Ifertari defends her ‘Black Skin’
Since she returned to Jamaica two years ago to pursue her music, roots-reggae singer Ifertari has become more grounded in her culture and greatly improved the quality and focus of her music.
“Over the last two years, I have worked at legendary studios and worked with great musicians. My music is more professional and is now ready for the world. Mi grounded inna the ting,” the smiling Rastafarian singer said.
The word Ifertari is of Ethiopian origin and means ‘one creator’, she said.
The name fits in with her loveconquers-all philosophy. This bubbly, talented and sexy empress is fast carving out a reputation for great reggae music. Her raspy voice mellows the heart of her listeners. She is among the emerging stars of the new age of roots reggae.
Ifertari grew up in the Waltham Park Road area of Kingston before migrating to the USA at age 12.
However, her humble ‘tenement yard’ beginnings kept her grounded, teaching her lifelong values of a strong work ethic, self-motivation and determination.
While in the US, Ifertari created her own niche in entertainment media, producing and hosting a show, Heart Best Illest, on publicaccess television in Hartford, Connecticut.
“The show was a live-talent show, featuring artistes of all genres from around the world – poets, models and dancers – and it was successful in the community as a vehicle for young talent,” she said.
She also hosted a self-titled show, Ifertari’s Top 10 Reggae Videos, and hosted a documentary-style programme, King TV. However, she put her media career on hold to pursue music, her true love.
“I have a lot of things to say. If I sing a song, and no one can be uplifted at the end of the day, then I don’t want to do this,” she said.
She has recorded a number of songs such as Black Skin, No Love, Wukless Puppa, Keep Shining, and Landlord.
“Black Skin is inspirational. I see what is going on, and I see the colour preferences in Jamaica. I remember one time walking with my brown-skinned friend and men callng to her instead of me, but in more dangerous ways, this colourpreference culture has created a lot of damaged people,” Ifertari said.
Black Skin is available for sale on Amazon, Rhapsody, Google Play, and other download sites.
Since this year, she has performed at events such as Jah Bouks Birthday Party, in June and reggae events at the Edna Manley School of the Visual and Performing Arts in July. She has also done three stints at Jungle Fire in Portmore since August.
“I didn’t become a Rasta, I was born a Rasta. Once yuh a Jah pickney, yuh a Jah pickney,” she said.
Follow Ifertari on Twitter@IFERTARI and Instagram@IFERTARI.