Country: Jamaica
Ophlin Russell, better known by her stage name Sister Nancy or Muma Nancy, is a pioneering Jamaican dancehall DJ and singer, recognized as the first female dancehall DJ and described as a "dominating female voice for over two decades" in the genre. Born on 2 January 1962 in Kingston, Jamaica, she grew up in a conservative household with 14 siblings, including her elder brother Robert, better known as Brigadier Jerry. Defying her family’s expectations, she followed her brother into DJing and began performing on sound systems such as Twelve Tribes of Israel’s Jahlovemuzik and Stereophonic with General Echo. Her early career was marked by perseverance, often running away from home to perform, and she got her first chance to DJ professionally at the age of 15, eventually stepping confidently into the dancehall scene by 16. Sister Nancy’s recording career began in 1980 with producer Winston Riley, resulting in her debut single “Papa Dean” for the Techniques label. She broke barriers by performing at Reggae Sunsplash as the first female deejay and became the first female Jamaican deejay to tour internationally. Her debut album One Two was released in 1982 and featured hits like “One Two”, “Money Can’t Buy Me Love”, “Transport Connection”, and her most famous track, “Bam Bam”, which became a reggae anthem and has been sampled extensively in multiple music genres. She collaborated with notable producers such as Henry “Junjo” Lawes and artists like Yellowman, continuing to perform live and maintain cultural and spiritual themes in her music. Her brother Brigadier Jerry remained a major influence on her style and career. Later in life, Sister Nancy relocated to New Jersey in 1996, working in banking while continuing to perform intermittently. She released her second album, Sister Nancy Meets Fireproof, in 2007, featuring original tracks and instrumentals. “Bam Bam”…
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