Space traveller has emotional visit to reggae land

When music marketer Sean 'Contractor' Edwards heard that history-making space traveller Keisha Schahaff would be staying at Couples Resort during her trip to Jamaica, and that she "loves reggae and dancehall music and wants to meet artistes as well", he swung into action.

Edwards, who works on projects involving the philanthropic arm of the Couples hotel chain, was granted special access to the famous Caribbean citizen who calls Antigua and Barbuda home. Schahaff, 46, and her daughter Anastatia Mayers, 18, recently created history as the first mother-daughter duo, the first Caribbean women, and the sixth and seventh black women to enter space. They travelled as civilian passengers aboard the Virgin Galactic 02 Spacecraft, following Schahaff winning two tickets in a lottery. Galactic 02 took off from Spaceport America in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico on August 10. Reports are that Schahaff's mother watched the take-off from her home in Antigua and Barbuda with Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard Branson, at her side.

Schahaff told THE STAR that visiting Jamaica was fascinating, especially because it was her dream to connect with reggae icon Bob Marley, whose music her late father introduced her to when she was a little girl. While in Kingston, she visited Trench Town and the Bob Marley Museum.

"Just learning about Bob Marley when I was a little girl and what he represented ... his mission, his mindset, there's so much of what I share. I feel [that] unity...love... is what we should be focusing on, on our planet. And just being there ... just being in that space, knowing that Bob Marley once walked in this place, sat in this building and once existed right there was truly emotional for me," Schahaff said.

Not missing the opportunity to hitch his wagon to a star, Edwards presented her with two reggae albums - Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica: The Reggae Collector's Edition and another from Gramps Morgan of Morgan Heritage. He even tried to organise for Schahaff to meet Capleton but time did not permit. However, she met reggae star Tony Rebel and veteran musician Earl 'Chinna' Smith.

"She was very grateful for the CDs. Keisha was familiar with who Gramps was and who Morgan Heritage was. The other album ... she was glad because it is the compilation with Capleton and Sizzla and other reggae artistes and she was very happy. That one is headlined by Shatta Wale... Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica Reggae Collector's Edition. I specifically gave her that because of the whole Africa connection and when I posted the picture to social media, they went crazy for it over in Ghana," Edwards shared.

In Jamaica, Schahaff was a guest of Ardenne High School in St Andrew where she delivered the school's annual Distinguished Lecture Series, urging sixth formers to go after their dreams.

"But Keisha is an adventurer at heart and she found time to explore every nook and cranny of Jamaica that time allowed," shared Dave Rodney, who organised the visit.

"The Jamaican hospitality was second to none, and I would like to thank Ardenne High School, Principal Nadine Molloy; Flo Darby, chair of the Ardenne Alumni Foundation; and its sponsoring partners for a most beautiful and unforgettable experience on island," Schahaff said prior to leaving the island..