THREE days after the death of her mother, Ivorine’ Queen Ita’ Walsh, singer Queen Ifrica broke her silence in an exclusive interview with the Jamaica Observer.

“I have been through so many different stages since she died on Wednesday. Over the years, I have mourned with other persons who have lost their loved ones. Now that I have experienced it, words can’t express all I am feeling,” she said. “It’s like a bond has been broken. I have never cried so much in my entire life.”

Walsh passed away one day after being admitted to hospital. She had complained of stomach pains.

Ifrica told the Observer that she was preparing to go to the recording studio when she got news of her death.

“It came as a surprise as I was expecting to hear that she had ‘gas’ or something. An autopsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death,” she said.

Walsh died just hours before Ifrica’s father, ska legend Derrick Morgan, performed at Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre on the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association’s (JaRIA’s) Reggae Wednesdays.

Ifrica spoke to the Observer from Belmont in Montego Bay, which she said was one of her mother’s favourite places.

“Shi love the hills…shi love nature. A part of her existence is to empower women. When the women are empowered, we have a great nation,” Ifrica said.

“She liked to dance and could dance you into a frenzy. She was very free-minded.”

Like her daughter, Walsh was a singer and Rastarfarian.

Ifrica, whose given name is Ventrice Morgan, is preparing to release her latest single Garden People, produced by Clive Hunt.

— Simone Morgan