Music of Wednesday, 22 October 2008

Source: ghanamusic.com

Black Prophet still going strong

Kenneth Wilberforce Zonto Bossman was born in 1977 in Accra, Ghana, West Africa. He was 7 years old when he had his first performance with the band Ola Williams. Black Prophet started performing as a solo artist under the name Home Culture. Watch video: Time Bomb by Black Prophet


Prophet feels that he has been blessed with the talent to perform and communicate through his music.


He has a very strong social conscience and his songs and poetry speak of the most important issues or our time peace,love, commitment, environment, AIDS, ect. performing in reggae style singing in English and traditional African languages.


In 1992 Prophet joined the Vibration Kings, releasing their first recording in 1996 called Captivity.


Prophet made his debut solo release in 1998 with his album called Chains. In 2003, 2005 and 2006 Black Prophet toured Europe with shows in several clubs and festivals (Lowlands, Afrika festival Delft, Sundance).


Also some big soundsystem shows with Her-A-Lize It & Foundation Sound.


Prophet has toured extensively in Ghana and West Africa sharing programs with many international performers including: Rita Marley, Pliers, Don Carlos, Yellowman, Steel Pulse, Lucky Dube, Alpha Blondy, Buju Banton & Dean Fraser.


In the year 2005 Black Prophet was in The Netherlands to do some shows. In that time he met Otto (bass) and they performed together and became good friends.


Otto went to Ghana to visit Black Prophet and they talked about playing music together, Black Prophet was trying to find a backing band to perform with whenever he would have gigs in The Netherlands. The band Thunder Strike was founded in 2006 when Black Prophet returned to the Netherlands to record his album called Legal Stranger. Thunder Strike came to Ghana in 2006 to do some shows with the Black Prophet, sponsored by Afriqiyah Airways.


Thunder Strike is a band existing of musicians with roots in various parts of the world, which gives the band the clear opportunity to send a message of unity. The musicians have a wide experience in several kinds of music: the bass player has been into reggae music for 21 years, the drummer has experience in reggae and African music for 23 years, the lead guitar player has been working in reggae and rock music for 30 years, the riddim guitar player has been in reggae for 15 years, and the keyboard musician has been playing for 20 years!


The band works with a back-up singer who has been working for 10 years and the sound man has been doing his thing for over 20 years. All members of Thunder Strike have been travelling around the world and have been performing with numerous other bands.


Black Prophet & Thunder Strike are:


Lead singer: Zonto Bossmann aka Black Prophet

Drums: Kpakpo Odametey aka Kpakpo the wicked drummer

Bass: Otto Roolvink aka Sugar Toot

Lead Guitar: George Gomies aka Maluku Warrior

Riddim Guitar: Michael Knabe aka Mikey

Keys: Johnny Dawidoski aka Johnny the shuffle

Backing vocals: Cheryl Hasselbaink

Sound engineer: Alex Gomies