Ras Sheehama
Encyclopedia
Ras Sheehama is a Namibian reggae musician. The political pro-SWAPO stance of his father forced him into exile in 1979 to Angola
and Zambia
. There he started to develop his love for the reggae-music
and begin to play guitar. In Zambia
for the first time he got in contact with the Rastafari and Reggae
culture. During the time at a highschool in Lagos
, Nigeria
between 84 and 88 he played in several Reggaebands. When he returned home in 1990 to witness the first free elections in his home country, he brought huge experiences to Namibia.
Since 1990 he has released several vinyls and cassettes which are only available in Namibia
and South Africa
. From these tapes several hits were successful continuously in Namibia. Sheehama was able to win several national prices. The recording band of Ras Sheehama was composed of famous musicians from well-known South African bands Stimela and Bayete
which was also of Lucky Dube
. Ras Sheehama is an outstanding singer, who understands to show African joy of life and criticism of the political and social situation of past and future. Rastafari is always a central point in his songs without becoming pathetic at all.
In the end of May 1999 Ras Sheehama celebrated his first show in Germany together with the former Lucky Dube
's Band The Slaves at the Africa Festival in Würzburg
, Germany
. Ras has performed in Germany, UK,[Cuba], Portugal
and Switzerland
. He also opened the show for the legendary reggae act Don Carlos
in Johannesburg in 2001 and for Manu Di Bango in 1995 in Windhoek
.
Ras Sheehama won the Music Award Category for his song Inotela in 1996 which led him to perform at the Music Festival Le Printemps de Bourges in France
. In 1997 and thereafter to open for Ismael Lo at the Reunion Island the same year.
In March 2005, Ras launched his fifth album Pure Love followed quickly in June 2006 by his 6th album Trevelling On..., a blend of some of Ras’s most popular songs spanning two decades.
The president of Finland, Tarja Halonen, has said she loves Sheehama's music.
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. There he started to develop his love for the reggae-music
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
and begin to play guitar. In Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
for the first time he got in contact with the Rastafari and Reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
culture. During the time at a highschool in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
between 84 and 88 he played in several Reggaebands. When he returned home in 1990 to witness the first free elections in his home country, he brought huge experiences to Namibia.
Since 1990 he has released several vinyls and cassettes which are only available in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. From these tapes several hits were successful continuously in Namibia. Sheehama was able to win several national prices. The recording band of Ras Sheehama was composed of famous musicians from well-known South African bands Stimela and Bayete
Jabu Khanyile
Jabu Khanyile was a South African musician and lead vocalist from the band Bayete.-Biography:...
which was also of Lucky Dube
Lucky Dube
Lucky Philip Dube was a South African reggae musician. He recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans in a 25-year period and was South Africa's biggest selling reggae artist...
. Ras Sheehama is an outstanding singer, who understands to show African joy of life and criticism of the political and social situation of past and future. Rastafari is always a central point in his songs without becoming pathetic at all.
In the end of May 1999 Ras Sheehama celebrated his first show in Germany together with the former Lucky Dube
Lucky Dube
Lucky Philip Dube was a South African reggae musician. He recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans in a 25-year period and was South Africa's biggest selling reggae artist...
's Band The Slaves at the Africa Festival in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Ras has performed in Germany, UK,[Cuba], Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He also opened the show for the legendary reggae act Don Carlos
Don Carlos
Don Carlos is a five-act grand opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi to a French language libretto by Camille du Locle and Joseph Méry, based on the dramatic play Don Carlos, Infant von Spanien by Friedrich Schiller...
in Johannesburg in 2001 and for Manu Di Bango in 1995 in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
.
Ras Sheehama won the Music Award Category for his song Inotela in 1996 which led him to perform at the Music Festival Le Printemps de Bourges in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. In 1997 and thereafter to open for Ismael Lo at the Reunion Island the same year.
In March 2005, Ras launched his fifth album Pure Love followed quickly in June 2006 by his 6th album Trevelling On..., a blend of some of Ras’s most popular songs spanning two decades.
The president of Finland, Tarja Halonen, has said she loves Sheehama's music.