Una Morgan of Morgan Heritage Speaks Out!

Una: Yeah, the group was always there because our father saw the talent in us from when we were really young and he knew that I was going to be singer and Gramps was going to be a singer and Lukes would play guitar and Mr. Mojo started when he was really young. But growing up in school we were always put in school. Daddy made sure we had our education and going through that I had aspirations of being a lawyer. My dad's lawyer, Kendall Minter, inspired me in a lot of different ways so after high school I continued on to college, John Jay College of Criminal Justice in NYC. So, you know, that was a little dream of mine also. When I was going to school I liked to talk a lot and make my point...(laughs).

Francesca: Do you sense a difference, as a woman in reggae, in the way you are received and respected by various countries and cultures where you perform?

Una: Globally, it's looked at as Royal Empress. Someone in reggae and even in gospel music (reggae music is the rastaman's gospel music), looks upon a woman in music like she's a queen. It's a good thing but we have our bad days too. You know you can't always be a queen everyday, you know we're human (laughs). Some days you feel like a real you-know-what but that's just life as being, a human being. Globally, that is how people look at you, as Mother Earth. You are for the people, you are warm and loving and you know that because of the music we are in, we think about humanity. It's an okay assumption to consider because all the women I know in reggae are very beautiful minded women--Sister Judy Mowatt, Sister Marcia Griffiths, Sister Carol--these are women that I look to that have paved the way for me and I will constantly big them up in everything... and Sister Rita Marley... they really kept it going strong for women in reggae today.

Francesca: It appears that there are few new female reggae artists singing strictly roots. Why do you think this is?

Una: There's a lot of things that lead up to that. A lot of them are doing background singing for the artists. Maybe some of them... I really can't say because I see a lot of the women in reggae as background singers. You have Fiona that's doing well. There haven't been a lot that have really come forward to say I'm going to be a strong lead vocalist for myself, I want to be heard. Maybe they haven't gotten to that stage yet in their professional career. Maybe... it is probably a lot of things. I really can't give an honest answer or opinion to that because I've never been in that position. I've always been in a medium where I am part of a group. You know that individuality doesn't really need to come out so much, it's more of a oneness for me.

Francesca: Do you feel if any of the female backup singers decided to come forward they would be embraced?

Una: I think so because reggae music needs to see some fresh new faces. You know, every other musical genre has it. Look what India.Arie has been doing. Look at what Erykah Badu did for the industry. So when they see women of this stature, they accept it. It's not a Britney Spears or a Destiny's Child. They do accept it because they know that is what a woman is supposed to emulate. I think new women faces in reggae will definitely be accepted because there are producers who want to work with the female voices.

Francesca: Do you have any plans to collaborate with any other female artists?

Una: Well, we are definitely making plans now with a French group by the name of Les Nubians. They have kind of broken into the neo-soul market in America, the same market where Erica, Jill Scott,etc... But they are a French reggae group--two sisters as a matter of fact--and they are huge in France. They are big fans of Morgan Heritage so we are actually going to be doing some collaborations with them in April. I really look forward to that.

Francesca: March is Women's History Month in the U.S. This recognition grew out of International Women's Day, March 8th. Given the status of women in many parts of the world, and especially with all the images we've recently seen in the media, particularly in Afghanistan, if you had one wish for all women, what would it be?

Una: Find God for yourself--the Spirit is the omnipotent Spirit of the world, the omnipresent energy that rules man and woman. Find that space within you and through that connection all tribulations that will come to you, as woman, as flesh… That is the only source of energy that can keep us alive. The only source that keeps us in the right space where we need to be to overcome the tribulations of life.

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Francesca D'Onofrio resides in Sacramento, California and has been a supporter of Caribbean Music for many years. She has been an organizer and stage manager for the World Music Stage at Sacramento's Heritage Music Festival for the past 6 years and is a freelance writer and photographer. She can be reached at jagypsy@earthlink.net.