoy said.

"Whether you’re bringing your grandmother or your kids, there’s something at Jamaica Day for you. My father built this out of love for our people and our home," Matthew added.