Afrikan Simba
In The Beginning
Afrikan Simba is the man who came to this world and was originally called Nivai Nduka. This was the name given to him by his family and his parents. Nivai, short for lnimevai, means 'my name shall never perish and Nduka, his family name, means 'life is best" or 'nothing is greater than life'. His roots are in the Sub-Saharan region of West Africa in lsua a small village in Joinkrama Town, Engenni District, Rivers State, Nigeria and he grew up in North East London, England in the UK. 'HE ORIGINATES FROM THE LAND OF THE DRUM'.He developed his interests in performing at an early age. His first performance that he can remember was in a primary school nativity play. He could have been as young as five at the time, when he played one of the three kings of the East bearing a gift on his visit to the Christ on his birth. His interests in performing developed as he continued with school plays, joined the choir and then later joined the steel band as a drummer. His most memorable performance with the band was at the Commonwealth Institute in London.
His father was a music lover and he listened to all types of music from High-Life, Ju-Ju and other deep African beats to Country and Western and Reggae Music. Simba listened and enjoyed all of these, but he fell in love with Reggae Music. There was something about it that was typically African, but related more to the Western Hemisphere of the world that he was rapidly growing up and developing in.
It was within this mixture that Simba started to acquire knowledge of issues like slavery and colonization of African people, which to a very small degree was talked about in secondary school but never highlighted. It was also during his early youth that such touching and revealing books and films such as 'Roots' by Alex Hailey were first being published and shown on national television.
Reggae Music also seemed to be the only form of music that was dealing with these and other social issues that Black/African people worldwide were suffering from.
Whilst at school, Simba had chosen as a project to study the doctrine and livity of a group of people known as Rastafarians. These were people who were of African descent who had recognized the divinity of the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, the First and who wished to be repatriated to their homeland Africa. They were also the inventors of Reggae Music who had been enslaved and 'carried-beyond' to the Caribbean to Jamaica.
Simba became truly involved in the music at this stage in his early teens. Being a Nigerian, he was already used to 'Pidgin English' and when he was younger he was sometimes left with a child minder who was a Jamaican neighbor. It was her and her family who first introduced him to Jamaican 'patois' (a form of Pidgin English).
At the age of eleven, he found himself practicing how to 'toast" This was a Jamaican way of rhythmically talking over the music (the roots of rapping) in patois (MC or Rapper now sometimes replaces the term Toaster) first of all mimicking famous toasters such as, JAH Thomas, Ranking Dread, Papa Toyan, Brigadier Jerry (the Teacher) and Daddy U-Roy (the Godfather). Mixing their styles and copying their lyrics was how he started, but then he started creating his own style and writing his own lyrics.
By this time he had joined up with some local friends, Adrian Walton, Andrew Simmonds and Glynne Cumberbatch, who were a bit older than him and had formed two small sound systems, Prince Apollo and Exodus. The two sounds soon became one, Exodus and Simba, inevitably became the DJ.
Simba also continued studying hard at secondary school. From a young age his teachers had recognized his intelligence and he was selected into the top classes for Math's, English and French (a language he became disinterested in because of the teacher). He, for his age, and amongst his peers was seen as highly intelligent and aware. He also was becoming very colour conscious as he was developing in a place and an era when racism was a major topic. The National Front and the racist Skinhead gangs were on the prowl in Britain and soon the race riots exploded all over England. Starting in St Paul's Bristol, moving to Toxteth Liverpool, Moss Side Manchester, Handsworth Birmingham and anywhere in London, where you found Black communities.
During this time Simba became very outspoken at school, almost challenging the racist behaviour of some of his teachers, who in turn played on the fact that they knew his emotions and how he felt towards them. This would often lead to trouble and friction with School Heads. He was soon expelled from his first secondary school. It was at this stage that his parents decided to send him home to Nigeria, Africa, a place where his spirit most wanted to be. By this time, he had now fully embraced the Rastafarian way of life and had begun to shun aspects of the school curriculum in England and its' Euro centric ideology, that he now realised was responsible for mis-educating his people and leading them into a state of further subservience and mental slavery. His parents became frightened if they never sent him home he would become a high school dropout.
Growth
Whilst in Africa his love for Reggae Music grew. He continued to practice toasting and it was here that he was given the nickname JAH Thomas after the famous Jamaican artist/producer.He stayed in Nigeria for a further three years where he finished his secondary school receiving his WASC's (West African School Certificates - equivalent to the then GCE 0' Level and the present GCSE in England). In Nigeria he became more culturally aware of his people, their language, traditions and customs. This expanded his mind and as an Afrikan made him more whole. He returned to England at the age of sixteen.
