Macka Diamond wishes for peaceful Christmas

Aside from the religious aspect of Christmas, it's a time when persons look forward to receiving gifts from family, friends and loved ones.

But for veteran entertainer Macka Diamond, dazzling gifts are the furthest things from her mind.

"One of my Christmas wish is for persons to have a peaceful and prosperous Christmas. I wish for my loved ones to be happy and have a great Christmas, and that everyone can have a little food on their plates," Macka Diamond said.

Police statistics indicate that Jamaica has recorded more than 1,380 murders as of last week, making 2021 one of the bloodiest years on record. Murders are 10 per cent above last year's figure.

Macka Diamond, the Bun Him hitmaker, has lamented the situation on the island.

"I wish the crime would just not be there at all, and people get closer with their family and show more love," the artiste said.

With Christmas just days away, the veteran entertainer said that she is using the time to reflect on the past year, even as she prepares for her birthday celebrations in January.

"I used to do the painting and cleaning, but one year I realised that my birthday is coming in January and then I stopped. So I have become more relaxed as I have grown older. Once I have a show to do I would go, but if not, I would just chill," she said.

Looking back on her days growing up, the Money O singer said that she was not one who looked forward to Grand Market.

"Grand Market nights weren't for me, because I was just scared of the crowd and I just didn't want to go out there. I was being focused on being at home, the food, and the gifts. Growing up, my mom was usually so busy working and she used to have night jobs; and her type of job, she worked on holidays, sometimes on Christmas," Macka Diamond said.

"Our family never had many Christmas tradition. It was mostly old-fashion, with us going to church with grandma," she added.

She plans to go hard for her birthday as the 'hula hoop queen' will kick off her Sweet 16 birthday tour of the United States of America early in the new year. The music video for Big Woman Versus Young Gal is scheduled to drop soon and she plans to release an EP in 2022.