Queen Ifrika, Superstar!

Groundins

By: Charles H.E.Campbell

This year, the line-up for the two International Nights of Reggae Sumfest showcased a larger percentage of in-form, quality Reggae acts. That fact, along with their excellent performances, emphasised a resurgence in the Reggae genre, while giving, in my view, a better balance to the festival's musical offerings. Additionally, except for Nas, there was a refreshing absence of hardcore hip hop acts. Instead, Rhythm & Blues- from stars such as Ne-Yo, Jasmine Sullivan, Toni Braxton and gospel-tinged Keri Hilson, plus some beautiful blues songs with exquisite guitar strumming from Tito Jackson- fleshed out the nights with ear-pleasing melody and professional, sometimes dramatic stage craft. At the end, in total, these were two nights of extremely good musical fare. Unfortunately, I did not make it down for Dancehall night, but I heard that it was just as successful, with the re-emergence of Bounty Killer in a hardworking, tremendous performance.

Friday night, I watched history in the making. Any artiste, regardless of the genre they represent, will tell you that the Jamaican audience is very hard to please. Many internationally renowned artistes have left our shores with bruised egos after their local performance; many Reggae acts, with vaunted international success on the live entertainment circuit, have failed to hold or move local patrons with their performances on home soil at major events.

From its formative years with Millie Small in England through to Diana King, who is treated virtually like a Reggae goddess in Japan, Reggae’s female artistes have attracted large audiences worldwide and some like Marcia Griffiths, have sustained these, to maintain successful careers over relatively long periods. None before, however, in my living memory, have ever genuinely gained enough of a local fan base, to transform their live international appeal, into super stardom in the Jamaican marketplace.

Queen Ifrika created a unique chapter of our cultural history, becoming the first female Reggae performer on whom this honour was bestowed, by the overwhelming numbers who remained to watch, cheer and sing along , throughout her performance, in the early hours of Saturday morning, at Reggae Sumfest 2009. This is no mean feat, or meagre accomplishment, given our male dominated cultural backdrop, as well as her socially conscious lyrics; exposing societal neglect and social taboos. Initially when I learned of the scheduled time slotted for her stint on stage, I was concerned that many fans might leave before then, or be too tired to fully appreciate it. To my surprise, from early on, the talk in the park was that hers was the most anticipated act on the running order of the night’s line-up, eclipsing all her male counterparts.



After waiting all night, even when the band change in preparation for her set, seemed to be dragging on too long, hardly anyone was prepared to leave, thereby missing what most had predicted by then, would be her turn to be crowned, if she delivered. She did not disappoint us. Storming the stage with an excess amount of high energy, she achieved an instant rapport with her audience, using her superior communication skills and natural charm. Her audience came alive, in response and by the time she began singing her latest hit song, the potent ‘Montego Bay’ they were in rapture; yet she just kept fanning the flames like only a true ‘fyah muma’ could. She even took time out, between some of her songs, to council, cajole and lecture with the sweetest smile you have encountered



It was an awesome experience and it could not have happened for a better candidate than this young, proud, intelligent, eloquent, charismatic Rasta empress, who busted into our musical consciousness about three years ago and has not ceased to reach deep inside herself to tell us not what we want to hear, but how we can go forward in life with more clarity. Since then, she and her career, have been on an upward spiral, growing from strength to strength, gaining international attention, with a string of hits, highly rated performances and subsequent rave reviews wherever she performs. Whether as a song writer, singer, a dj, or performer, Queen Ifrica has honed and mastered her craft, converting her obvious potential into a continued display of versatility and creativity. Even before Sumfest, already this year, she has been dynamically active internationally, and also recently launched her new album Montego Bay which every Reggae lover should acquire for their personal collection.



Email: che.campbell@gmail.com

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