Right Now for Jamaica to Host Hurricane Relief Gala, Etana to Headline

Right Now for Jamaica is bringing together some serious reggae firepower for a cause that hits close to home for the diaspora. The Maryland-based organization, formed in direct response to Hurricane Melissa, has announced its inaugural Fundraiser Gala Dinner & Concert for March 28, 2026, at the Royal Ballroom in Bowie, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.

Etana headlines the evening, and her involvement goes deeper than a performance booking. The two-time Grammy-nominated artist is an RNFJ director, meaning she has skin in the game organizationally. She'll share the stage with Mykal Rose, Ras Mista Fyah, Julian Junior Marvin, and the legendary Wailers, which is a lineup that would fill rooms under any circumstances, let alone one tied to rebuilding communities back home.

RNFJ Vice President Dr. Maurice Miles framed the stakes plainly. "In the wake of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica has demonstrated extraordinary strength and unity," he said. "This gala serves as a platform to mobilise the diaspora and corporate community around a shared commitment: rebuilding Jamaica stronger, smarter, and more climate-resilient."

That commitment has a practical target. Proceeds will go directly toward rebuilding efforts in education, healthcare, and infrastructure development across Jamaica. Dr. Miles has also made clear that as the immediate crisis phase gives way to longer-term reconstruction, sustained investment from the diaspora and corporate sector becomes more critical, not less.

The event is billed as "an elegant evening of culture, purpose, and philanthropy," with organizers looking to draw diaspora members, corporate leaders, policymakers, and philanthropists together under one roof for what they're calling a night of collective action. The Royal Ballroom venue in Bowie puts it squarely within reach of the Washington, D.C. metro area's substantial Jamaican community.

Tickets are available at jamaicagala.com.