BelDUB Interview with Bonjo from African Head Charge at Viernulvier, Ghent
Go back 04 March, 2024
Saturday the 24th of Februari 2024, all roads led to Ghent for an amazing edition of the Dub-Up Live sessions (and not DUP UP, as this editor misspelled in the video title 🤦♂️). Maximum respect to the organization, Dub Up and Democrazy. After weeks of strictly soundsystem events, this night of live music was a welcome refreshment.
Headlining the night was African Head Charge, with support acts Aardpeer (a Belgian dub-jazzband) and the UFO Collective. During the UFO Collective show, MC Saimn-I filled in for singer Marijah. What a joy to see this veteran of the scene on stage again in optima forma. We were on a vibe the whole evening and saw strong sets from all bands, but the mesmerizing performance from African Head Charge really stood out. We surely missed Adrian Sherwood on the mixing board, but as they say: beggars can't be choosers.
It was hard to make any arrangements for interviews in advance. But once the BelDUB crew made it backstage, the African Head Charge managment was very friendly and the band seemed to be approachable. Sometimes things just work out, and after the AHC show, we found ourselves sat down for a talk with the founder of African Head Charge, the ever humble and gentle Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah (70). What an honor and a blessing for this dub reporter!
Check the video for this talk about Bonjo's inspiration for the last AHC album: how he learned drums in pocket churches as a child, and how it became the inspirational core of his musicianship. About communicating with drums, spirituality and the different cultural influences in his music. When Bonjo met Fela Kuti and his drummers, they found they already spoke the same language. The drums and chants Bonjo heard in Jamaica came from Africa, so the circle was round. The real surprise of the night was to fond out about the existence of AHC Soundsystem, an 8-stack sound that only plays the real original dub, the organic dub. Who knew? Promotors, bring these stacks to Belgium!