By Frederick Halley

FRESH from a musical tour in Jamaica, Guyana-born Donna Makeda did five shows back-to-back from Kingston to Ocho Rios, then to Negril and back again to Kingston. She and seven other Canadian reggae artistes and a live band were well-received by patrons throughout the tour.

Donna’s most recent project is a new single called ‘Pack up and Gwaan’. The single was produced by the Selassie I Muzik Label and is scheduled to be released in August. According to Donna, in an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine, she also recently shot a video for her single ‘Vegan Dinna’. That video was released on April 26 via Reggaeville and is available on YouTube for viewing.

The video, she pointed out, was shot by Time2Rize Video Productions with videographer Tygon Cowan on location in Toronto and Scarborough, Canada. Directed by Carrie Mullings of Rebel Vibez, the video is set to make a mark on the reggae dancehall music scene in Canada and the world.

The single “Vegan Dinna” is on the Happy Riddim and was produced by 3Mirage Label and mixed and mastered by Vonnii. Donna pointed out that it has already reached the number one position on Connecticut, USA’s reggae/dancehall charts. “Vegan Dinna has been getting much attention with airplay on Roots FM and Bes 100 FM in Jamaica, G98.7FM, on Reggae Rhythms with Patrick Roots on CIUT 89.5 FM and Vibe105FM in Toronto; along with a slew of online radio play globally; with special mention of Roots Reggae Radio, Ital Roots Radio, Soul Kitchen Radio, Cut & Clear Radio and Selector Don Blaze in the UK to name a few,” Donna explained.

According to Donna, her foundation in music came from the dchurch, where she sang in the choir and also did duets with her sister. From a very young age, she attended Ballet School and was trained as a dancer. She learned many dance styles, including Afro-Caribbean, Modern, Folk, Kathak and Classical Ballet.

After graduating from Dance Academy, she opened her own dance and aerobics school called “Burning Flame International” Dance Troupe. By the time Donna migrated to Canada, she had already been performing extensively throughout Guyana with her dance troupe.

Whilst taking her dancing career seriously, Donna was just having fun singing and practising on sound systems. She sang at various stage shows and won many competitions. Upon migrating to Canada, she did her first international stage show in Toronto and was consequently ‘scooped’ up by Jones & Jones Productions, who managed her musical career for a period of time.

After that contract ended, Donna continued to shine and is still recording and performing constantly. She worked solo for a period of time but is now under new management with Ajang Music of Jamaica for over 10 years now. Donna has been working tirelessly since her first single “Gun Bust” was released in the early-nineties. Without a doubt, her voice is her wealth; her intellect a cultural strength, and her stage presence is an expression of royal heritage.

Accolades and discography

Donna disclosed that she recently released the hugely controversial single “We Shall Not Be Moved”, a single produced by Indie Rootz Records and featuring Shakky Alleyne. The video was shot on location in Montreal, Quebec and virtually released on January 30, 2021, on the caribbeanworlchannel.com. In 2020, Donna attended the Jamaica Music Conference, promoting her new single and performed on the Rastafest Showcase at the Jamaica Music Conference and other venues in and around Jamaica. Another single released was “No Sah” featuring Shadrock from Portland, Jamaica, for the Heart of Empress label; this song was released worldwide on iTunes, CD Baby and all online music stores and reached the number one spot in Connecticut, USA on One Love Radio and entered the reggae music charts in London, England.

She also released the hot single “Shake Dem Off” on the Happy Hour Riddim, which went number one on the Real Muzic’s “Empress Tashai’s New Music Top 10 chart in Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA on One Love Radio 106.5fm and entered the Rebel Vibez Top 10 chart on VIBE105 FM in Toronto, Canada. Other singles released are “No Sell Out”, “Natty Congo”, “Jah is my Guide” and “Stick Together” for Indie Rootz Records out of Montreal, Quebec; “No Love” featuring Roger B and “Badmind” feat. King Ujah.

Donna has performed extensively in Canada in places like Toronto, Brantford, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal and Calgary, and internationally in Barbados, Guyana, the USA and Jamaica and has been on a few music tours internationally, promoting her music over the years.

To date, Donna has racked up 30 reggae music awards. She has performed at most of the major festivals and stage shows in Canada, including Jamaica Day, Rastafest, Durham Caribbean Festival, Toronto Street Festival, Beaches Jazz Festival, Caribana on Olympic Island, Afrofest, Calgary Reggae Festival. Reggae Muskoka, Hamilton Sunfest, Marcus Garvey Day, The Canadian Reggae Music Awards, The Bashment Community Appreciation Awards, Irie Music Festival, Afrikadey in Calgary and To Africa With Love in Barbados to name a few.

At her Calgary ReggaeFest performance that year, Donna and her dancers created quite an impact on the 6000-strong audience with her dynamic and impressive stage performance.

Donna received the very prestigious Consul General’s Award at the Guyana Awards held in Toronto in appreciation for her steadfast commitment and service to the Guyanese community. Some of her awards include: “Top Reggae Newcomer” (her very first music award), “Top Reggae Dancehall DJ (female), and “Top Reggae Music Video (for her video “Jah Great Woman”) from the Canadian Reggae Music Awards, an “Arts & Entertainment Award” for her contribution to the Arts from her homeland Guyana, and an “Artistic Award of Excellence” from the Inter-City Multicultural School of Excellence Reading Club.

Donna also received the “Top Single” award for “Almighty Bless Me” and an “Unsung Hero” Award and has done collaborations with various artistes, including Shadrock, Prince Everald, Roger B, Negus Morris of the Heptones, Chatta, King Ujah, Keron Williams and Fyah Lion.
She has performed on stage alongside many top artistes including Beenie Man, Luciano, Marcia Griffiths, Lutan Fyah, Capleton, Sizzla, Cocoa Tea, Sister Carol, Culture, Beres Hammond, Buju Banton, Michael Rose, Lady Saw, Macka Diamond, Cutty Ranks, Yami Bolo, Anthony B, George Nooks and Louie Culture to name a few.

Donna’s first CD album, entitled “Who Can Endure” was released in 1998. The song off of that album entitled “Sweet Victory” went number one on the reggae charts in Miami for eight weeks while “South Africa” was following closely at number two. “Jah Great Woman” also enjoyed much airplay and was on the number one spot on the Miami Reggae Radio Charts for six weeks.

The multi-talented artiste also released four full-length CDs entitled “Almighty Bless Me”, Who Can Endure”, “Jah Ah De Rulah” and “Then and Now” along with numerous vinyl and CD singles. Donna has appeared live many times on City TV’s Breakfast Television, Entertainment News, Clip Trip, The Scene, Lunch Television, Rogers Cable 10, Soul in the City and Da Mix (Canada).