The reggae song, “Bam Bam,” by Jamaican artist Sister Nancy, has been called one of the most iconic reggae tracks in history. A new documentary about the life of the reggae vocalist, “Bam Bam: The Sister Nancy Story,” tells the story of her experiences in a male-dominated industry through archival material, interviews, and reenactments. The documentary’s premiere showing at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 7, 2024, was well received by the audience, and following the showing, Sister Nancy and DJ Gravy gave a special live performance. The Tribeca Film Festival, which has a state mission of “highlighting politically, culturally, and socially relevant films from diverse storytellers,” runs from June 5 to 16, 2024, in New York City.
A legendary song
“Bam Bam” was released in 1982 and has been characterized as a kind of female empowerment anthem, and it is one of the few female-headed reggae performances of the time. Sister Nancy was born Ophlin Russell in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1962, and with “Bam Bam,” she became a star at the age of 20. The song is one of the most sampled in history. Mega-superstar Jay-Z used it on his track, “Bam,” in 2017, which credited Sister Nancy’s song and featured her singing part of it in the recording. The sampling of the song has been a subject of controversy as it continued to be played and sampled heavily 40 years after its release, while Sister Nancy and her collaborators were never paid any royalties from its use. As years went by, and “Bam Bam” continued to attract new fans, Sister Nancy had to work as an accountant to support her musical career.
An iconic singer
The documentary of Sister Nancy’s life tells the story of the iconic track while following the career and life of its performer at the same time. Filmmaker Alison Duke has the support of Sister Nancy, who appears in the documentary. Duke has created the film around the singer, telling the story through interviews with the titled “Queen of Reggae Dancehall Music,” her daughter, Shandy, and her fans and collaborators. The documentary features well-known artists such as Janelle Monae, Young Guru, Pete Rock, Renée Neufville, and Sister Carol. It also discusses the people involved with the original recording of “Bam Bam” and members of the reggae and music industry from the 1980s to the present.
Recognition and reception
For many of her fans, which include individuals from all generations of music lovers, the documentary represents a belated recognition of Sister Nancy’s contribution to music and the importance of the song. The inclusion of The documentary highlights how the singer battled the industry for fair compensation for years, finally attaining a positive result. With its focus on the journey of the singer and song over the years, the film provides an important addition to the genre of music documentaries. Fans and supporters of Sister Nancy believe the film finally gives Sister Nancy her due and shows the challenges and obstacles confronted by the creator of “Bam Bam,” the frequently sampled track that has contributed to the success of many other artists over time.
About director Alison Duke
Award-winning filmmaker Alison Duke is the first Black woman director to make a “Canadian Heritage Minute.” She was presented with the Women in Film and Television Toronto Crystal Award for her dedication in mentoring young filmmakers. She began her career making music videos for Canadian artists, with her breakout effort the documentary, “Raisin Kane: A Rapumentary,” about the Toronto group, Citizen Kane. Her recent work includes award-winning projects such as “Mr. Jane and Finch,” “Cool Black North,” and “Promise Me.” She is co-founder of the OYA Media Group and the Oya Black Arts Coalition. Summarizing her work, Duke has said, “I am a Black woman, and because I am a Black woman I am a survivor, and because I am a survivor I am a storyteller.”
Photo – OYA Media Group
