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Interview: Queen Ifrica
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Interview: Queen Ifrica
"There are 1,000's of rasta women in Jamaica. They're the invisible visible"
Sampler
Queen Ifrica is a rebellious daughter
Queen Ifrica defied her mother and became a rasta. Today she is one of the leading conscious reggae artists with two albums and several hit singles on her list of merits. United Reggae has met her.
Queen Ifrica has music in her veins. She’s the daughter of ska and rock steady veteran Derrick Morgan. She begun singing as a child and was discovered in the mid 90’s by singer and producer Tony Rebel.
Since then she has released two albums – 'Fyah Muma' in 2007 and 'Montego Bay' in 2009 – and has also contributed to several riddim compilations. Her latest hit song is Times Like These, on the City Life riddim, she pleads for the need of more heroes and sings about Marcus Garvey, Bob Marley among others.
Queen Ifrica is a conscious artist. She also a real rasta.
“I am 100 percent rasta,” she says when we meet backstage about two hours after her set at Uppsala Reggae Festival, and continues:
“Rasta is who I am. It’s the blood that runs through these little arms.”
She’s a petite singer with a huge voice, and can easily switch from straight singing to a gruff Buju Banton style. When we meet she seems relaxed and laughs a lot.
The invisible visible
According to Queen Ifrica female energy is important within the rasta community, but it seems tough for women to be heard since it’s a conservative religion. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any women. Quite the opposite.
“There are 1,000’s of rasta women in Jamaica. They’re the invisible visible. You don’t see them as you see other women,” she explains.
Defied her mother
It turns out that Queen Ifrica’s mother is one of these rasta women, but she didn’t want her daughter to travel the same path as her.
“My mother is one of them. She’s living deep up in the hills. But she didn’t want me to grow locks. She thought that I wasn’t disciplined enough,” she laughs, and continues:
“But she saw herself in me and understands me and she is the proudest mommy right now. She’s an angel. She’s a queen, she’s seen as the queen mother in her village.”
Queen Ifrica’s mother is an outspoken person, and the daughter describes the mother as rebellious.
“She’s rebellious for the right reasons and she’s an independent woman. She wants to be equal to men. Aside from being a woman you are also an individual,” she says, and continues:
“It’s fun to see her argue with men. Women don’t usually have an opinion. Women are seen but not heard in rasta. It’s fun to watch her,” she laughs.
Stick to positive music
Being a role model is part of being an artist and as a young artist you need to understand what it means to be a role model. Queen Ifrica says you have a responsibility.
“Reggae hails from the poor and poverty. It’s a music that will spark a certain type of reaction. You need to encourage the youths,” she explains, and continues:
“Stick to positive cultural music, and I know that young people can love it."
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Read comments (3)
| Posted by strenjluv on 04.14.2012 | |
| Kip it real | |
| Posted by Sacha Antonnie on 05.22.2012 | |
| Mo fyah ras........Ras Sacha outa Uganda. | |
| Posted by Alicia! on 01.31.2014 | |
| I love Queen Ifrica!! She is the truth! I love reggae music. It's great to have a strong, independent woman like Queen Ifrica impacting the movement. Keep doing your thing, sistah! Blessed Love. | |
Comments actually desactivated due to too much spams
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