“If Music be the Food of Love, Play On” – “Twelfth Night” by William Shakespeare
Music might be the main ingredient when Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz kicks off their first-round contest against Brazil on June 9 in the 2019 World Cup Soccer competition in France.
The two teams propelled by inspiration from hometown fans who throughout their journey to the world-stage have inserted reggae beats and South America’s samba and bossanova to winning games will test their mettle and in the process dance to a second game and a chance at proceeding to the next level.
Caribbean nationals are pinning their hopes on the female kickers representing the hard driving beat as well as being trailblazers, the first females from the region to qualify for competition on the world stage.
Although selected to play the top 10 rated Latin ballers, the Girlz are optimistic that skill, confidence, pride in nation, their nation’s repute for overcoming adversity and the pop Caribbean music they love to love will result in a victory.
At home, Jamaicans are already singing Bob Marley’s “One Love” with hopes that the anthem may score favor for the island Girlz.
They left on a high after playing a friendly game against a local Florida team.
From the start of that game, reggae dominated the atmosphere.
From dancehall reggae to old-school and traditional reggae the music played homage to a predominant Jamaican crowd that filled a Miramar venue demonstrating pride, culture and support for the first-time qualifiers.
The Jamaica Tourist Board sent representatives to cheer on the team.
Classic Marley recordings reigned over other hit reggae tunes.
Despite her health challenges, Rita Marley, the avowed queen of reggae made a presence.
From a wheelchair she waved victory throughout the contest.
Cedella, her daughter — credited with igniting the team to fund their journey when Jamaica opted out on finances — joined spectators, the team and sponsors of the exhibition game.
And celebrated names of the genre including Papa San showed up to sendoff the team they are gambling on to beat Brazil, Italy and Australia in first round competition.
Florida’s FC Surge were first to deliver a 1-0 advantage.
They sustained the one love score throughout the first half of the game but that did not deter the revelry of Jamaican fans who waved black, green and gold arm banners, cheered and sang assuredly as if they had gotten insider information the score might change.
By the second half it changed when Jodie Brown wearing number 10 kicked an equalizer into the goal.
Immediately afterwards, shouts of “we want another one” echoed across the field.
Chantel Swaby responded to advance the Girlz to a 2-1 lead.
Jubilation from fans from Lauderhill, Fort Lauderdale, Davie and Broward counties and Miami defined the long whistle blew to end the match.
For many, the victory seemed a confirmation of the might of the Caribbean team due to the amalgam of rival players for FC Surge, many of whom now in college but are sure picks to represent the USA in the next Olympic games.
Reminiscent of the 1998 exhibition game in Miami where the Reggae Boyz on their way to France demonstrated Jamaica’s enduring spirit, the recent Florida match proved that reggae music is gender friendly to both Boyz and Girlz.
Jamaica Consulate Opens Condolence Book To Honor 5th Prime Minister Seaga
The Consulate of Jamaica has opened a condolence book in honor of the life and legacy of the nation’s fifth Prime Minister Edward Seaga who died in Miami, Florida on May 28 at age 89.
Born May 28, 1930 in Boston, it is ironic the leader of the Jamaica Labor Party was born in the USA and died in the USA.
He was born on May 28 1930.
Seaga has always maintained that his US birth was an accident because his parents, Jamaicans, were only visiting when he was born.
He renounced his US citizenship at a young age showing loyalty to Jamaica.
He studied anthropology at Harvard University and published numerous papers on Afro-Caribbean folklore and obeah, a religion combining Christian and African rituals.
His political career began in the late 1950s and he won Parliamentary seat in 1962.
He represented west Kingston for 40 consecutive years and held a parliamentary seat longer than anyone in Jamaica’s history.
He served as prime minister from 1980 until 1989 and was the only remining leader of his generation to draft the constitution when the island gained independence from Britain.
Simultaneous to his political career he will also be remembered for his impact on the entertainment industry where he helped to launch the careers of Dennis Brown — at age 9, Delroy Wilson at age 13, Millie Small, Marcia Griffith, Alton Ellis, Joe Higgs, Ken Boothe, Count Prince Miller, Jimmy Cliff, Slim Smith, Desmond Dekker, Winston Riley and all who performed at his Chocomo Lawn. He established West Indies Record Label, (WIRL) the first successful record label in the Caribbean.
Members of the public are invited to express their sympathy to the family by signing the book weekdays from 10 am to 3 p. at the consulate offices at 767 Third Ave. on the 3rd floor.
Catch You On The inside!
