QORIHC celebrates 10 years with recognition of 35 honourees

The Queens of Reggae Island Honorary Ceremonies (QORIHC) is marking a major milestone this year as it prepares to stage its 10th annual awards ceremony, a decade-long celebration of women whose work has often gone unrecognised in the entertainment industry. The initiative will honour 35 women across multiple categories spanning the entertainment landscape, shining a light on contributors from music, film, television, comedy, dancehall, theatre, media and beyond.

Behind QORIHC is founder Laurell Nurse, whose personal commitment has sustained the platform since its inception. Without corporate sponsorship or institutional backing, Nurse says she has self-financed the awards year after year, driven by a belief that women in the industry deserve consistent recognition for their work.

“These women have been doing the work, building culture, shaping sound, and carrying the industry on their backs, often without so much as a word of acknowledgement,” she said. “QORIHC exists because recognition is not a luxury. It is a responsibility.”

What began as a determined act of faith has grown into a respected fixture on the entertainment calendar. Over the past decade, QORIHC has honoured hundreds of women whose contributions have helped shape Jamaica’s cultural identity and the wider Caribbean creative scene.

When asked how it feels to see what the event has grown into, Nurse said, “It feels good to know it is standing the test of time as something that both women and men in the industry look forward to.” She added that nominations continue to pour in and that it is now understood to include the full spectrum of entertainment personnel and creatives.

What began as a personal act of conviction has grown into a steady presence on the entertainment calendar, honouring hundreds of women across the Caribbean creative landscape. Many of them are behind the scenes – in studios, behind cameras, on writing teams, and on stages where visibility does not always translate into credit.

This year’s ceremony continues that focus, bringing together a new group of honourees whose careers reflect persistence as much as performance. With the full list of honourees to be released in May, Nurse shared a preview, saying, “Sharon Schroeter, Janet Silvera, Professor Carolyn Cooper, Stacious, and Dr Terri-Karelle Johnson are among them.”

The event will be held on Sunday, May 31, at the Karl Hendrickson Auditorium at Jamaica College, with red carpet arrivals at 5:30 p.m. and the ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Among its hall of fame inductees since inception are Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange; musician and educator Joy Fairclough; model and lifestyle coach Althea Laing; and dancehall artiste Pamputtae.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com