One would need binoculars, as if on safari in the Masai Mara National Reserve, to watch this lioness rise from the beginning. The daughter of foundation ska singer, Derrick Morgan, was raised in a Rastafarian community in Montego Bay by her mother and step father. Since that time, Queen Ifrica has emerged as a complex, humble and fascinating woman.

In her early twenties, Queen Ifrica started to generate attention. In 1995, she won a talent contest at Club Inferno in Montego Bay. Three years later she was introduced to Patrick “Tony” Rebel and everything changed. Tony recalls his first meeting with this engaging singer during an interview at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in 2007. Tony talks about resting in solitude at a Garnett Silk tribute show in December, 1998. He was meditating and feeling the loss of his close bredren, Garnett Silk. In the distance, he heard Queen Ifrica covering two of Garnett’s songs and was instantly moved. A short time later, someone knocked on the van door asking to introduce him to someone. He responds the only person he wants to meet is the woman who was just on the stage. Remarkably, it was Queen Ifrica waiting for an introduction. It was then Tony took her under his wing.

Although her first appearance at Rebel Salute was 1999, I first caught sight of Queen Ifrica in 2002. Still refining her stage presence, delivery and vocals she seemed a bit intimidated. The following twelve months, I saw Queen Ifrica perform three more times. I commented how her stage presence had improved and that she had really come into herself. She looked at me and humbly said, “Thank you, it’s nice to know my hard work is being noticed.” She credits Tony Rebel with the honing of her stage presence and delivery.

One can get a greater understanding of Queen Ifrica by listening to her music. Her lyrics have a biting political and social commentary and anointing her the nickname “Fyah Muma”. In her first release for VP Records the title track, “Montego Bay,” she chides the government for the current state of the city and the impact on the people she loves. She worries over the gun fire, the safety of the children, and the condition of the streets,- the streets the tourists never see. Tourists stay ‘safe’ behind the walls of All-Inclusives in Montego Bay, never knowing the real city or the real Jamaica.

Queen Ifrica writes songs about gun violence. Riding the Lava Splash riddim the song “Randy,” from her first release,“Fyah Muma”(Flames Productions, 2007), became a major hit. Telling the story from the perspective of a gunman’s wife, she sings, “sleepin as ah wife of ah criminal, nuh really mek nuh sense a ‘tall, Cus im dun nevah did deh guard ‘im own head. Fire tun on and pon di concrete im drop dead.” “Boxers and Stockings” (Fyah Muma) curses the day they made the gun and asks the perpetrators, “Do you think about what you’ve done to the mother of the fatherless children, son?” Perhaps most moving is “Streets are Bloody” (Montego Bay) in an acoustic version, it is a livication to the twenty year old Flames engineer Eíjon Peart who was killed at a dance when a Jamaican solider opened fire on an unsuspecting crowd.

In 2005, Queen Ifrica was a peace ambassador and participated in “Unity Sundays” concert series in Kingston. This project had a positive impact on the community, reducing the level of gun violence in Kingston. Queen Ifrica continues to volunteer in the community counseling abuse victims and working with the disadvantaged, when her travel schedule allows. The community is fully supportive when she criticizes the government, but when she turned her sites on the touchy subject of child abuse and incest with the song “Daddy” there was backlash. When asking a Jamaican why she received such a strong response he said, “Even though everyone knew child molestation was going on, it was taboo to discuss it.”

There was no stopping this lioness, especially when it came to protecting the children. Soon she won over a majority of people. In addition, the song created an environment for open discussion, more people seeking counseling and as a result was rightfully recognized by UNICEF Jamaica. “Daddy” came full circle and Queen Ifrica was the featured performer at the Candle Light Vigil held by the Child Development Agency at Emancipation Park in 2007. One look on the internet and one will see that this subject and song has no borders, there is even a Spanish version on Montego Bay. The impact of this song is felt all over the world.

Her protection of children continues in 2009 with her song “Mek Mi Grow” addressing older men forcing sex on young girls. The song starts with two young girls conversation about seeing a man after school. Queen Ifrica then goes on to say, "Yuh caan tek my virginity, cause that a God precious gift to me. If it makes you feel good to sleep wid children in yuh rampin' shop well don't bother worry when di lighten clap. Leave the pickney dem alone. Go look yuh age nuh man. Yuh better think twice before yuh tek another one."

Although many think this song is in response to Vybz Kartel's song “Virginity,”she addresses the song in an interview with the Jamaican Star, "Him a talk bout two drop a blood pon her frock and madda ago beat her fi dat. Mi nuh hear no big woman weh a mek dem talk deh. Mi nuh too waan talk bout it (Kartel's song), fi promote it neither."

Obviously, Queen Ifrica doesn’t shy away from controversial subjects. In an interview with Afrobella (www.afrobella.com) concerning her thoughts about homosexuality, she said, “I don’t delve into it a lot, but I believe we have to fully understand what being gay is before we have a discussion. There needs to be hope, and an acceptance of every individual. I don’t think everybody who is gay truly wants to be gay. I say this because, especially since I wrote the song, Daddy, I have been in touch with many gay people who will tell you they were abused at some time in their life. Until we can sit down and see eye to eye, we should reserve judgment. I would love to sit down and have a televised, public, eye to eye discussion with the gay leaders here. However, in Jamaica, we are so hypocritical. It is not as homophobic as it seems. There are actually a lot of gay people who live and are happy and safe in Jamaica.

Her deep spirituality comes from the upbringing by her mother and step-father within the Rastafarian community near Montego Bay. The Montego Bay release opens with the song “T.T.P.N.C.,” which stands for Tribute to the Pitfour Nyabinghi Center. Some of the Elders from that community lend their voices and their drumming to this traditional Nyabinghi track. It is “Yad to the East” (Montego Bay) with a soldiering march and praises of HIM Haile Selassie I that compels the listener to chant out, “Jah! Rastafari!”

And is the practice for most within the Rastafari faith, Queen Ifrica is an herbalist. Rastas burn herb as part of their sacrament to Jah (God) and to open the lines of communication. “Coconut Shell” (Montego Bay), ridden on the classic Satta Massagana rhythm, gives those that do not partake an understanding of how the sacrament makes one feel, its various preparations and the struggle to keep it growing freely in nature.

“Burn Some Herbs” (Fyah Muma) is a two for one as she turns the burning of herb into a sensual experience. It is a fine smoky soup, mixing the emotion of love with the increasing intensity of sensuality when two lovers share in the blessing of the sacrament. Sometimes she is straight to the point, as she does with another one of her big tunes “Below The Waist” (Fyah Muma). She says, “Even tho me vex, my blood a boil, one look below the waist and me humble like a child. Can’t help it, couldn’t deny the feeling, plus he thrill me with the most sweet talking.”

The fun and joyful side of Queen Ifrica is in full force in her combination tune with Shaggy on “Vibes” (Montego Bay). Please let me know if you do NOT feel the need to get up and dance when you listen to this song because I will personally call a doctor for you. I think you may have lost all feeling in your extremities. Shaggy notes there’s much wiggling and giggling going on, to the point of distraction for the selector. This is one of those songs to embrace when you’re feeling a little down and need a turn around.

A woman who stands with conviction, speaks for those without a voice, gives strength and joy to the weary, and achieves success as a rare female voice within the Rastafarian and reggae community, Queen Ifrica stands apart from those that preceded her and blazes a trail for those that will

Lioness on the rise? No. Lioness risen.

"MONTEGO BAY"

QUEEN IFRICA'S DYNAMIC DEBUT
FOR VP RECORDS
Release date: June 16, 2009

- click here for bio / release info provided by Flames Productions