‘It’s just simple likkle fun’ - Queen Ifrica opens up about steamy stage video

Reggae singer Queen Ifrica came under heavy criticism after a video of her performing at entertainer Charly Black's birthday bash went viral a week ago.

The Below The Waist entertainer gyrated with two different men during her set, but said her actions were exaggerated by the public.

"I am a stage performer before mi even start record. Everything that happened in that set was spontaneous. I'm on stage and mi mek a speech about the whole heap a man dem weh a drink up dem alcohol, and warning them of the harm it can cause to their 'manhood', and a man shout from the side a di stage and seh, 'No Queen, my ting good. Yuh want mi come show yuh?' And mi seh, 'Yea, come nuh, mi a guh gi yuh a little side kotch, mi neeven a move or nutten.' We were just there being light and playful, and a dat dem a guh turn inna a big deal," she said.

The reggae singer-songwriter is known for her candour about social issues. She conceded that the backlash about her "likkle side kotch" is due to the reputation that she has developed as a cultural artiste. The Lioness On The Rise singer matter-of-factly stated that she does engaged in sexual acts, and that her recent stage performance does not define her character.

"Yes, I went outside of character, but that shouldn't be referred to as no 'graphic content'," she continued.

Queen Ifrica said while her musical content highlights positivity, advocacy and upliftment, she refused to be boxed in because, after recently freeing her mind of "baggage she's been carrying for years", this is her time to be free and be herself.

"It's just simple likkle fun, but is like dem want people fi stress out and be under this low vibration. So I'm now changing how people perceive me. Don't have me as no Rasta artiste weh a guh just come out wid rod of correction and red, green and gold flag a wave. Mi is a free individual who decides seh mi a guh live free now. Mi nuh have nuh whole heap a baggage, mi can be miself. And being miself is enjoying a moment on stage wid mi fans," she said.

"They always try to bring down Ifrica, and my fight in music is because mi always a tell people fi hold up dem head no matter waah gwaan inna yuh life. And from mi come inna music, mi keep it one way; mi positive on and off stage, suh nuh matter weh dem duh dem cya out my fyah," she added.

The Times Like These singer said she is still charting a positive path and is in the process of "doing some great things for her country".

Queen Ifrica is scheduled for the Ital Food Fest on Saturday and has upcoming shows in Florida in December, followed by a slew of shows slated for January.

Her Christmas wish is for "families in Jamaica to love each other".

"No matter the feud or disconnect weh a happen, just find a reason to love each other and reason it out, because I will never give up on believing seh love a go be the ultimate winner," she said.