While in Accra, Ghana for the “Hands Across Africa” show in 2022, Elton Earlington saw a euphoric scene that made a lasting impression on him.

“My dream is to be another great like Eric Donaldson, whom I had the opportunity to share a stage with in Ghana back in 2022. I witnessed him being lifted off the ground and carried by the people of Ghana,” Earlington recalled. “Eric wasn’t allowed to walk on his own two feet, and he wasn’t granted the chance to sing his own song…The people took over and sang those songs word for word.”

The singer takes a big step to that emulation tomorrow as one of 10 finalists in the Festival Song Competition, which takes place at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston. His entry is Proud A Jamaica.