Empresses + Queens: Talking with Trinidad’s Queen Omega + Kushite

Words by Tishanna Williams, Photos and Video by Ravi Lloyd

After catching up with Etana and Jah9 in Jamaica, “Empresses + Queens,” our series spotlighting the often-overlooked role of women in reggae, moves over to the island of Trinidad for a conversation moderated by our Tishanna Williams.

On a recent visit to Gasparillo, South Trinidad, LargeUp had the honor of orchestrating a sitdown between the country’s Queen and Princess of Reggae, Queen Omega and Kushite. The two singers’ energies connected immediately, and we had a great evening, sharing stories of life and womanhood—as well as a freestyle session you can watch below. Even better, the interview was a real family vibe as Omega introduced us to her children who played while the ladies (who, coincidentally, both belong to the tribe of Zebulun order of Rastafari) spoke about experiencing life, love, and the ups and downs of the music business.

Queen Omega has been working as a singer since her teenage years, and is now one of the most recognized reggae female artists in the Caribbean and Europe. By her early twenties, she had already collaborated with Sizzla, Capleton and Buju, to name a few. She’s toured with Luciano, Anthony B and Richie Spice and performed on major festival stages including Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in the US; Jamaica’s Rebel Salute; and Rototom in Spain. Having just returned from lighting up stages with Etana and France’s Mo’Kalamity on the Queens of Reggae European tour, Omega is now on tour in South America, and preparing to release her fifth album next year.

Kushite made her debut performance at Tobago’s Reggae on the Beach a mere two years ago, but has already appeared on shows featuring acts like Chronixx, Tarrus Riley, Midnite, Barrington Levy, Maxi Priest and Super Cat, on her way to becoming a serious name in roots reggae. She plans to drop her first album next year.

Being at two different stages in their bright careers, we can be sure their experiences have been quite different. Or have they been? How much has really changed for the Empresses brave enough to balance personal and public life within reggae and Rastafari?

Read on to find out.

LargeUp: Tell us about yourselves.

Kushite: I am a humble sistren, I have a four-year-old son and I love music.

Queen Omega: I am a young mother of three, recording artist, international performing artist and wife, trying to balance everything to the best of my ability.

LU: So many artists lead with their career titles but you both mentioned motherhood before music. Why?

Kushite: Of course that must come first. All your life, even through pain of menstruation, Jah is preparing you for that high purpose. The womb and mother are powerful portholes to this life so they must be mentioned.

Omega: Even if you haven’t given birth, once you come from a womb and have a womb, you are a mother. A woman is at her highest spiritual peak when she is pregnant and giving birth. A woman who is a natural childbearer will give birth. I give birth so easily. I could have an army but due to the love of career I will balance it off, or I would have more already.

Kushite: Even in Islam, I learned from my sister, that if a woman gives birth, she is absolved of sin because of the pain she went through in the process. When I gave birth to my son, I felt like no sin couldn’t enter. Its natural, so the first thing you have to mention is the fulfilling of that sacrament.

LU: So, If you had to choose one title—artist, homemaker, etc.— what would you choose?

Kushite: I would say Kushite the God Fearer cause that’s who I am, always doing the works of Jah. Always trying to please His Majesty in everything.

Omega: For me, this title itself, “Queen Omega,” is a high title, given unto a woman of power and consciousness. It means mother of creation so that in itself is a balance for me.

LU: How did you get started in music?

Kushite: Music was always in me. In primary school, I used to be in a choir but always shy to come forward. One time I had a solo to do for a Christmas concert and lied and said I had a sore throat just to not do it. But then, I cite Rastafari and get brave. Started doing shows and had the opportunity to open Tobago’s Reggae on the Bay last year. From there, things just started to happen and it’s been a non-stop ride ever since.

Omega: I always say I am Jah’s spoil chile cause anything I want, I get. I always had older friends and a sistren one day asked me if I wanted to make some real money and she took me to Kenny Phillips’ studio. At 13, I was coming home from school, finishing whatever chores I had to do and by 5pm I was running to the studio, doing little “Oohs” and “Ahhs,” and that’s where I met artists. I remember meeting Jah Mason. I was already into Rastafari at the time so that was a big thing for me! He kept me there just singing songs for him all evening. I was never shy either. Once you told me sing, I would just belt it out. A few years ago we were at the same event in Jamaica and he actually saw me and shouted out “Singa!” He remembered me.

LU: Why reggae?

Omega: Because in reggae, you don’t have to care what you look like as a woman. I felt so comfortable. I knew I could be 60 and touching the stage gracefully long as I’m healthy. It’s a lifestyle and a lifetime.

