Love & stage - Dancehall Divas open up about relationships

For some female dancehall artistes, navigating the realms of love and partnership, amid their fiery and raunchy performances, can be both exhilarating and challenging. From the provocative lyrics that ignite stages to the fierce independence that defines their artistry, these women often seek to strike a balance between maintaining healthy relationships and embracing their sassy, raunchy personas.

Dancehall artiste Posh Morris, renowned as the leading lady of the Aidonia-led 4thGenna camp, emphasises the importance of sensible partners in maintaining a healthy relationship. She highlights the necessity for partners who can distinguish between a female artiste's personal character and their public persona.

"I am raunchy at times, but in the relationship that I'm in, I am a grounded woman, and my partner knows who I am, and I know who he is. Mi nuh date unintelligent man, so no care how much lewdness dem hear me a sing, mi no date dunce man. Dunce thugs a nuh my thing because men who I date have to understand who I am, and have to understand that my character is more than what you see on the stage," Posh Morris said.

The Flava singjay says it is important for females in general to choose partners who understand and appreciate the nature of their jobs.

"I think women should find relationships with understanding people. Nuff times we just go inna bedroom, but no, you haffi get to know [your partner] because this career is a spicy one, and nuff times men can't control their emotions," Posh Morris said.

She added: "I've seen female artistes can't come out [of their houses]. Me and har fi touch road and when mi a call har phone mi can't get through to her, I have never been suppressed like that. The women need to stop date dunce thugs and find understanding men," she advised.

Similarly, dancehall artiste Pamputtae shared sentiments to Posh Morris. She said, too, that both partners have to work together for the relationships to survive.

"Sometimes our partners go up inna dem feelings but at the end of the day dem haffi understand that this is our work. This is what I do for a living. For me, mi always pray and say mi want a man weh understand mi work, and who love me for me. You haffi firm cause sometimes you gone and your partner feel like you a do something because man a guh see you and like you," Pamputtae said.

The Ride It deejay said that she has never been one to be promiscuous, and revealed that she sometimes travel with toys whenever she her job takes her from her partner for a while.

"Mi always have mi vibrator with me, mi nuh left it - all two and three of dem - because me is not the woman to go out there and sleep around," she said.

Pamputtae said that there are females in the entertainment business who submit themselves to rules that have been imposed on them by their male partners. She explained that she met her partner after she had already established herself as a dancehall artiste, but this has not prevent him from getting jealous at times.

"Him go all show wid me and see me a wine pon man and dem thing deh, anno something weh him like, but a me work," she said.