On his return he joined up with some Rastafarian brethrens of his that he had sparred with before he had left England. They were in the early stages of forming a sound system by the name of Zulu Priest. Their names were Daniel 'Zulu' Brooks, Azariah 'Benji', Ivan 'Rakka' Levi and Malcolm 'Shadrack' Levi. They gave him the name Simba and he joined them becoming what? The DJ.
Zulu Priest were very serious (in the terms of Afrikan awareness and the teaching of Rastafari doctrine) but were also a very entertaining sound system, who to a great degree were imitating the style of a much more senior (and probably the most famous of all Rasta sound systems world-wide) sound JAH Shaka, a sound Simba has chanted on and still has the recording to this day. Some people thought they were just copycats while others recognised their ability to be unique and entertaining. People loved their music and their original 'dub-plates' that they would play and they loved hearing Simba on the microphone.
Zulu Priest became quite famous within their locality playing at a lot of memorable functions and attracting a young Rastafarian crowd. Sadly in the late 80's/early 90's, they ceased playing together as a sound system.
During the time with Zulu Priest, Simba was introduced to a great musician by the name of Dub Judah who was extremely multi talented and who had knowledge of production and studio engineering. He embraced the young soundmen and introduced them to studio recording. Here Simba took full advantage of the situation and soon showed off his skills which interested Dub Judah. In 1991, Simba recorded a song entitled 'Give Thanks', which was released on the B-side of 'I Give Jah', a song by fellow vocalist Taboo. Dub Judah was the Producer and both tunes, which were on the same instrumental, were released on his Dub Jockey Label in 1992. Both tracks were received well by the Roots/Reggae audience in the UK and became quite popular in the Roots/Reggae dance hall scene.
Simba's second track was released in 1993, a collaboration with singer, Zemrakh, a Jamaican artist who had been introduced to him by Dub Judah. Zemrakh aka Ron Reid was producing alongside Local 33 (an Afrikan community organisation), an anti drug song and was in need of a DJ.
On hearing Simba, he was convinced that he had found the right man. The result was another dance hall hit, 'The Now Generation'. With continuous work both on sound systems and in recording studios, Simba was becoming more known and noticed.
Also around 1993 Simba became a firm member and vital component in the Channel One Sound System, which was run primarily by Michael and Trevor Bailey, two brothers, who came from the Leyton area in East London where he was based. His membership with Channel One sound did not stop other sound systems from wanting to work with him. It was around this time he linked up with Zion Train. Zion Train was a sound system with a difference in the sense that its' members included a female vocalist and their style of UK Roots had a lot of dance elements of the early 1990's (dance music - jungle acid/techno). This gave them their authentic sound, which was described as ambient.
At that time another producer Daddea Harvey had noticed Simba and invited him to work on his sound system Soul II Soul (with Jazzy B) alongside Bibow General, a fellow MC. This led to more recording in Soul II Soul's brand new, fully loaded high-tech recording studio.
Simba recorded a string of tracks with Zion Train and Daddea Harvey and in 1994, Zion Train on their Wibbly Wobbly World, Archives CD, released Rasta Key and Bumble Bee Bongo.
JA Connection
Musical entrepreneur Colin Robinson formally introduced early 1994 Simba to Nereus Joseph and Kenny Edgehill. This was also the year he went to the Mecca of Reggae Music Jamaica, where he met a lot of his past and present day favourites such as Cornell Campbell, Little John, Tony Rebel, Earl 'Chinna' Smith, Garnett Silk, Dillinger and many more. He also linked with and worked on Lion Heart Sound System from Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth, JA. It was at General Keiser's Lion Heart camp that Simba would stay and Tony Rebel's Flames camp in Kingston that he would frequently visit and it was at these places he found he was very much appreciated, encouraged and inspired.
He continued throughout this time working on sound systems especially Channel One and Jah Solid Rock Foundation a sound that he formed with colleagues Junior 'Wrap' Fearon, 'Tia' Maria Fearon, Louis 'Asher Dread' St Michael, Tony 'Fresh T' Lemom and 'Naps' Binghi Tafari as a 'house party' sound, as he found this enabled him to practice and perfect new lyrics. Nereus Joseph, himself a matured artist, was impressed with Simba's new style and pace, he took Simba to meet Tex Johnson a young but well connected artist/producer and Tex took the two of them to see another 'great' Patrick D at Progressive Sounds Studio in South London. Immediately Nereus and Simba recorded a duo entitled For a Purpose and Simba recorded a solo track entitled Lioness. Tex and Patrick released these two songs as singles in 1996 on a Jamaican label 'Shock Out'. Unfortunately due to lack of marketing, they received very little airplay.
