Maroon Queen pleased with growth of ‘Africa Mi Deya’

Reggae singer Maroon Queen is celebrating the successful third staging of her event 'Africa Mi Deya'.

Held in Ocho Rios, St Ann, on February 16, the event is a celebration of black consciousness, highlighting fashion and culture in the Caribbean. This year's staging was themed as a special tribute to Marcus Garvey, fittingly so after he was pardoned by former US President Joe Biden, more than 100 years after his conviction of one count of mail fraud.

Hosted by Maroon Queen, whose given name is Semonie Giles, was graced with special guest performances by dancehall artistes such as D'Angel, Italee, and Singer Jmore. There was also the sashing of the North East contestant in the Ms Jamaica Universe contest.

"We extend our deepest gratitude to the models, designers, patrons, and artistes who made this night unforgettable. A special shoutout to Miss Universe Jamaica, Rachel Silvera, Miss Supranational Jamaica, Sara Dee Palmer, and the ever-dazzling D'Angel for gracing us with their presence and adding an extra touch of star power to the event," Giles expressed.

Formerly known as Black Queen, Maroon Queen's more popular tracks include Thankful, Nobody Knows My Pain and Black and Proud, which is the title track of her seven-track debut EP which was released in 2020. Later this year, the singer plans to do a school tour to underpin the ideals of her 'Africa Mi Deya' movement.

"We want to talk to students about their own journeys and help them to deal with peer pressure, and colourism, especially," she highlighted. The singer has already started teasing next year's event, which is expected to exceed expectations.

"Each year, this event continues to grow in scale and excellence. We are already setting our sights on the next edition, which promises to be even bigger and better. Fashion lovers and entertainment enthusiasts should mark their calendars for late February to early March next year," the singer said.