By Frederick Halley
IT was traditional for rapper Keysha Freshh to take all of her numerous awards or magazine
covers to her grandmother at her nursing home in Toronto. However, this time around, her granny wasn’t there to share in what Keysha described as “the biggest achievement so far in my career.”

One week after her grandmother, Guyanese-born Alvena Chance quietly passed away at the ripe
old age of 96, in December, Keysha was presented with the certification (Arts & Culture) from the Town of Ajax, House of Commons and from the Province of Ontario.

Still in mourning, Keysha pointed out that she was really contemplating not going to the awards
ceremony, held on December 14, “but I’m grateful I did,” she explained.

Remembering her adorable grandmother, Keysha declared, “this one is for you. She didn’t make
it. She passed away peacefully Sunday morning. Because even though rap music wasn’t your thing, you were supportive of me because it was MY thing.”

According to Keysha, “grandma loved us all uniquely. Truly will be missed. She had so many
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her love knew no bounds, not just for us, but for our
other cousins on our other sides of the family, for any half-siblings, for any friends of ours, she
cared for every single one the same.”

In September, Keysha was among a trio of entertainers of Guyanese heritage who performed at
the inaugural Legacy Awards in Toronto. The others were Deborah Cox, who was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame last May and Melanie Fiona.

Canadian musician and broadcaster Odario Williams, who was born in Guyana and raised in
Winnipeg, introduced Freshh, who was the opening act of the 90-minute show.

Freshh, who started writing music and rapping at age 11, is the daughter of Guyanese journalist
Ron Fanfair, and event planner Dessie Fanfair.

The popular rapper, along with other family members, paid a visit to Guyana last November, the
third for Keysha who visited previously in 2014 and 2016, where they were special guests of President Irfaan Ali at State House.

A proud product of Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology (2010 – 2011), Keysha
graduated with a Diploma in Independent Music Production.