With her warm voice and roots reggae generating a universal flavour that is coloured by her cultural heritage, Empress Deeqa lights up the stage.
Empress Deeqa was born at Mogadiscio, in Somalia. As far back as she can remember, she has always sung, to the point of exhaustion. One day a woman, hearing her voice, asked her to join the children’s choir she led. Her mother agreed willingly, with undisguised pleasure. Empress Deeqa was then five years old. She already dreamed of being a reggae singer.
With the passing years, she gradually moved up in the choir, becoming one of the lead singers. She also began writing lyrics for songs. With her experience, she later joined a group that performed traditional song. She travelled constantly, in Somalia and the neighbouring countries, giving concerts. During one of her trips, civil war prevented her from getting back to Mogadiscio. She remained in Kenya and worked for the group Doctors Without Borders. After two years of exile, she managed to get a visa for Canada. She left her country and her continent with almost nothing, not even any photos or souvenirs.
The year 1992 was when she settled in Saskatchewan. “I put singing aside to learn the language and to learn about the country,” she says. “But I could not prevent myself from singing with my high school friends. And I also continued writing.” After a time in Vancouver, she settled in Montreal in 1999 and joined the group Kali and Dub, a cornerstone of the Montreal reggae scene. She still sings with them today. She also sometimes accompanies Alpha Blondy, Sister Nancy, Toots and the Maytals, Everton Blender and the Queens of Reggae. Over the years, she has performed in particular as part of the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Festival Nuits d’Afrique.
Faithful to what she Is, her style is a pure blend of roots reggae and traditional Somalian songs. Her voice gives her music a unique and powerful identity. “My songs save me and have always saved me,” she muses. “They form a link with my country. I don’t want to lose my original language or culture.” She is currently working on her first album with the six musicians in her group – showing passion and perseverance, as always.
Learn more about Empress Deeqa at
http://www.myspace.com/empressdeeqa
Learn more about Nuits D'Afrique at
festivalnuitsdafrique.com
Photos by
HeatherLWeimer.Com
