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In the days following his Mother’s Day concert, Romain Virgo + Friends Live, held on May 11 at Hope Botanical Gardens in St Andrew, reggae artiste Romain Virgo has been reflecting not just on the power of music but on the painful realities many Jamaican women continue to face. The concert, a heartfelt tribute to mothers, was meant to celebrate their strength, grace, and sacrifices. But, for Virgo, the conversation could not end when the lights went down.
“I’ve always felt like it is my duty to defend women at all costs,” Virgo said in a post-event interview. “We shouldn’t wait until things get bad to say something. When you have a platform with this kind of reach and influence, the music has to stand for something.”
It is a sentiment that has underpinned much of Virgo’s career. Known for his emotionally honest lyrics and conscious music, the reggae artiste has been vocal about issues affecting women with hits like Dutty Man. As reports of violence against women grow more frequent, he is now doubling down, using both his performances and music to call for change.
“There is a sickness in society,” he stated plainly. “We see the stories day after day, and it makes you wonder, when will it stop? We need more voices, more responsibility, especially from the men who are shaping culture.”
The recent Mother’s Day concert, sponsored by Johnnie Walker, Baileys, and others, featured performances by Mortimer, Sevana, Janeel Mills, and Tori Lattore. The event focused on celebrating Jamaican women, with roses distributed to attendees and performers expressing appreciation from the stage.
Still, amid the warmth and celebration, Virgo couldn’t ignore the greater context — the persistent absence of safety for women, the silence that too often follows abuse, and the troubling normalisation of pain that many are forced to carry quietly.
“There’s a kind of strength Jamaican women have, it’s incredible. But strength should not mean suffering in silence. We need to protect them (our women).”
Raised in the rural community of Stepney, St Ann, Virgo credits the women in his life: his mother, Mary Callum Gardner, and wife, Elizabeth, for shaping his worldview. His music, he says, is an extension of those relationships. Songs like Good Woman and Taking You Home weren’t just written for radio appeal, they were written from lived experiences.
“My wife is my anchor,” he shares. “When I doubt myself, she’s praying, encouraging, holding the family together. That’s power. That’s the kind of love and commitment I try to reflect to the world.”
Still, he admits, music alone isn’t enough. For Virgo, meaningful change will only come when more artistes, especially men, see advocacy not as a trend, but as a responsibility.
“You don’t have to stop doing dancehall or street music,” he says. “But for every three gun tunes, do one that spreads love. Balance the message. Show the full picture of life.”
As Jamaica faces ongoing gender-based violence, Virgo’s message is direct and timely.
“We need to tell women: we see you, we appreciate you, not just on Mother’s Day, but every day,” he says. “Sometimes what they need isn’t flowers or gifts. It’s protection. It’s recognition. It’s for us to change. I just want to be someone my daughters can be proud of, and if my music can play a small part in making the world a bit better for them and for women across Jamaica, then I know I’m doing something right.”
English (US) ·