IJAHMAN LEVI + CULTURE

A brand-new reggae event in Paris that should be on your calendars immediately is Roots & Culture #4 with IJahman Levi & Culture starring Kenyatta Hill on May 28, 2025, at the Élysée Montmartre!

IJAHMAN LEVI
IJahman, sometimes known as IJahman Levi, is a Manchester-born reggae jamaïcain singer, songwriter, and producer who was born Trevor Sutherland in 1946. IJahman Levi grew up in Kingston’s Trenchtown neighborhood and developed a passion for music at a young age, with Alton Ellis and Joe Higgs serving as his primary influences. He then meets Bob Marley, who, like him, started chanting in Kingston’s streets. Quelque temps après, il enregistre son premier single Red Eyes People pour Duke Reid et Treasure Isle sous le nom de Youth. He then leaves with his parents to settle in England. He meets Rico Rodriguez and even contributes to his well-known song, Africa. At this time, it was influenced by Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. The label Island’s benefactor, Chris Blackwell, then offers to record four songs for him. Unfortunately, shortly after serving two years in prison, he starts to become interested in the Bible and adopts the name IJahman Levi. When he rents in Jamaïque, he records his first album, Haile I hymn chez Mango, followed by Are We a Warrior.

He meets his new girlfriend in 1985 and they become a couple. In the year that follows, he launches his own label, Jahmani, and focuses solely on his career. A significant portion of his songs are based on his dreams, which he believes to be messages from Jah.

CULTURE WITH KENYATTA HILL
Kenyatta Hill’s career began on the day that his father’s career ended. During a 2006 European tour, Joseph Hill, the singer and composer of the legendary jamaïcain trio, passed away. To the astonishment of promoters, fans, and critics, Kenyatta has been on stage and performed electrifying shows on many occasions—a total of ten concerts—until the end of the tour. This has never been seen before, regardless of the musical genre or time period. Kenyatta is being so generous, asHis father had done it for so many years that the two seemed to be one, with strangely similar voices and vibrations that fueled criticism and gave rise to a new reggae mantra: “magical, not tragic.” Inspired by dancehall elements, steeped in tradition, and driven to continue his father’s work, Kenyatta has written to finish the songs Joseph had started and composed original music. Culture that includes Kenyatta Hill continues to share Joseph’s wisdom in reggae consciousness with her youthful and vibrant musical vision.