 |
Reggae singer/songwriter Etana introduced her women-grown, organic cannabis brand Etana Herbs at a concert celebrating her birthday at the intimate Chapel of the Flowers in Berkeley, CA on Saturday May 23. Hot off the presses and flown in from LA for the event was her packaging, featuring a fearless image of the musician, now available on a T-shirt at her website.
Wearing a glittering jacket and luminous "high" heels, she commanded the stage and conjured up much enthusiastic dancing / swaying with joy in the crowd of Reggae fans, who had just feasted on an authentic meal of jerk chicken, oxtail, veggies and plantains.
Stopping her concert to make her ganja brand announcement, she noted, "It's all natural, organic, just the way we like it," and named some of the strains/flavors, like papaya.
The artist then treated the crowd to some of her songs from "Etana - The Ganja Collection," her 4/20/26 digital release, a "soulful 7-track tribute to the Sacred Herb, Roots Reggae & Jamaican culture."
She began with "Sesnsemilla":
I have found a tree that heals inside of me
Changes everything, everything that I've been told....
And moved into "Gimi De Weed":
This one is for all ganja lovers around the world
All ganja boys and all ganja girls...
No more youths in the jail house for weed...
Oh what a day when ganja man get free...
"I am Etana, the Strong One and I'm from Kingston, Jamaica," she introduced herself, evoking the meaning of her name and the title of her first album. "In this time, I am fearless," she announced, leading into an a capella intro to "I Rise" that high-lighted her angelic voice.
The (quite obviously) Strong One then told us of being asked by Stephen Marley to record "Young, Gifted and Black" for a Nina Simone tribute album at a time when she was feeling low, and drinking. The experience lead her to stop drinking, and "with no liquor, I just keep rising," she told the cheering crowd.
Born Shauna McKenzie in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in the eastern Saint Andrew community of August Town, Etana's vocal talent was discovered when she was eight. She migrated to Miami in 1992 and studied nursing at Broward College, before leaving school to join a female vocal group named Gift that sparked interest from Universal Records.
Unwilling to conform to wearing "skimpy outfits dictated by the music industry's pervasive stereotyping of female artists," Etana returned to her birthplace and "focused on making music that reflected her embracement of Rastafari principles, which include a royal representation of women, adhering to a natural lifestyle, and an acknowledgment of the teachings of Marcus Garvey and Emperor Haile Selassie I." She soon became a vocalist on Richie Spice's tour of Europe and North America, and subsequently launched her own career, starting with her debut record "The Strong One" in 2007. This year, she was named as the first-ever Reggae Month Ambassador by Jamaica's Minister of Culture.
“I believe the Most High puts the people you need in your way,” she said, bringing up for thanks and applause Aundre Speciale and Linda Jackson from Cannabis Buyers' Club of Berkeley / The Chapel, who hostessed Saturday's event, which coincided with her 43rd birthday.
Etana Herbs are available at CBCB in Berkeley and soon will see a wider release. We need more of Etana and her healing herbs and songs everywhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment