Black Woman & Child is a fine piece of reggae work from one of the most important and influential reggae artistes of the modern era, Miguel Orlando Collins, known to the world as Sizzla Kalonji. 

Defying the sophomore slump, Black Woman & Child is regarded by many as his finest work in a particularly prolific career spanning almost thirty years. It’s unsurprising, then, that even Rolling Stone magazine described this album as a “masterpiece”.

The album was produced in 1997 by a graduate from King Jammy’s hit-making studio, Bobby ‘Digital B’ Dixon, at a turning point in reggae music when digital sounds and “slackness” had completely taken over. A fresh approach was needed, and Dixon led the charge alongside other producers, such as Phillip ‘Fattis’ Burrell, creating riddims that incorporated real instrumentation and modern sounds, all mixed impeccably with a heavyweight yet crystal-clear sound.

As a youth from St Mary, born to devout Rasta parents, Sizzla was just 21 years old when he recorded Black Woman & Child. Yet he showed such maturity and depth in his songwriting skills and lyrical prowess that this album kickstarted a conscious dancehall revolution across Jamaica and, indeed, the world. Core messages of his Bobo Ashanti faith, the teachings of Prince Emmanuel Charles Edwards, Haile Selassie, and Marcus Garvey, repatriation, Pan-Africanism, and Black nationalism are all explored. Additionally, themes of equality, independence, morality, and optimism are expressed in Sizzla’s unique vocal style, the perfect accompaniment to Dixon’s hard-hitting riddims.

During this era, Bobby ‘Digital B’ Dixon continued the long-standing tradition of re-versioning riddims from Sir Coxson Dodd’s ‘Studio One’ imprint, the foundation of Jamaican music. More Guidance provides a fresh take on Wailing Soul’s Mr Fire Coal Man, Make It Secure revives The Soul Vendor’s Drum Song, and One Away is a fitting lyric to arguably the best roots riddim of all time, The Abyssinians’ Satta Masa Gana. Soul Agent’s The Lecture (aka “Lecturer”) rides again on Give Them A Ride, and Guide Over Us utilizes the soulful classic by The Eternals’ Queen of the Minstrels, in fine style.

This triumphant album is now finally available once again, presented on limited edition green vinyl with the original Greensleeves sleeve design. Additional unreleased bonus tracks are also available on digital and streaming platforms.

Black Woman&Child will be released on November 8, 2024.