Reggae singer-activist Queen Ifrica has commemorated Nina Simone’s iconic “Four Women” on the 52nd anniversary of the “Live at Berkley” album recording.
Courtesy of the Marley’s Ghetto Youths International label, “Ifrica reminds us that women’s struggle for survival and equality is nothing new,” according to Jamaican publicist Ronnie Tomlinson, of the Brooklyn-based Destine Media.
Tomlinson told Caribbean Life on Tuesday that the original song was released in 1966 on Simone’s ‘Wild Is the Wind’ album, stating that it “spoke to a similar struggle that the women of our society still face today.
“Ifrica has always been known for advocating to end violence against women in her own songs like ‘Daddy’, ‘Don’t Touch Me There,’” Tomlinson said.
“She has also long been a voice of representation for Black women in the entertainment space, as per her 2009 hit ‘Lioness on The Rise’, or more recently her 2017 hit ‘Black Woman,’” she added. “This new single is merely another chapter in the book of her legacy.”
Tomlinson said Queen Ifrica has “long been a fan of Nina Simone and her iconic Jazz catalogue.
“So, the decision to use her song to speak on this issue is a natural progression,” she said.
Ifrica’s reggae cover of “Four Women” was released on Monday, April 26th, the anniversary of the 1969 recording of Simone’s “Live from Berkley”’ album.
“This soulful reggae takes on the beloved hit song, gives audiences a new way to enjoy or rock and groove to an old favorite,” Tomlinson said. “This cover is also made more ideal because of the similarities between both artists, who have always stood for something with their musical talents.”
With the plight of the woman and contemporary feminist movements at the forefront of public consciousness, Tomlinson said this cover is “likely to become a renewed anthem.”
Specially produced with an expert ear, by Stephen Marley, son of the legendary Bob Marly, “Four Women” is “the sound of women banding together and giving a voice to their struggle,” according to Tomlinson.
“It is the sound of Reggae’s queen speaking out against the abuse of minority women in a global world and telling the story of the existential terror they all share as the more vulnerable sex,” she said.
“’Four Women’ by Queen Ifrica is the song that represents the theme of our last decade: the rise of women,” Tomlinson added.
