Mon 25 Feb, 2008
Women of distinction are woefully lacking within the scope of popular reggae music. There have been a few notable exceptions including Lady Saw, also known as the "the first lady of dancehall," and Patra, a moderately popular artist from the '90s. But, of the list of 100 Greatest Reggae Artists from an open sourced music information site, only one woman made rank, the self-titled "Empress of Reggae" Marcia Griffiths.
The 2008 Ragga Muffins Festival featured two women in Sunday's line-up, a young actress turned vocalist Cherine Anderson and an uplifting and socially charged artist by the name of Queen Ifrica. Part I of our Festival coverage introduced you to reggae legends Sly & Robbie (#8 on the list of 100 Greatest) who graciously offered to accompany Queen Ifrica during her set.
Queen Ifrica described the invitation saying, "It's like I've died and gone to music heaven.” She continued, "These two brothers have been playing for so long…now they are offering to play with me on stage…it's like getting a blessing from the powers that be to say you are worthy of an opportunity like that."
Had she performed at the 2006 festival, she may not have been as well received as she was this year. After waiting patiently through two less than stellar performances from Charine Anderson and Blaze Mob, the audience eagerly anticipated an artist truly seasoned enough to merit stage time with Sly & Robbie. When she took the stage the mood shifted from a palpable anticipation to an electric excitement. To put it colloquially, the crowd was feeling Queen Ifrica.
Prior to her performance, Queen Ifrica
noticed a difference between how European and North American audiences approached reggae music. "In North America there's a serious continuous love for it, but in Europe it’s like a religion…One drop music in Europe is like a part of life.” She added, “The elder artists are the ones closing the festivals over there.”
Influenced by the likes of Jimmy Clifton and Burning Spear, Queen Ifrica uses her musical gift to instill a sense of political urgency in oppressed communities, “I am here for some reason and music is the medium I am using.”
