On Sunday, March 24 in Kingston, Jamaica, the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at Jamaica College will be ignited when another group of celebrated women in the entertainment industry will be called up to receive the prestigious Queens of Reggae Island Honorary Ceremonies (QORIHC) Award. The Award this year is under the distinguished Patronage of Dr. Myrna Hague Bradshaw BA (Hons), O.D. The award-winning Jamaican Diva of Jazz and lovers rock., is well known in Jamaica and the U.K as a singer, actress and journalist.
QORIHC was conceptualized by Laurell Nurse, a Jamaican/American artiste and nurse who embarked on this mission in 2016, partly as an outcome of her own tumultuous journeys through life and through the entertainment sphere as artiste, producer and promoter.
The QORIHC Award has steadily gained in prestige and acceptance since the inaugural ceremony in 2016 and has recognized a diverse array of women in the industry, encompassing artistes, music and television/video producers, promoters, media presenters and well-known as well as up-and-coming entertainment personalities.
Keynote speaker on Awards Night will be Joan McDonald, former Miss Jamaica World.
Founder Laurell Nurse speaking at the launch of the QORIHC Awards at Kingston Night Market Hillcrest Avenue venue, also celebrating the blast off of Reggae Month on Tuesday (January 30), says the event seeks to highlight women from the broad spectrum of the entertainment industry (not just vocalists) and to honour their sterling work and their positive influence and impact, which often go unheralded.
“The entertainment industry, indeed any industry, has a lot of components that work together to make it function well, just like the human body, ” Nurse said in explaining the focus of the awards, “As both an artiste and a nurse, I understand this multi-element role, and I consider it my mission to shine a light on all the elements in the industry, including those that are often unseen by the general public.”
The 2024 QORIHC Queens
The 2024 QORIHC slate provisionally includes: stage and screen actress Audrey Reid; television producer Sharon Schroeter; public relations and marketing consultant Jacqueline Knight; Mary Isaacs, Recording Artiste; Senior Entertainment Journalist Yasmine Peru; Alma MockYen, Retired Dance Instructor, Veteran Broadcaster and Media Trainer; D’Angel, Dancehall Recording Artiste; Denise Miller, Radio Host; Saudicka Diarrham, Television Host/Producer; Macka Diamond, Dancehall Recording Artiste; Marcia McDonnough, Event Management Consultant; Sher Luxury Doll, former dancer, now beauty products entrepreneur and promoter; Dancers Kiss Kiss and Mad Michelle; Judith Bodley, Media Expert; Amelia Sewell TV/RadioPersonality; Jadeen “Jade” McGhie, former Media Personality; Marcia Deans, Film Producer; Tifa, Recording Artiste; Jade Lee, Marketing and Artiste Management; Suzie Q, Television Presenter; Vanessa Bling, Dancehall Recording Artiste; Shelly-Ann Hill, News Anchor; Patra, Dancehall Recording Artiste; Sharon Marley, Grammy-winning singer, dancer and curator; Yolande Rattrey-Wright, Event Planner; Tricia Campbell, International Model; Sophia Jones, Fashion Designer; Press Kay, TV Host and Recording Artiste; Reggae Recording Artiste, Sister Carol.
Criteria for Selection
Awardees are nominated by a combination of the public, industry insiders and their peers, and nominees must have at least ten years involvement in the industry. The Awards Committee then carefully considers each nomination with the intent being to generate a list that is free from undue bias or special interest. All QORIHC awardees retain their designation, so the award is never dated.
The inaugural QORIHC honorees included renowned veteran DJ Sister Nancy; Video Director Nordia Rose; TV Broadcaster Elaine Wint, Dancehall Queen Carlene; Sun City Radio founder, Doreen Billings; Dancehall Fashion Designer Audrey Farquharson; Gender, Entertainment and Sports Minister, The Honorable Olivia “Babsy” Grange and Dancehall
Dancing Instructors Latonya Styles, Kimiko Versatile and Stacia from Dance Ja studios.
Since that unforgettable evening, some 80 ladies have been garlanded as QORIHC honourees, including the Hon. Marcia Griffiths; Bridget Anderson; Jenny Jenny; Debbie Bissoon; Susan Simes; Pamputtae; Gem Myers; Yendi Phillips; Brick and Lace; Donna Hope, and Neahlis.
Cost of tickets are J$7,000.00 or US$50.00 on Event Brite.com. Tickets also available at the event or contact Whattsapp 1-201-838-8443.