ALEXIUS “Ras” Dumisani
was born and raised in Durban, in Kwazulu Natal. His father, of royal descent from Mtunzini, met his mother in Durban.
He grew up in a Christian home and took part in school and Sunday choirs at the early age. In his wild and unruly youth, Ras Dumisani discovered that he had remarkable talent and started playing Bongo drums. At the time he was also interested in a career as a football player.He decided to choose music,rather then sport, as he came from a musical background.
His father was a singer and used to compete with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who were friends and neighbours of the family. Ras joined a group called Oneness, Love and Music. It soon became evident that he was a leader rather than a follower which led him to forming his own band called Afrikhaya. Then Ras Dumisani performed on percussions and lead vocals. With very limited opportunities in Durban, Ras moved his group to Johannesburg.
There he discovered that local promoters were not ready for the rhythm and the political lyrics of his reggae music. A rather nasty encounter with a producer finally convinced him to spread his wings. Ras Dumisani, the Zulu man, took his passion for reggae music and his love for life and people with him to the United States, Europe (London, Holland, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland), Israel, West Africa and finally to France.
percussion, vocals
Genre: reggae
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