Empress Akua (left) and Marcia Griffiths.
As an aspiring reggae singer in California, Empress Akua listened to the rootsy message of artists like Judy Mowatt, best known for being a member of The I Three, Bob Marley’s harmony singers.
On her latest trip to Jamaica, the African-American artist paid tribute to Mowatt, by performing her anthem ‘Black Woman’ at two shows in Kingston. A video of Empress Akua’s rendition reached the veteran singer who was pleased with what she saw.
“She actually sent me a beautiful message, said she loved the way I sang it, I sang it like I was there when she recorded it. It is a really beautiful compliment,” said Empress Akua.
Unlike her previous visit to Jamaica, Empress Akua did not record any songs. She said the trip was by “divine order”, adding that, “It’s different, I’m really loving it.”
Born Sheila Washington, Empress Akua is from the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, site of one of the worst race riots during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. She discovered reggae and Jamaican culture when a group of Rastafarians visited her community.
In time, she befriended elders like Ras Michael, who lived in Southern California for many years. As a performer, she has worked with Black Uhuru, Horace Andy, Ini Kamoze and Ky-Mani Marley.
When she last visited Jamaica in 2019, Empress Akua recorded songs with veteran guitarists Earl “Chinna” Smith and Dalton Browne, and singer-songwriter Sangie Davis.
Her first songs, ‘It’s Cold Out There’ and ‘Gwaan (Dutty Babylon’) were released in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Both are produced by Lloyd Shaw for Issachar Muzik.
WRITTEN BY HOWARD CAMPBELL