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Sister Nancy - Sister Nancy (Ophlin Russell) broke ground as Jamaica’s first internationally recognized female dancehall deejay. Her 1982 hit “Bam Bam”, recorded at Channel One Studios and released on Winston Riley’s Techniques label, sits atop the Stalag riddim, a groove as eternal as reggae itself.

The chant “Bam Bam” dates back to Toots & The Maytals (1966), connecting Nancy’s version to a deeper Jamaican lineage of rhythmic call-and-response. Her interpretation, however, is wholly her own: fierce, confident, and declarative.

Her debut album One Two (1982) made history with the track Bam Bam, recorded over the legendary Stalag 17 riddim. The song’s infectious groove and bold lyrics became a worldwide anthem, later sampled hundreds of times across hip-hop and pop — from Lauryn Hill to Jay-Z. Though she received no royalties for decades, Sister Nancy’s perseverance and eventual legal victory symbolized a reclaiming of artistic ownership. Now celebrated as the first woman to rise in the male-dominated dancehall world, she stands as a cultural icon whose voice and message continue to echo through generations of reggae and beyond.

Reggae on the Lake was created and organized by Ramon Pardo, a Realtor® and owner of TERRA Properties®.  Ramon has been a resident of Lake Anne of Reston for over 25 years. After contracting Culture, an internationally known reggae band to perform at his wedding in Jamaica, he wanted to bring some of that “magic” to Lake Anne Plaza.  “Reggae music is the perfect symbol for the world we strive to live in. One of peace, love and unity” he said in a statement about the festival.