POLOKWANE – “Reggae music traced me and found me murmuring intelligible verses and lyrics which made sense to those who heard me – and my murmurings fitted well into the reggae genre.”
A resident of Tshakuma, Aluwani Munyai had all along loved music but when he listened to reggae music during his teenage days, he knew that he was getting a new experience of the genre he had not taken serious before.
“I knew that seasoned musicians such as Colbert Mukwevho were good singers who had beautiful music with positive lyrics but I did not fully understand the depth of the genre. Little did I know that reggae was not just a genre but the music which formed part of the Rastafarian movement which calls for all people to live in peace, love and harmony.”
After some years, singing became a more prominent part of his life and he developed his music to the roots sub-genre of reggae. He adopted the stage name Ras-Lion and released two albums, Positive Marasta and Vha do di sola (You’ll regret), which cemented his career as a musician.
“My latest album is called Mapate and has 10 songs which are Vhutshilo vhu ya konda, Ro di laiwa, Yehova kha rendwe, Reggae, Mapate, Zwidifhaho zwiya vhulaya, Ahuna a no dikona, Shango lo fhela, Vho xedza Mudzimu and Hu na ndado,” he said.
Ras-Lion was inspired by great reggae artists such as Peter Tosh, Joseph Hill, Gregory Isaacs, Khakhathi Tshisikule of Khakhathi & Friends, Dr Colbert Mukwevho and Ntshenge and the Jah Live.
“I look up to a diverse foray of experienced artists who had come before me – they are my motivation. I sing spiritual songs for my people and I am deeply in love with my music.”
Ras-Lion Munyai is available on Facebook and can be contacted at 060 900 0422.
