Trending in Jamaica News: Black Uhuru gets Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award
The Caribbean American Heritage Awards (CARAH) has bestowed the Marcus Garvey Lifetime Achievement Award upon Black Uhuru’s founder, Duckie Simpson. The award ceremony was held on Friday, November 18, 2022, in Washington, DC, at the JW Marriott Hotel.
The bombastic flamboyant Reggae icon is one of nine awardees. Other recipients are from Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, and Jamaica. They have all excelled in their respective field in the US.
Simpson founded Black Uhuru in 1971 along with Don Carlos and Garth Dennis, in Water House, Kingston. The group has made many hits over the years. Songs like Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner, Plastic Smile, Sinsemilla, Abortion, Solidarity, Spongy Reggae, and What Is Life, to name a few.
Simpson spoke to the Observer about his award after the ceremony, “Wi know di history [of Marcus Garvey] ’cause wi get di Rasta teaching, an’ yuh know Rasta respect Marcus to di bone,” he said.
During his interview with the Observer, Simpson divulged that Black Uhuru, including Andrew Bees, will release another album in 2023. The group’s latest work is New Day which was released in 2022.
In accepting the award, the artist mentioned the many awards the group had won over the 50 years, including the group’s first Grammy award for best Reggae album with Anthem in 1985. The best Reggae album category was added in 1985, so Black Uhuru won the first Grammy for a Reggae category at the Grammy Awards.
Simpson paid homage to his fellow awardees. And commented that they are scientists and academics-which means he is in good company.
The Caribbean American Heritage Awards started in 1994. And over the years, it has honoured numerous Americans with West Indian backgrounds, including actress Cicely Tyson and former US attorney General Eric Holder.