Simba Morri
Morri Natti, known as Simba Morri, is a musician and producer of Kenyan origin. He was part of the alternative music scene in South Africa during the 1980s along with Bayete, Malombo and the African Jazz pioneers. He maintained a high profile on the alternative music scene with occasional music shows at the Market Theatre (Johannesburg), Playhouse Theatre (Gqerberha) and Baxter Theatre (Cape Town).[1] Simba Morri has also performed in countries such as Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Eswatini, Botswana, and Zambia.[1]
Early Career
Simba Morri was born in Kenya and completed his schooling there. In 1981, he came to South Africa as a scholar and studied Anthropology at the University of Witwatersrand.[2] Shortly after his enrolment at the university, Morri performed at Chelsea Theatre Underground in Hillbrow, which was positively received by South African crowds.[3] He devoted himself to pursuing music full-time after this.
By 1983, he sang at political gatherings at cultural evenings across universities in South Africa.[3] He also performed as part of the band Mapantsula at political gatherings, cultural events, and fundraising concerts.[1] The band Mapantsula formed part of Shifty Records' anti-conscription campaign compilation, Forces Favourites.[2] This included, among others, Jennifer Ferguson, The Kalahari Surfers, Stan James, Roger Lucey, and The Cherry-Faced Lurchers.[3]
Late Career
During his later career, Simba Morri took part in many tours and performances both in South Africa and internationally. Locally, Simba Morri headlined at the 1995 Splashy Fen concert as well as supported Crosby, Stills & Nash for their 1996 Johannesburg concert.[1][3] Internationally, he was invited in 1994 to perform at the "Out of Africa" Arts festival in Seoul, South Korea and in 1997 he performed at the Fin de Siecle Festival in Nantes and Paris in France.[1]
He was also known to have performed at charity events during his career. He performed at concerts for the Institute of Race Relations and Operation Hunger, the Annual General Conference of the Farmworkers Research and Resource Project, and the National Institute for Community Education Conference.[3] In 1995, the South African Broadcasting Corporation used "Unity" and "Celebrating Life/ Siyajabula" sung by Simba Morri as part of the elections' voter motivation campaign.[3]
Simba Morri is also fluent in his native Maasai, but can also converse in Swahili, English, Zulu, Afrikaans, Sotho, Nyanja, Shona, and many more. He is a very versatile and flexible artist capable of playing a variety of musical styles and singing in many different languages.[1] His music was called Mashariki Muziki, a blend of rhythms and styles that combines the Swahili Hi-Life music of Kenya, Central African Socca, East Coast Bhenga, Zimbabwe Chimurenga and the Mbaqanga and Township Jive of South Africa and Mozambique.[2]
Archive
His archival material including photographs, vinyl records, letters and documents, are in the Hidden Years Music Archive, preserved at the Documentation Centre for Music, Stellenbosch University in 2017.
Discography
Simba Morri produced an album called Wasamata through Shifty Records in 1986.[4] It was performed by Simba Morri (Vocals, Guitar), Gito Baloi (Bass, Backing Vocals), Lloyd Ross (Guitar), Ian Herman (Drums, Percussion), Kelly Petlane (Flute), and Jannie Van Tonder (Trombone).
| Track Listing | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Wasamata" | |
| 2. | "Mwananchi (Mwakenya)" | |
| 3. | "Hukuna Matata" | |
| 4. | "Elephant Dance" | |
| 5. | "Tino Danana" | |
| 6. | "Gonga Gonga" | |
| 7. | "Jazzy Jive" | |
| 8. | "Combonoyombo" | |
| 9. | "Swahili Suite" | |
| 10. | "Jambo Africa" | |
Simba Morri also produced a second album called Celebrating Life through 3rd Ear Music in 1990.[5] It was performed by Simba Morri (Vocals, Guitar), Hope Ndaba (Backing Singer), Xolisa Gqoli (Backing Singer), Nomti Langa (Backing Singer), Nokuthula Fakazi (Backing Singer), Khombi Sangweni (Backing Vocals), Ozi Nelson (Backing Vocals), Zanele Ngobese (Backing Vocals), Madoda Mathunjwa (Drums), David Manda (Keyboards), Gerry Kunene (Saxophone), Sibusiso Ntuli (Pennywhistle), and Dan Chiorboli (Percussion). A second version was reissued by Gallo Music Production in 1996.
| Track Listing | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Mwanangu (My Child)" | 6:10 |
| 2. | "Mwanza Nyanza (Celebrating Life)/ Where The Nile Begins" | 4:44 |
| 3. | "Pendo Na Amanzi (Love & Peace)" | 3:18 |
| 4. | "Kengele (Time Up)" | 4:12 |
| 5. | "Unity" | 3:58 |
| 6. | "Mambo (Internal Affairs)" | 5:13 |
| 7. | "Hedaya (Heritage)" | 3:58 |
| 8. | "Nyoni" | 3:05 |
External Links
Simba Morri at Hidden Years Music Archive
Reference List
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Simba Morri". Shifty. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Simba Morri". Bandcamp. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Simba Morri - The Man and His Music - A Brief History". 3rd Ear Music. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ↑ "Simba Morri - Wasamata". Discogs. 14 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ↑ "Simba Morri - Celebrating Life". Discogs. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
This article "Simba Morri" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Simba Morri. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
