‘It felt like a dream’
Dr Marcia Griffiths reflects on ‘surreal’ UWI honour
Published:Wednesday | January 21, 2026 | 12:05 AMNyoka Manning/Gleaner Writer
“When Marcia hit the stage, nobody wanted to come after her – and she was doing it in a male-dominated industry. I call it the ‘Marcia magic’,” said reggae songtress Nadine Sutherland in tribute at Dr Marcia Griffiths’ reception at her residence on Saturday. “Seeing her still rocking stage shows, still full of light and love, and still collecting awards, she remains the example for so many of us.”
That influence was formally recognised on Saturday, January 17, when the Queen of Reggae, Marcia Griffiths, was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) by the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. The West Kingston-born vocalist, whose career spans more than six decades, was met with sustained applause from graduates, faculty, and invited guests as she accepted the university’s highest cultural distinction.
Speaking with The Gleaner, Dr Griffiths described the moment as surreal. “I honestly had to pinch myself,” she said. “When I saw the manifestation of everything – the students, the choir singing my songs, the scale of the ceremony – it was overwhelming. It felt like a dream, but not even a dream I ever had. I never envisioned this.”
She explained that her entry into music in 1964 was driven purely by love for singing, but she didn’t understand the depth of it and “never knew it came with responsibility”. That understanding deepened during her years with Bob Marley and the Wailers as a member of the I-Three.
“Being around Bob and reading the Bible opened my eyes,” she said. “I realised that God calls upon the singers and the players, and I was blessed to be a part of this whole experience because He blessed me with a talent, and music carries power. The message you send into the world takes on a life of its own and comes back to you. You have to be careful what you say, what you sing, and what you release into the world.”
Dr Griffiths recalled advising a young Buju Banton during an early studio session when he struggled with lyrics. “I told him, ‘That’s not the message you want to send to people. You have to teach and uplift the youth.’ He never forgot that. Years later, ’Til Shiloh became one of his strongest albums. So when he introduces me on stage and mentions those things, I feel satisfied that I have passed on something even to one individual.”
She said one of the moments that truly revealed the extent of her influence came when singer I-Wayne told her that she had been his role model. “I was shocked,” she admitted. “You always hear women say you inspire them, but when a man told me that I had influenced him, it really touched me.”
BLESSED
Her career has bridged eras — from performing with Bob Marley, to collaborating with his sons, and more recently, his grandson, Skip Marley.
“I am blessed to cut across generations,” Griffiths said.
At the ceremony, she thanked God and her supporters for sustaining her journey from her formative years with Byron Lee and the Dragonaires to her defining contribution to reggae’s global legacy. Her voice helped shape landmark albums such as Natty Dread, Rastaman Vibration, and Exodus, while her solo catalogue, including the international hit Electric Boogie, has remained culturally relevant across generations.
Already a recipient of Jamaica’s highest national honours, including the Order of Jamaica, the honorary doctorate adds academic recognition to a legacy built on cultural influence and longevity. Reflecting on her upbringing, Dr Griffiths said the honour also carried deep personal meaning.
“I grew up in a tenement yard and saw hardship every day,” she said. “From I was a little girl, I just wanted to be of service to mankind. All I focused on was helping people.”
She explained that her childhood dream had been to work in healthcare as a doctor or a nurse because her father was totally against her being a singer.
“But when I look back now, I realise the desire was always the same: to serve. Here I am in music, touching souls in the four corners of the Earth. What better thing could I have been doing?” she asked.
Before leaving the stage at the UWI graduation, she encouraged students to remain disciplined and fearless, closing her address with an a cappella rendition of Dreamland, transforming the academic ceremony into a moment of shared reflection and celebration.
Offering guidance to young artistes, particularly women, Dr Griffiths emphasised professionalism and structure. To young people generally, her advice is: “Whatever your dream is, if you love it and put your heart and soul into it, you can accomplish anything. I never saw this future, but I am living in it.”