OBA SIMBA

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