Donisha Rita Claire Prendergast Instagram – ROYAL RITA After leaving high school, long before Grandma @officialritamarley was touring the world with my grandfather, she studied practical nursing with the intention of being a healer. In the 70’s, she performed in Jamaica’s National Pantomime ‘Brashana O’ as an actress. She is a multi hyphenate artist, visionary, businesswoman, healer and matriarch of our family and so much more. She has never been limited to any standard definitions. She doesn’t know how to fit in because she has always stood out. Through her confidence, I learnt how to embrace the truth that we don’t have to conform to be respected and that you can be many things, including misunderstood and still be right. The first time I recognized my voice was while speaking on a national stage in 2007 in Soweto, South Africa during the Africa Unite Earthday celebrations for my Grandfather being produced and curated by my Grandma. I watched her create magic, build a movement and harness and channel the dreams and aspirations of Africa’s youth toward actualization with guidance, access and a renewed sense of confidence as their greatest resource. She believed in my voice and my capacity to be heard and make impact even though I was unsure about what to say or how it would be received. She never had a doubt. After that trip, I left Howard University and my acting program to pursue studies in film. I was beginning to understand the power of controlling your narrative and how it interacts with the media. Since then, I have only grown more love and appreciation for the power of words in creating moments of impact and new realities as we aspire to Right Our Story. I am humbled and honoured to be able to speak on behalf of my Grandma and my family on occasions like these, guided by the inspiration of His & Her Majesty who reminds us of our Sovereignty and Divinity. Let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, oh Jah, RasTafari ✨ In Jamaica’s 60th year of Independence from Colonial rule, We Give Thanks for recognizing Queen Grandma with the Consulate General’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 🇯🇲 Still burning Babylon, with an exemplary fire🔥 Miami, Florida