Abena Amory Excited To Make Her Saint Kitts Music Festival Debut
As the countdown for the 2025 Saint Kitts Music Festival continues in earnest, one name generating a quiet but powerful buzz is vocalist Abena Amory—a Nevisian-born singer now making waves in New York City. This June marks her debut performance on the prestigious Music Festival stage, and for Abena, it’s a full-circle moment.
MEET ABENA…
With a voice that soars from the soul and a lineage steeped in legacy, Abena Amory is more than just a singer—she’s a living bridge between tradition and transformation. The daughter of acclaimed vocalist Ms. Jacqueline Erlene Williams-King and the late Honourable Vance Amory, former Premier of Nevis, Abena was born into a world where music and leadership flowed hand in hand. Abena has carved a path uniquely her own—one that celebrates her roots while fearlessly embracing new horizons. From Gospel to Soca, Reggae to Jazz, Abena’s voice is a dynamic force of nature—soulful, commanding, and deeply resonant.
“I grew up in Fig Tree, Saint John in Nevis, surrounded by music,” she says. “My mom was a singer, so I was always at her rehearsals or choir practices. Music wasn’t just around me—it was in me. There was no escaping it, I had no choice but to love it. It came naturally.”
That deep, organic connection to music is evident in her style, which she describes as a fusion of Caribbean soul, reggae, R&B, jazz, and gospel. Her tone is sultry yet powerful, with a message-first approach that feels both intentional and intuitive. Abena’s musical influences reflect that rich mix. “I love artists who tell stories,” she says, “I ‘m a huge Bob Marley fan. His positive energy and the way he always had a message in his music—that inspired me. I also love Ledisi. She tells musical stories so well. And CeCe Winans, especially in gospel—her voice just touches me…Music should move you. That’s always my goal.”
Though music was always present in her life, Abena told Your Caribbean Guide that the desire to pursue it professionally came later. “When I got into my teenage years, then my 20s, I realized how powerful it felt to connect with people through song,” she says. “That moment when I sang and saw the audience respond—it gave me so much joy. I wanted to spread that feeling beyond just my local space. I knew then that I had to do this for real.”
Abena’s journey from church choirs and community events to international performances is marked by resilience. While her musical talent is undeniable, Abena says carving space as a woman in the industry hasn’t come without its challenges.
“…this industry is still very male-dominated and it is very sexualized,” she says candidly. “A lot of men don’t take you seriously unless they think they can get something personal out of it. I’ve experienced that. But thank God I have a good team, a good head on my shoulders, and I’ve been able to navigate that and not let it stop me.
Despite the challenges, Abena continues to carve out notable moments in her career. One of the most special?
“Being chosen to perform at the Saint Kitts Music Festival—this is a big deal for me,” she says with pride. “Last year, I performed at the Nevis Mango Festival, which was amazing, but this… this is next level.”
She beams at the thought of sharing the stage with international powerhouse Jennifer Hudson. “It’s a little intimidating, I won’t lie. You see people like her on TV, and now I’m going to be on the same stage. But I’m also like—this is my time. I belong here too and I want to show people what I’ve got.”
Abena shared that she has been booked to perform at the upcoming Caribbean Gala Awards in London this September. She’s also teasing the release of new music, and even a Christmas album in the works.
But right now, the focus is June.
“Being on that stage, representing Nevis, representing Saint Kitts and Nevis—it’s huge for me,” she says with excitement.
Despite her rising profile, Abena remains deeply rooted in service. When she’s not on stage or in the studio, she’s working as a public health advocate in New York, supporting women and teens, especially expectant mothers, through life’s challenges. “Helping people fills me up,” she says. “It inspires my music, too.”
Balancing both worlds—music and advocacy—is no easy feat, but she does it with grace. And now, as she prepares to light up the Saint Kitts Music Festival stage, she hopes the audience feels more than entertained.
As the excitement for the 2025 staging of the Saint Kitts Music Festival heightens, Abena has individualized her countdown to the highly anticipated event. “I’m planning to do a little ‘Road to Saint Kitts Music Festival’ show here in New York,” she says. “Just to give people a taste of what’s coming.
To her fans, especially those in the diaspora returning home for the festival, she offers a promise: “Come expecting a show. Come expecting joy. I want people to feel love, feel pride, and walk away knowing I’m representing us. This is for Saint Kitts and Nevis.”
As the festival draws nearer, keep your eyes (and ears) on Abena Amory. Her homecoming promises to be one of the event’s most heartfelt highlights.
