The celebration of It should be noted that February was officially declared Reggae Month in 2025 He had one of his summit moments last Friday 28 February, When the Reggae Gold Awards, Acknowledgments destined to honor those who have left indelible mark on the history of Jamaican music.
And if there is someone who embodies that story that is Marcia Griffiths, The undisputed “Queen of Reggae” who received the Lifetime Achievement Award For their six decades of career dedicated to music and culture.
The event, made in him National Indoor Sports Centre, It was a parade of emotions, With smiles, tears and gratitude, that were mixed while each tribute took the stage.
In fact, When Marcia received his award from Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the Minister of Culture Olivia Grange, The whole room stood. Not just for the prize, but because Marcia's voice is the living memory of generations. And that same night, With the power of his music, The Queen turned the tribute into an unforgettable celebration.
Accompanied by his band and the Reggae Symphony Orchestra, unleashed a torrent of classics: “Feel Like Jumping”; “Young, Gifted and Black”; “Peaceful Woman”; “Stepping Out of Babylon”; “Fire Burning” Y “I Shall Sing”.
With each topic, The public danced, He chore and revived the living history of reggae. He even invited the stage to Romain Virgo For an emotional duet with “Love On”, and closed the segment with a tribute to Bob Marley, interpreting hymns like “Buffalo Soldier” Y “Redemption Song”.
Other awarded
But Marcia was not the only one to receive honors that night. Next to her, Other Jamaican music giants were recognized, including a Ken Boothe, who moved the public to tears when singing despite being blind for the Parkinson's suffering.
He caught the attention that despite everything he interpreted some of his great successes, among them “Starlight” Y “Everything I Own”, receiving an ovation standing for his solid voice that contradicted his weakened appearance.
Tribute to the eternal legacy of Garnett Silk And the newly deceased Determine, whose prize was received by his daughter, Akilah bennett.
The list of winners completed it Maxi Priest, Roy Rayon, Richie Spice, Linval Thompson, Errol Dunkley, Buju Banton, Beverley Kelso, Junior Byles and the choreographer Orville Hall, who dedicated his prize to his late father, Dancehall pioneer.
The evening included powerful musical presentations, From a vibrant opening of Dance Theater Xaymaca Y Wolmer’s Dance Troupe, Until the lovely voice of Jamila Falak and the energy of Tammi T, who turned on the track with a medium -fed up of history, going by “Bam Bam” of Sister Nancy, “Murder She Wrote” of A year Demus & BendS and “Here I Come” of Barrington Levy.
In a special presentation, “Gramps” Morgan He had the task of paying tribute to Griffiths by interpreting his popular single “People Like You”, Morgan took the public to a new standing ovation, in which attendees recognized the outstanding music of Griffiths over the years.
And obviously the end of the night was starring Marcia Griffiths, who with his eternal smile, His class and his voice intact, remembered the world why it is and will continue to be the “Queen of Reggae”. And as a gold brooch, closed with the danceable anthem par excellence: “Electric Boogie”, Putting to dance to the most shy.
“I have the privilege of being in the presence of royalty. I think it was Stevie Wonder who said you represented the soul of reggae music. And I think Mick Jagger also said that you have one of the best music voices, And that is why it is a great honor for me to have given this award to the trajectory. All here and all Jamaica agree: You are a national icon, A legend. God bless you”, He said Holness When delivering the award to Marcia Griffiths.
