Daweh Congo

Born Rohan Graham on 28 March 1969 in Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies, the vocalist emerged from a household steeped in music. His father, Leo Graham, had already carved out a path in the local recording scene, first fronting the Bleechers and later pursuing solo work. At the age of eight the future artist made his professional debut, joining his father onstage as a supporting vocalist. After completing school he took on assorted jobs before committing fully to music under the name Congo. His first studio attempt came alongside Alton Ellis, who cut the unreleased track “Bread Winner.” Refusing to be discouraged, he next worked with Andrew Nash for “Reggae Journey” and with Stewart Brown for “Rainy Days.” By 1995 he had begun collaborating with Barry O’Hare of the X-Rated Crew, resulting in the release “Jah Call Them,” voiced over the “Drum Song” rhythm. Further successes followed with “No Peace,” “Study Garvey,” and “Coconut Chalice.” These recordings earned him a European promotional tour on which he shared stages with the Gladiators, Prezident Brown, and Holland’s Panache Culture. He also appeared regularly on the popular sound-system mix Heathen Chant, overseen by Irie FM’s Mighty Mike. His profile continued to rise, especially across the United States, where critics likened his delivery to that of a young Burning Spear, Everton Blender, Ini Kamoze, and even Nitty Gritty, although he had already forged a distinctive approach. The well-received 1997 debut album collected his earlier singles and introduced new cuts such as “Travel East,” “Love Is Real,” and the reflective “In America,” a direct nod to his American audience. By 1999 the follow-up “Prophecy Fulfill” confirmed his established standing.