Tony Rebel Says Former Partner Queen Ifrica Deserves To Be On Rebel Salute
Tony Rebel has announced that his former partner Queen Ifrica will be on the lineup of Jamaica’s second-largest Reggae festival, Rebel Salute, come January, as she has been doing for more than two decades.
The Fyah Mumma, as in past years, will take the stage on Night Two of the event, which will be held from Friday, January 19 to Saturday, January 20, 2024, at the Grizzly’s Plantation Cove in Priory, St Ann.
“Queen is a wonderful artiste. Her artistry is good and she deserves to be on Rebel Salute,” Rebel told The Star recently.
According to The Star, the If Jah artist also confirmed that he and Ifrica, who is the mother of two of his children, were no longer a couple. He explained that, unlike in past years, she will be performing under a contractual arrangement for the 2024 staging.
“Yes … Queen is getting paid… and I also have to sign a contract with her. Now that we are not together any more, we do it as a professional business. It wasn’t like that before. She is an artiste and deserves to be treated with respect,” the Manchester native said.
Earlier this year, Ifrica revealed that the couple had split after 23 years together.
Some social media users said it was a given that the outspoken Fyah Mumma would be on the show one way or the other, as not only was she a crowd-puller, but she had become a staple act, whose performance was not only expected at Rebel Salute, but was always highly anticipated.
“Cool nuh, Rebel Salute not rebel if the Fire mumma nuh deh pon it,” one man said, while a woman noted: “Happy to know the Queen is on she is my Artist….the journey of this show was with her.”
“The queen a star long time. She a one of the foundation artiste on Rebel Salute. So why would Rebel left her off the show? It would only be fair for both parties to put their personal feelings aside and get on with business,” another commenter added, while one man noted:
“Yes, Higher Vibrations… Queen is a good performer… ppl gravitate to her… irie move, beyond business…Always Rastafari…blessed Love.”
Some posited that the two Reggae artists had perhaps ‘kissed and made up’, referring to Queen Ifrica’s Below the Waist to make their point.
“We quarrel n we fite, But we ago mek it up tonight,” one man quipped, while another woman joked: “One look below the waist and humble like child. Did you take a look Frica. Do u ting muma”.
Others decided to make jokes.
“A hope she no go cuss out Tony Rebel when she go pon stage, lol,” one woman wrote while others said Tony Rebel was being magnanimous.
“The fire no have nothing against her the man just a tell leave the internet thing an she ear Natty let her go,” one man pointed out.
“That’s how grown mature ppl must live. Break up doesn’t mean enemy or y’all can’t work together in whatever y’all was involved in,” mused one female commenter.
Last week Thursday, during the launch of the event at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Tony Rebel had announced that, unlike the 2023 staging, when approximately 60 artists graced the Rebel Salute stage, at the upcoming 2024 event, there will be 30 big names in Reggae, who will perform for longer periods. He had, nevertheless, noted that patrons should “expect nuff special guest.”
This arrangement, the Fresh Vegetable singer said, was what ‘Saluters’ have been clamoring for some time and was also in keeping with Rebel Salute’s celebration of 30 years of existence.
Rebel Salute 2024 will be headlined on Friday night by Tony Rebel himself, Marcia Griffiths, Anthony B, Third World, Sanchez, Mikey Spice, Benji Myaz, Glenn Washington, Richie Stephens, Leroy Gibbons, Lone Ranger, CC Foster and Tappa Zukie.
The following night, Queen Ifrica will be joined by Dancehall superstar Sean Paul, who will make his debut appearance at the event, alongside Reggae giants Capleton, Luciano, Etana, Louie Culture, Mortimer, Josie Wales, Yellowman, Horace Andy, Peter Metro, Linval Thompson, Fantan Mojah and Turbulence. There will also be performances by The Rebel clan which is a combination of Tony Rebel and Queen Ifrica’s children.