Etana

Etana, born Shauna McKenzie in Jamaica, is a powerhouse vocalist, songwriter, and humanitarian known for her rich fusion of reggae, soul, jazz, and folk music. After migrating to the United States and briefly pursuing a pop career, she reconnected with her roots and adopted the name Etana, meaning “The Strong One” in Swahili. Her debut album The Strong One (2008) introduced her to the global stage, reaching #12 on the Billboard Reggae chart and producing hits like “Warrior Love” and “I Am Not Afraid.” Subsequent albums such as Free Expressions and I Rise cemented her as one of reggae’s leading voices, with I Rise making history as the first #1 Billboard Reggae Album by a Jamaican female artist in 17 years.

In 2018, Etana released her first independent project, Reggae Forever, under her own label Freemind Music, which topped the Billboard Reggae chart and earned her a Grammy nomination, the first for a woman in the category in over two decades. She followed with Dimensions (2019), Gemini (2020), and Pamoja (2021), the latter earning her a second Grammy nomination and featuring collaborations with Vybz Kartel, Damian Marley, and Stonebwoy. With millions of global streams and sold-out tours, Etana continues to inspire audiences worldwide through her empowering messages of love, strength, and positivity.

For fans of: Marcia Griffiths, Etta James, Miriam Makeba, Queen Ifrica, Tarrus Riley, Chronixx, Jah9, Lila Iké