This Christmas is an opportunity for even more togetherness – Marcia Griffiths

For reggae queen Marcia Griffiths, Christmas 2020, despite being celebrated during a pandemic year, presents the ideal opportunity for families to experience more togetherness than ever before. “We are appreciating our families and our loved ones more, and this is very important. Family is first, so we have to see the good in all things. All we have is each other and togetherness with our loved ones is important,” Griffiths said.

Reflecting on the entertainment industry over the past nine months, the chart-topping reggae icon, who has been in the business for more than half a century, says that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the industry. “We have to be social distancing and everything is virtual today, so it is not the same effect [as performing live] to connect with people to get the message across,” she said.

She added, “Within the music, which has already been changed or altered, we are still trying to make our connection to every heart and every soul musically, whether it be virtual or whichever way we can send it.”

Griffiths, whose last live performance was in London, England, in March, will be breaking her nine-month absence from the stage to headline the Jamaica National (JN) Group’s ‘Together We’re Strong Concert’ on Sunday, December 20 at 2 p.m. The concert will be streamed live via the group’s social media platforms.

Throughout her illustrious career, Griffiths has had several hit singles including, I Shall Sing; Stepping Out of Babylon; Electric Boogie, written by the legendary Bunny Wailer; Young, Gifted, Black, done in collaboration with another reggae legend, iconic singer-songwriter, Bob Andy.

“At the JN concert, I’m hoping that we can make some positive connections through the music because music is life and this is all we have,” Griffiths said.

The virtual concert is being mounted to raise funds for the Mustard Seed Communities and to lift the spirits of Jamaicans, as restrictions due to the pandemic continue. A philanthropic organisation, which provides care, food and medicine to mainly abandoned children, the Mustard Seed Communities, which depends largely on donations to care for the physically and mentally disabled, children with HIV/AIDS and pregnant at-risk teenagers, has experienced a dramatic fall in donations since the pandemic.

Sunday’s concert will also feature exciting performances from some of country’s best in the music industry, such as JN Group ambassadors, dancehall sensation, Agent Sasco and gospel star Kevin Downswell; songstress Tessanne Chin; dub poetry band No-Maddz; upcoming singer Jamila Falak and a host of other performers in Jamaica and in the diaspora.

The JN ‘Together We’re Strong’ concert will be jointly hosted by popular comedic duo Ian ‘Ity’ Ellis and Alton ‘Fancy Cat’ Hardware and the husband-and-wife team of entertainers Tami Chin Mitchell and Wayne Marshall.

To donate to the Mustard Seed Communities:

- Deposit or transfer cash to Mustard Seed Missionaries’ JN Bank Chequing Account, #20000155091

- Deposit using any JN Bank Smart ATM or Drop Box

- Visit mustardseed.com

Jamaicans and others overseas may also donate by visiting a JN Money location or online by using jnmoneyonline.com. Fees have been waived for transactions conducted at a JN Money location.