OBA SIMBA

Oba Simba is the quintessential
quiet warrior. He has a quiet reserve and confidence that projects the
threat that nothing can derail him, and radiates an easy authority without
even a hint of arrogance.



There are a few men who could have
survived the ugly reserves in life experienced by Oba Simba with not only
resilience and determination but incredible grace as well. He is not embittered
by a tragedy that has left him physically challenged that may have broken a
lesser man. But then, Oba Simba is not just any man. In 2007, while working on a
survey boat, he was involved in a horrific accident that slashed his left foot,
injuring him permanently.



“We were doing some underwater
surveying, and we were towing two pieces of sonar equipment, when the equipment
got stuck on something, but then the cable broke and my foot got entangled in it
and it pulled me right up to the metal pulley and it cut off my left foot
clean,” he said. The injury sheared off his left instep and foot, and the injury
sidelined him from the music business for over a year. He now needs special
orthopaedic shoes that enable him to walk, and he has returned to the music
business with a bouncy new single called “Shape of the Century”. “Ah just Jah
Works, this whole thing taught me an important lesson in life that I can
overcome anything. I just use this experience as a way to firm myself up to
tackle life”, he said.



The name Oba Simba is an amalgamated
word that means King of the Lions. Oba is a Yoruba word that means “King” and
Simba is Swahili for “Lion”. He officially changed his name to Oba Simba a few
years ago, effectively banishing what he called “my Babylon name”.




Oba Simba’s crisp clear vocals and his
well-written thought provoking lyrics are a revelation in an industry which has
become too obsessed with bling and trigger-pulling.



“When I write, I give a glimpse of my
soul, I put my heart into it” he said. He first tasted success with the single
“Whistling Bird” on the “J’taime Riddim”  put out by Special Delivery Music. Oba
Simba also appeared on several releases including “Cellblock Link Up Vol 1” and
“A Timeless Vibration”.



Another recent single “The Herbs” was
released in October 2009 on the Whistling Bird EP has popped up on a number of
reggae charts in Europe and is available for sales on iTunes and other
downloadable charts.



Oba Simba thrilled the audience during
the MIDEM Music Conference 2007 in France sharing a stage with musical
heavyweights such as Shaggy, Etana, Tessanne Chin and Daville. In 2009, he was a
finalist in the Jamaica Cultural Development Commissions annual Festival
contest.



Oba Simba was born in December 1971 at a
place called Heartease in the parish of St Thomas, but grew up in Allman Town in
central Kingston. He attended Trench Town High School where his excellent
performances made him a star.



He performed at Teensplash concerts as
well. He has now established his own production company Roaaarrr Productions.
His is striving to make his mark as a producer and a songwriter. He released the
Lacadema Riddim which enjoyed favourable rotation on FM radio with songs such as
“Beat It” by Lutan Fyah. He has also co-written tracks on Sharon Tucker’s
upcoming album.



One of those tracks “Give a Little Love”
peaked at 2 on the CMV E Strip charts in 2010. The song was co-produced by
Cellblock’s Syl Gordon and Oba Simba.



“I am growing from strength to strength
and I will not stop until I achieve my goals”, Oba Simba said. He is now turning
his attention towards promoting the single “Shape Ah Di Century” a feel-good
romantic Ballard that harkens of the gentler, kinder days of reggae music. “It’s
a special song that any reggae lover can rock to and is written in a way that
will not offend even as I speak about the assets and attributes of a woman” he
said laughing. “One doesn’t have to be overt and disgusting when it comes to
talking about women, I think that is part of the problem with some of the music
put out in the dancehall today, I have come to show that there is another way to
do things, a gentler way. ‘His name Oba Simba. Hear him roar’



Reggae-live.co(France).
“Oba Simba built the vibe with strong vocals and a mix of contemporary and
traditional roots reggae."



Jamaica Observer
(Jamaica) “He woke the MIDEM's audience up in Cannes and he
appeared on tunes full of good vibes with a voice more than remarkable."



Reggae.fr (France) OBA SIMBA Tel: (876)
485 7371 E-mail:



kingsimbaden@yahoo.com



Oba Simba