Reggae legend Marcia Griffiths OJ, OD has been honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Reggae Gold Award ceremony for her outstanding contributions to Jamaican music, marking over 60 years in the music industry.

The ceremony celebrated the reggae’s best artiste on Friday, February 28 at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston, and was a musical and cultural experience.

Since its launch in 2019, the Reggae Gold Awards have upheld reggae’s legacy, ensuring its influence endures. This year, 17 individuals were recognised for their achievements, including the Griffiths, whose unmatched impact afforded her the title of ‘Queen of Reggae’.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness presented the award and later lauded the 75-year-old veteran singer’s enduring impact through an X post.

“It was an absolute honour to present the Reggae Gold Award to the legendary Queen of Reggae, Marcia Griffiths, in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to Jamaican music in an illustrious career spanning over 60 phenomenal years,” he wrote.

Griffiths, whose career began in the 1960s, is widely recognised as one of reggae’s most celebrated vocalists, known for hits such as Electric Boogie and her work as part of the I-Threes, Bob Marley’s famed backing trio.

Holness adulated Griffiths’ influence, stating, “Marcia’s voice has been a force of pure magic, weaving its way into our hearts and cementing her name among the greatest in Reggae history. Her music is a gift to Jamaica and the world.”

He thanked her for her “artistry, timeless melodies, and immeasurable impact”, adding that Jamaica remains deeply proud of her.