Next May, Laurell Nurse will stage the 10th Queens Of Reggae Island Honorary Ceremonies (QORIHC) in Kingston, the Jamaican capital. It will honour women who have made a mark in the entertainment and lifestyle industries.
Laurell Nurse, a singer also known as Mye Laurell, promises, “It will be an appetising, fashionable, and fun-filled night, not the usual sit down and watch mundane atmosphere.”
The Jamaican started QORIHC in 2016 after a conversation with Sister Nancy about the lack of respect women are shown in reggae circles. Since its inception, the event has honoured stalwarts including Sister Nancy, Marcia Griffiths, artist manager/entertainment minister Olivia “Babsy” Grange, harmony duo Brick & Lace, actress Audrey Reid of ‘Dancehall Queen’ fame, Patra and Tanya Stephens.
While the New Jersey-based Nurse is pleased to be giving the reggae woman her due, she wants to see improvement in a critical area.
“I am satisfied and not satisfied. I am satisfied that we have a next to nil no-show of honourees, very commendable. All the honourees show up for their award which says a magnitude. That is needed, wanted and appreciated,” she said. “I am not satisfied that QORIHC has yet to get weighty sponsorship. I am strongly hoping for that to change for this milestone 10 years. It will help with the overall and the future of sustaining this event.”
Lack of financial support forced her to postpone the 2022 show — which was scheduled for October that year — to March, 2023.
As she prepared for the 10th anniversary of QORIHC, Nurse (as Mye Laurel) released ‘It’s my House’ — a cover of the 1979 Diana Ross hit — in July. Her second released song, it is produced by singer Richie Stephens.
Eight months from QORIHC, Laurell Nurse is looking forward to a deserved milestone.
“It has become important to our women in the industry, and even the men have been suggesting that, ‘what about them’. That they have done a lot as well and lack honour in this type of way, they have unsung heavy contributions as well,” she disclosed. “Some have expressed staying away from attending the show for that same reason, that they felt ‘left out’. Yes, the men feel left out. Can you believe that?”
(Photo contributed)