Dancehall Queen arrives for weekend performance
Her music is thoroughly entrenched on Belizean airwaves and while it’s a pity most of the albums on the streets aren’t originals, tonight local fans are giving reggae artist Tanya Stephens a dancehall queen’s reception. Stephens arrived at the Phillip Goldson International Airport this morning and News 5 was on the tarmac.
Tanya Stephens, Reggae Artist
?For all of the guys from all of us girls, the married ones of course and all the ones who are really cute, nice looking… ?sings lyrics of It?s a pity…?
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
This morning, popular reggae artist Tanya Stephens hit the ground in Belize singing. Stephens is in the country at the invitation of local DJ James Busch to perform a one-night concert on Saturday at the Belize City Centre.
Tanya Stephens
?I play with a group of people and wherever we go to do a show, it?s about fun for us. We?re really grateful to be able to travel all over and meet many new and interesting people, go places where a normal course of life would not have taken us. So for us it?s just fun. And that?s what I intend to have on Saturday. Of Course I like poking fun at the guys and I?m going to do that.?
Tanya Stephens
?We?re going to play a variety of songs; you know we?re not going to touch on one thing. Tanya Stephens is not one-dimensional and I try to make that clear in every single thing we do. So we won?t be focusing on any one thing at all.?
While in Belize, Stephens will also be making appearances at events hosted by the Women?s Issues Network and the Alliance Against AIDS.
Tanya Stephens
?I think we have to start sensitizing people more to the reasons why people catch AIDS and a lot of people are still unaware of exactly of it is. They are still a bit scared of you know discussing it you know and I just think we just need to start make people more educated as far as AIDS is concerned and then we?ll get rid of it.?
Janelle Chanona
?And women?s rights??
Tanya Stephens
?Women?s rights, oh my God, all we need to do is just stand up for them.?
Janelle Chanona
?I know one of your songs, Mr. Prime Minister has been used a lot lately because of the current political climate in our country. How do you feel about your music being used in that regard??
Tanya Stephens
?Well I was hoping no other country could relate to that song as well as Jamaica because our political and economical state right now is terrible. I?m very sad to hear that you guys can actually relate to that song as well as we can. If it helps to make anybody more aware of their situation, I?m happy to be of service. I?m really glad; I?m happy.?
Tanya Stephens is expected on the stage at the Belize City Centre around ten thirty on Saturday night. Tickets are forty dollars in advance, fifty dollars at the door and can be purchased from outlets around the country.
