Women in Reggae!

It's not new that women fight for their space in society, and regardless of the field in which they work, they achieve a very special prominence, and of course in music it would be no different. From the era of Mento, Ska, Rocksteady to the Reggae we know today, the scene has always been practically entirely filled with men. Despite this male predominance, the history of Jamaican music shows that most women who invested in a career achieved repercussion, such as old and new names such as Hortense Ellis, Judy Mowatt, Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley, J.C. Lodge, Aisha, Della Grant, Donna Marie, Sister Carol, Phyllis Dillon, Zema, Dezarie, Althea & Donna, Dawn Penn, Janet Kay, Louisa Marks, The Gaylettes, Charmaine Bowman, Lady Saw, Queen Ifrica, among many others.

FEMALE EXPLOSION

Although some pioneers like Hortense Ellis recorded entire albums (which are considered historic) long before women “burst out” to the world, the female voice in reggae began to actually spread through the delicacy of backing vocals. This happened mainly through the I-Threes, a vocal trio formed by Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt, who accompanied none other than the icon Bob Marley. Quickly, what was restricted to the "backing" of Bob Marley & The Wailers' compositions became the main voice of very consistent careers, encouraging other women to believe that it was possible. This stimulus ended up causing what we call the “female explosion” in the late 1970s.

JUDY MOWATT: STRENGTH THAT OPENED DOORS

As proof of this success, we can mention the classic LP “Black Woman” by Judy Mowatt, which was the first album sung and entirely produced by a woman, in addition to her album “Working Wonders” which was the first reggae album made by a woman to be nominated for a Grammy (1985), which ended up in the hands of Jimmy Cliff with the album “Cliff Hanger”. Judy also achieved the milestone of being the first female Reggae vocalist to achieve a hit on the American charts with “Love is Overdue”. Time has established the female voice in reggae, which today is above good and evil, but still has few representatives. The formula used by the “messiah” of things, Bob Marley, continues to predominate: male vocals, an imposing footprint of roots reggae and, to contrast, the sweetness and delicacy of female backing vocals, generally repeating excerpts from the main vocal. This format is now common and followed by big names from Africa with Alpha Blondy and Lucky Dube, the United States with Groundation, Japan through bands like the Moodmakers, and even in Jamaica with dozens of artists from the old school like U-Roy and John Holt to more recent ones like the great Luciano.

WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD

The quality of the work of these divas has a lack of publicity in Brazil, which can be proven by the absence of shows by these women who tour all over the world, but do not visit Brazilian lands. The first step was taken with the arrival of Dezarie, from the Virgin Islands, a few years ago. The unmistakable treble and delicacy of his voice in the middle of a heavy instrumental was such a resounding success that it even won over audiences of other musical styles. This is always valid, as these people who previously did not know the essence of reggae, became more interested and consequently had access to the culture behind this entire movement. In this wave, another great highlight that arrived in the country was the singer Reemah, also from the Virgin Islands. And in this "sensitive" invasion, Brazil is not left out, having as its main representatives the beautiful and talented Anamaria Ribeiro and Vilma Helena Ribeiro do Namastê, Aline Duran, Soraia Drummond (who has already recorded in Jamaica with big names), Dacal, whose album was considered a pioneer in Dub Poetry in Brazil, Molly Rose, Lei di Dai, Marina Peralta, DaviDariloco (a band of onlygirls), among others no less important. So pay attention, sexist world: let the silly prejudices against the "not-fragile-sex" fall to the ground and surrender to the sensitivity and capacity of women at work, in sports, in reggae and in LIFE. Paying a simple tribute, read below an excerpt from the song “Reggae e Flores” by the band Unidas Punho Forte (RJ). “Reggae e Flores” - (Unidade Punho Forte) “Admiration and other feelings lead me to say / The reason why this reggae song was made just for you / Being the one who generates the man and breastfeeds him, you have the power that God gave you / Congratulations to the blessed being a woman, reggae and flowers for you women”.

WOMEN SPECIAL

Click below and check out a selection of Surforeggae RootV videos featuring some of the most respected women on the global reggae scene.