In 1997 on his third visit to Jamaica he made new links. One of these was Wayne 'Sleng Teng' Smith, an artist from Kingston who had his own little eight-track studio in his house in Seaview Gardens. Wayne was very receptive to the artist and they recorded Love Cup and re-recorded Lioness. Simba released these two songs on his own label, Ayamba, which he formed in Jamaica and named after his former girlfriend. That year he also linked up with Caveman Sound in Kingston, performing with them several times (most memorable performance at the Rasta Revolution in Bath, St Thomas).
During 1997 Simba's stayed with an uncle of his, Jephtah Garrick and family in Montego Bay for six months and this uncle introduced him to Paul 'Flower' Crawford, a musician and producer whom for some reason had gone into hibernation. Simba's enthusiasm towards certain aspects of the music business was enough to bring Flower out of hibernation and he felt confident enough to re-release two of his tunes which he had produced, Blood ago Run by Leroy Brown and Life's Experience by his brother, Hopeton Crawford on the new Ayamba label. These were well received by listeners and done very well in the UK where they were previous hits the first time they were released. Simba and Flower along with Prince Ohia, a Nigerian brethren based in JA, now decided that they would run the label and a production company, Orash Music Productions together. With Flower and Prince in Jamaica, and Simba plus a friend and colleague Deji Joseph in London.
Going from strength to strength in 1998, Simba was introduced to Dougie Wardrop from Conscious Sounds and Steve Moscow aka Jah Warrior, two top UK Roots Reggae producers, by Tena Stelin, a top UK Roots artist. He recorded a track, 'One Roar' a version to Tena Stelin's 'Lion Symbol'. Both tracks were released on a twelve-inch EP on Jah Warrior label later that year.
The relationship with Jah Warrior flourished and in 1999, Jah Warrior released another recording 'Patience' on his Jah Warrior Show Case album, which included reggae veterans such as Peter Broggs, Hughie Issachaar and Tena Stelin plus Tony Roots and Culture Freeman. This album was received well especially Simba's track 'Patience', which received a lot of positive praise by radio DJ's and sound systems world-wide as far as Australia and Ghana. 2000, he returned to Jamaica and released four new songs on the Ayamba label, With Love, produced by Dub Judah and Empty Vessels, produced by the Disciples were written and performed by himself, plus versions to each, 'Mysterious Ways' by Dub Judah and 'Keep Cool' by Tena Stelin. He also performed with Caveman sound at Steady Ranks 'birth night bash' alongside the greats like Sugar Minot, Junior Demus, Bushman, General Trees and more.
The Album and The Cell
The new millennium brought a lot of fresh vibes and hope and it was in the year 2000 that he was approached by Skipper Ranking and colleagues to release his debut album 'Salvation for the Now Generation'. This album was not the result of an 'album project' so to speak, but rather a response to the demand from Simba's fans and growing market to be furnished with something 'front-room-friendly', i.e. a CD, that brought all his past work together.The album was compiled using tracks of his that had previously been released as singles on his Ayamba label and others, plus unreleased tracks such as Rootsman, produced by Dub Judah, Read Up, produced by Daddea Harvey, Zion I Way, and Clean Meditations, produced by the Disciples and We Two are One, produced by Wylee Kyat. Included also are ''Sinner', produced by Ras Binghi Tafari previously only available on the Inna Lion's Den cassette, the original version of 'Patience', produced by Carl Gentles and 'Lioness' renamed 'Love You Bad'.
Unfortunately Simba was incarcerated on the 2nd of February, just after returning from his very first trip to Israel with Channel One, before the album release could happen on the 6th of the month. However a limited in-formal release saw the album become an instant success receiving great reviews in reggae music magazines all over the world. To date it has never been formally released. Also released in 2001, two more tracks produced by Jah Warrior, a version of 'Sinner', a single on the 'Declaration of Rights' rhythm and 'Imposter', an album track licensed to Victory Records in the U.S.A. A track produced by Nereus Joseph and Kenny Edgehill on their Sirius record label, 'Strengthen The O.A.U' was also released in this year.
Simba spent seven months behind bars and two months curfew at home 'tagged' electronically, relating to marijuana 'offence' connected with his last trip to Jamaica. Whilst inside he continued to write songs, of which some of them have already been hailed as his best to-date and, JAH willing, will be released in the near future. On his release he entered the University of Sussex, Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication in their European School of Broadcasting Excellence, to study a BA Honours Degree in Content Creation for Broadcasting and New media.
