REGGAE singer Black Queen delivered a powerful performance at the ‘Marcus Garvey Celebration’ held in Ocho Rios, St Ann recently.

Her set included her most popular song, Black N Proud and Conqueror.

Held annually, the concert is a free and aims to educate, uplift, and inspire through the arts.

“This is the first time that I have done this show and it was important for me because of the significance of Marcus Garvey, especially at this time with the sense of hopelessness and the high level of crime. People are suffering, and I really think in this time we need to cleave to the teachings and philosophy of Marcus Garvey,” said Black Queen.

The Marcus Garvey Celebration also featured performances from acts including Warrior King, Bushman, Chezidek, Hezron, Yaksta, Anthony Cruz, Nesbeth, Little Hero, Prophecy, Bongo Herman, Shav A, Mojo Herb, DYCR, Sativa the Black One, and Wise Words. There were also performances from Ras Ivie and the Nyabinghi Drummers, and the Moore Town Maroon Cultural Group.

Garvey was born in St Ann. As an activist he organised the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) which grew into an international organisation and advanced a pan-African philosophy that inspired a movement known as Garveyism.

He died in London in 1940 at age 52, and his body was exhumed and returned to Jamaica in November 1964. Five years later he was named Jamaica’s first national hero.