Toronto: Queen Ifrica performance cancelled after complaints from Gay Community

[Tropicana]

Jamaican reggae artist Queen Ifrica’s headlining performance at Rastafest was cancelled Friday, just one day before she was scheduled to perform—but the festival organizer is refusing to say if the decision made because of a controversy over the artist’s anti-gay comments.The Jamaica Association of Gays and Lesbians Abroad has been campaigning to get the festival’s sponsors to pull their support of the Rastafarian culture showcase because of Queen Ifrica’s anti-gay statements and lyrics.
At Jamaica’s Grand Gala Independence celebration on Aug. 6, she performed a song with anti-gay lyrics and asked Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller not to repeal the country’s controversial law against buggery, Jamaican newspapers reported.

Queen Ifrica’s record label was unable to provide a comment on the issue to Metro, but she later defended her statements as free speech, the Jamaica Star reported.
“I never caused the beheading of anyone. If I did then there would be a problem. Until a member of the gay community can give birth from their union they should not be abrasive to heterosexuals, because they came from that union,” she told the Jamaica Star.
The controversy spread to Canada because of her scheduled performance at Rastafest on Aug. 24 at Downsview Park.
Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, which had given the festival $4,200 in funding, issued a statement on behalf of Minister Shelly Glover on Thursday.
“We are disappointed to hear that an artist using homophobic language is 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,” it said.
On Friday morning, Rastafest co-ordinator Masani Montague issued a press release stating, “Due to circumstances beyond our control Queen Ifrica will not be performing at Rastafest.”
Reached by phone, Montague would not say why the performance was cancelled and abruptly ended the interview.
Kerron Orlando, spokesperson for Jamaica Association of Gays and Lesbians Abroad, said the group welcomes the decision.
“It sends a message to those who seek to use to those sort lyrics, that it is not welcome, that these lyrics fuel the hatred and abuse of LGBT persons in Jamaica,” Orlando said.

http://metronews.ca/news/toronto/775149/headlining-artists-rastafest-performance-cancelled-after-homophobia-complaints/

[Tropicana]

So I guess artists no longer have the right to free speech.

[blugiant]

de ting iss tropi dat de xxposure dem gave ar will make ar more marketable an in demand

look pon youtube ann see oww manee view buju boom bye bye

iff da artist is smart ann talented like ifrikka dem can used da bad publicitee fe push dem careers

da freedom aff speech chune is a great start

[missus_vegas]

she come out wid a new song for dis...

[Tropicana]

Queen Ifrica’s work permit not withdrawn —mgmt team says

The management team of popular singer Queen Ifrica Friday evening refuted stories carried in the press that Canadian authorities have withdrawn the artistes’ work permit.In a release Queen Ifrica’s team said that the artiste was “appalled and disappointed with the way in which the propaganda machinery is leading the public to believe that she is against any person or group of persons and refutes the claim that her work permit has been withdrawn by the Canadian Government”.

The release did not say if the singer would still be performing at the Rastafest show for which she was billed on Saturday, August 24 in Toronto.
However, after protests by pro-gay activists in Canada that the dancehall performer was “notorious” for her homophobic lyrics the coordinator of “Rastafest”,Masani Montague was reported as saying that the singer would not be performing “due to circumstances beyond our control”.
Meanwhile, Friday’s release said that Queen Ifrica “expresses that while she remains grounded in her morals which espouses heterosexuality, she wants to make it abundantly and emphatically clear, that she does not condone nor has ever supported or advocated violence against any group or community, whether implicitly or explicitly. This she asserts goes against the very grain of her Rastafarian conviction”.
“The LGBT must decide whether the rights that they claim for themselves are not rights for everyone i.e. freedom of speech, freedom of choice and the right to live in peace,” the release added.
Queen Ifrica was forced to defend her position after perceived anti-gay remarks made at the ‘Grand Gala’ celebrating Jamaica’s 51st independence on August 6.

I am really surprised that Charmaine (Massani) would bow to pressure.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/enter...#ixzz2cxUGLVfU

[Tropicana]

Sizzla Defends Queen Ifrica

Says he may also record song

WESTERN BUREAU:Recording artiste Sizzla Kalonji has come out in strong defence of fellow female singer, Queen Ifrica, who is under pressure from gay rights groups in Jamaica and Canada.The Canada-based gay rights advocacy group, Jamaica Association of Gays and Lesbians Abroad, lobbied the Canadian government and the promoters of the Rastafest International Reggae Concert which was held at Downsview Park in Canada last week, which led to Queen Ifrica being axed from the line-up of performers at the event.
Her removal had come on the heels of her performance at the national Grand Gala on Independence Day, during which she had denounced the homosexual lifestyle.
STOP TARGETING REGGAE
But in an interview with The Gleaner following his performance during the Makalon Anniversary shown in Lucea, Hanover on Saturday night, Sizzla Kalonji, said the gay community should refrain from targeting Queen Ifrica.
"Right now dem fi just go one side and leave di girl alone," Sizzla Kalonji said. "The women (of Jamaica) must speak out against it. They should get their kids and go in the streets and protest against it, because we doing Jah works, and buggerism, we nah strengthen it."
FREEDOM OF SPEECH
"There is a time and a place for everything. You know you have to deal with people respectfully and you know code of conduct and choice of words. But then again we say bun fire straight fi dat lifestyle," Sizzla added.
Sizzla also hinted that he could record a song in support of Queen Ifrica.
"Anything I mind tell I fi do I jus do it in the name of the Most High. It is a girl, and you don't know what might happen, just listen out," he said.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130828/ent/ent3.html

[jah_yout]

So I guess artists no longer have the right to free speech.

just as long as the speech is not against gays & the artist is not jamaican