Kushite: And it’s also praise music. Spiritual music.

LU: What has it been like for you coming up as an artiste and female in this industry?

Kushite: [Turns to Queen] There were so many times I wished I could talk to you about this life. It’s not easy to go to nursing school, come home, cook and mind baby then go to studio. As the younger one, there are more females for me to look up to now—Desiree, Queen Ifrica, Jah9, Queenie. The trials they had to face, I don’t have to deal with that. And then, with social media, I can just go to the studio and upload a song easy and reach my audience—bypassing a lot of the stress. My manager is also female so I also have that double power behind my music, to push through whatever stereotypes or issues people may have.

Omega: I remember trodding just me one and Jah, feeling that no one had my back. It was hard coming from Trinidad, and having to travel on my own. I was on the road with my eight-month old baby. I remember the doctor signing my paper as seven months, when I was close to nine months, cause I had to go on the road. I would be performing and meditating on the road and knowing Jah wouldn’t bring me all that way to make me pop. One of my hardest times was coming back home after leaving my baby girl, and she was walking. I am the mummy type. I like to be around so those things are really tough for me.

LU: Your son was born abroad?

Omega: No, all my children are born here. I not into that excitement of giving birth on the road. My last two were actually born at home. That’s me. Just natural. I like my comforts. Wake up, do my medi, love up my husband, take a walk and baby born. [Laughs].

LU: With all the hats you wear as female artist, how important is family support?

Kushite: Family support is like life support! My dad and sister are Muslims but they attend and make more noise than the Rastas.

Omega: My family is always there. My husband is a strong lion. When I am on the road he is at home with the cubs and he always takes care of me. You have to big up the men who do their part working and taking care of home.

LU: Is it tough to gain support and maintain respect in such a male-dominated field?

Omega: You have to know what works for you and once your livity could match up with your music, they can’t come around you. I started early, at a time when there were few strong female voices to set the course or order. I could have taken that as a negative but my mom called me “Queen” from birth. So I always carried myself like I was a woman of power. Now, I feel like I have bridged the gap and get that respect from Sizzla to whoever you want to call. [Laughs] I get the respect from all dem man dem as we say.

Kushite: It had times that are so stressful and people discourage you. As a female artiste, you get so much fight down but you have to be Royalty. People wake up in the morning and meditate on you and your music. And when I feel shy, it’s sistrens that are coming up to me saying they love what I do. I remember coming offstage after opening for Midnite and [turns to Queen] you came up to me and said “Don’t stop what you doing!” I didn’t even know you knew me. Those moments push you through.

LU: Let’s talk image. You expect women in Rastafari to carry themselves a certain way but we have seen even you Omega put down a lil’ Trini wine in shows…

Omega: [laughing] I can’t help that. The first time I did it, even I felt like “What on earth am I doing?!” but it didn’t feel wrong. Sometimes when I performing I have moments when the Trini takes over, but I would say it’s the African. Because it comes from that. We in Trinidad may be the best at doing it in the Caribbean but it is African dance so it’s also mine and sometimes the vibe calls me to do it but it’s not overdone and it’s so rare that I feel it’s okay. I also have songs that sing about sex but it’s how you put it across. You could do it without offending. I have a song on my fourth album with Buju Banton that speaks to bedroom behavior. It’s an adult song. So I have those songs. I am a woman and I have my sexy side too.

LU: What would you say is your most feminine moment?

Omega: When I do my makeup. I don’t like a lot, but I know it’s suitable for lighting and photos.

Kushite: I am a reformed tomboy. I climbed trees and stuff. I have so many scars doing things like trying to parachute off my house. But in secondary school and discovering boys, you decide you have to look nice and that’s where the feminine vibes really came in.

LU: Which new artist do you think is doing their thing in Reggae right now?

Kushite: Jahlifah

Omega: Yeah, Jahlifah! She is fire! Mo’Kalamity from France. I just did a tour with her too and she is real amazing.

LU: The industry could be so cut throat and for women it’s so easy to be stepped to incorrectly. What advice would you give to young women in the business?

Omega: Respect yourself. Understand what you do. Understand the music you are doing. That it’s a heartbeat and you have to be truthful in your livity. Call on the Father for guidance. Oh! and always read your contracts well. Especially the fine print.

Kushite: I second that!

To book Queen Omega, contact Graeme Sealy – 1.868.791.5107, QueenOmegaBookings@gmail.com

To book Kushite, contact Lioness Marsha – 1.868.330.1385 / 462.5117, kushitetrinidad@gmail.com