Top stories for 2022

The numbers are in and the truth is that controversy sells. In February traditional and social media were abuzz with news that the former Queen of the Dancehall, Marion ‘Lady Saw’ Hall, who had embraced Christianity in 2015, was turning her back on her calling. Fierce debates broke out when Hall announced that she was discontinuing her online ministry, and things only quieted down when she clarified that she was simply quitting Facebook and Instagram because such sites are “the devil’s playground”. But, prior to that, she did receive some flack for her utterances made in January: “God was merciful to wash me in his cleansing blood, and upgrade me to the upper room. I’m not going downstairs so the devils can laugh all the way to hell. Him and all of you who work for him. Come kiss out me Bible, so you can all get deliverance!”

Number two on our list is a feel-good story (but the numbers were much lower that the controversy) and again, kudos to Baby Tash on her pursuit of excellence outside of the dancehall space.

Below are the 22 stories that found the most favour with readers in 2022.

1. ‘Lord forgive me’... Minister Marion Hall walking away from calling

2. Former Magnum Queen Baby Tash graduates with honours from UWI

3. Toshami Calvin is Miss Universe Jamaica 2022

4. Spice says she suffered a ruptured hernia, sepsis

5. Medical student Shanique Singh named Miss Jamaica World 2022

6. Bounty’s children happy to celebrate with him on his birthday

7. Happy Birthday, Shabba Ranks

8. Jamaicans ‘not entitled’ to American award, says Heavy D

9. Charlie Wilson in Jamaica to record with Beres Hammond

10. Trailblazing Rita Marley ‘larger than life’

11. Jamaican singer performs at queen’s jubilee at Buckingham Palace

12. After his mystery illness, Tinga Stewart mourns wife’s sudden death

13. Tyrone Downie dies in Jamaica

14. Merciless’ autopsy inconclusive; ex-manager repeats his claims

15. ‘Just One More Morning’ Sharon Marley’s homage to mother

16. Family Man’s daughter Aiesha defends setting up GoFundMe

17. Koffee pays homage to mother on ‘Gifted’

18. Will Smith hits Chris Rock in the face on live TV, then wins best actor Oscar

19. Dancehall artiste Shaneil Muir collapses due to exhaustion

20. Miss Jamaica sends congrats to Miss World finalists

21. Oliver Samuels shares disenchantment with 12 days of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II in viral video

22. One year after his death, Bunny Wailer’s estate faces challenges