Whilst at University he continued to work with Channel One sound system whom he has traveled with extensively throughout Europe and the UK and making guest appearances on other sounds such as Messenger - Edinburgh Scotland, Blackboard Jungle - France, Rootsseeker, Spain, Meditative Sounds - Sweden, Cultural Warriors - Switzerland (leading to a release on their Cultural Warriors Music label entitled Hail HIM) Children of the Most High - Munich, Germany, Rebel Lion - Norwich England and a few others that have requested his input in their musical projects.
Higher Ites - Graduation, Africa and Abroad (More Fyah)
In Alicante, Spain, in the summer of 2002 he was the headline act at 4 Degree Festival Reggae, Playa De Benitatxell, where he was introduced to Kurando Soji, a forward thinking Japanese youth, who whilst resident in Spain had teemed up with a Spanish girl, Violeta Fernandez, and formed Rootseeker an artist agency, promotion company and Sound system. In the winter of that year Rootseeker took Simba on a five-date tour across Spain, performing in Granada, twice in Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao. It was here in Bilbao where he was first introduced to members of Basque Dub Foundation, Ambessa Sound and Lone Ark. This meeting led to recording opportunities for him and he recorded tracks for all of them before leaving Spain.
2003 was a magical year for Simba, for it was during this year that he enjoyed a couple of live band performances with BDF (Basque Dub Foundation) in Spain, who called on him to perform in Bilbao, in the town square of San Francisco alongside reggae and Studio One veteran Earl Sixteen and on the beach in Jore de Mar where he headlined a sole performance. They have also done some PA work together in the UK, sound system style.
The following year was Simba's final year in University and he had to exclude himself from the music scene again for a while, only going for the odd performance here and there and never staying away for more than a day or weekend at a time. This paid off for him and in July of 2004, he graduated from University acquiring his BA Honours and receiving an upper second-class (2.1) degree for his efforts.
As soon a he dropped his pen he was inundated with calls to perform in various regions around the world, which may have worked out very well for him. However he had promised himself a trip to Ethiopia and his homeland, Nigeria, where he consequently visited during the month of August.
In Ethiopia, where he traveled to Wando Ghenet and stayed in Shashamane, he soon hooked up with one of the countries most prominent female artist's, Haimanet, who invited him to come and perform at her Omire club in Addis Ababa. This he did and received a very warm response. Later he found out that he was the very first reggae artist to perform in that club since it's opening, which had occurred some time back.
Nigeria was a different place to the Nigeria that Simba had loved and lived in twenty-one years ago and he spent a lot of time catching up with family and friends, but he did get a chance to make some new contacts and vaguely assess the music industry out there, which he hopes to be part of one day.
On return from Africa full of fresh vibes a show took place at which Simba got his first chance to perform in front of a predominantly Nigerian crowd, in the Oceans venue in Hackney, East London. He was a supporting act for the artist Lagbaja. Soon after that he went to Tübingen.
Tübingen is a small but very cosmopolitan town, due to it being the home of one of Germany's oldest universities. It is a place that Simba has been visiting frequently over the past five years, since his good friend Harold 'Bongo' Awortwie Grant moved there and settled down. Over there Bongo is a radio presenter and he has invited Simba over several times, the first being when Simba attended his wedding and took the honourable position of Best Man.
Since then Bongo has invited Simba for three shows, the first being…with Shake'a'Leg Sound System, the most popular in Tübingen, in late 2003 and the second and third being on this his last visit, where he performed on the 10th and 11th of September in Tübingen at Epple Haus and Bälingen at Suedbahnhof, respectfully. All of the shows were a success and Simba positively interacted with the crowds, touching them as he always does with his inspirational lyrics and original style.
October 2004 saw Simba heading to Greece, to star alongside Anna Mystic, a young Greek lady who is the foundation of the Greek reggae scene and a prominent promoter and DJ under the Mystikal Reggae banner in Greece. A mutual friend whom Simba had met in university, Georges Stefano Filias, introduced her to Simba. Three shows were the result, one in Thessolonika sponsored by the Rasta Vibes crew and two in Athens sponsored by the 1-22 Club and the Guru Bar respectively.
To date, this prolific and very hard working artist is set for more action as he continues to work on three albums that he has in the pipeline.
We his friends, wish him all the best in his endeavours to edutain the masses in a true Rasta Man Stylee.
JAH Bless him and his works, through the powers of The Christ and under the Banner of H.I.M Emperor Haile Selassie I. King Of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion from The Tribe of Judah; I-lect of JAH, Ever Living JAH, Earths Rightful Ruler
Ras Naptali.
