Queen Ifrica removed from Canadian concert
QUEEN Ifrica’s management has denied that the entertainer’s Canadian work permit has been withdrawn.
However, a statement from the management team made no mention of a Toronto concert where she was scheduled to perform.
The Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) reported on Friday that the Jamaican entertainer had been pulled from the Rastafest concert following complaints from the Canada-based Jamaica Association of Gays and Lesbians Abroad (JAGLA), which alleged that the dancehall performer was “notorious” for her homophobic lyrics.
Coordinator of the Rastafest concert, Masani Montague, confirmed that the singer would not be performing, which he said was “due to circumstances beyond our control”.
JAGLA spokesman, Kerron Orlando, said that the “decision has sent a clear message that persons who make comments that jeopardise the well-being of members of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) community in Jamaica will not be welcomed in Canada”.
He said he hoped that other homophobic persons will remember that performers will be condemned and called on the Jamaican Government to immediately put in place measures to protect members of the LGBT community.
On Thursday, the Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, which had given the festival Can$4,200, said it was “disappointed to hear that an artiste using homophobic language was being featured at this event.
“While it is Rastafest, not the federal government who is responsible for programming decisions, we will ensure that future funding requests from them are very carefully reviewed,” the group said.
Rastafest is sponsored in part by the Toronto Public Library and Service Canada.
Earlier this month, the Jamaican Government expressed “regret” at the statements made by Queen Ifrica during the Grand Gala, the main event to mark the nation’s 51st Independence.
In a statement, the Ministry of Youth and Culture said the event was used by the singer “as a platform to express her personal opinions and views on matters that may be considered controversial, rather than to perform in the agreed scripted and rehearsed manner consistent with the thematic production.
“Furthermore, the comments by the artiste were inappropriate in the setting of a national, State-funded event with more than 20,000 persons, including children, who were in the National Stadium and thousands more watching on television and online”.
During her performance, statements glorifying male straightness, heterosexual marriage and the legalisation of marijuana were among those made on stage.
Yesterday, Queen Ifrica expressed shock and disappointment at what she called the “ensuing brouhaha” arising from certain aspects of her performance at the Grand Gala celebrations on August 6, 2013.
— CMC and Observer reports
