South London dub music pioneer Jah Shaka, famous for spearheading the genre with his ‘spiritual’ sound systems, has died.
His exact age and cause of death last Wednedsay April 12 have not been disclosed.
Also known as Zulu Warrior, the singer, producer and record label owner, who was believed to have been in his 70s, came to the UK from Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation in the 1950s.
His selection of powerful dub steppers, which he played through his totemic Jah Shaka Sound System, have influenced renowned outfits like Iration Steppas and the Channel One Sound System.
Jah Shaka had strong roots in Peckham and across south London, playing in venues across the capital, UK and Europe.
RIP Jah Shaka – a true pioneer for UK soundsystem culture. Here he is with The Fasimbas performing My Song at Ariwa Sound with Mad Professor at the controls in 1991https://t.co/CqUpbETAZ8
— Birmingham 81 (@Birmingham_81) April 12, 2023
British Dub producer Mad Professor tweeted: “It’s a sad day today, as we say farewell to my friend Knocky, the Zulu warrior, Jah Shaka.
“In the very early days he would book the studio weekly, and shared building in Peckham, with Jah Shaka Music operating from the HQ.”
It’s a sad day today, as we say farewell to my friend Knocky, the Zulu warrior, Jah Shaka. Shaka played a huge part in the establishing of AriwA
In the very early days he would book the studio weekly, and shared building in Peckham, with Jah Shaka Music operating from the HQ pic.twitter.com/b7GOQRYV1A— Mad Professor (@MadProfessordub) April 12, 2023
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As a young man living in London in the 70s, Jah Shaka started out working on the Freddie Cloudburst Sound System as an operator.
By the late 70s, he’d built his own sound system which was gaining a reputation for its energetic, resonant style.
The legend who is Jah Shaka has died.
This is such sad news.
May he sleep peacefully ???? pic.twitter.com/Jc7CecTPTh— Lorraine King (@lorrainemking) April 12, 2023
Jah Shaka often spoke about music as means of freedom in a racist society. In a 1978 interview, he said: “There’s a lot of things what makes black people not really free even in this country and all over the world.
“But you know, just by hearing a certain record… you have to move your body – it’s automatic. There’s no other way, as far as I see it… except from music, to be free in this country.”
In 1980, he launched Jah Shaka Music label and in 2009, Greensleeves Records issued a compilation of roots reggae cuts chosen by Jah Shaka, entitled ‘Jah Shaka Presents the Positive Message’.
He also set up the Jah Shaka Foundation with projects in Jamaica, Ethiopia, and Ghana, in 1992.
