NIYORAH
Nigel "NiyoRah"
Olivacce was born on October 9, 1980 in the coastline village of
Pointe Michel, Dominica. At age 4, he moved to St. Thomas, U.S.
Virgin Islands, with his family, and cultivated an interest in
music through listening to artists in his father's and uncle's
roots reggae collections, including Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer,
Burning Spear and Lucky Dube. By age 16, NiyoRah began chanting
on the streets about the life experiences of the Savan ghetto in
downtown Charlotte Amalie.
At age 18, NiyoRah decided to pursue a career in reggae music.
"Reggae had one of the greatest influences on my life. It's the
type of music I cling to for some mystical reason," he says.
"The most high guided me more than me myself." He took on the
name NiyoRah - a combination of his nickname growing up and out
of respect for the omnipotent power of the sun. Music was a
natural career choice because of his musically gifted family.
His grandfather is an award-winning vocalist who sings Negro
spirituals and gospel, while his aunt, Ophelia Olivacce Marie,
is an international French-speaking artist heralded as
"Dominica's Songbird" for her style of cadence and calypso. In
1998, he was introduced by local reggae radio personality Ras
Manny to Black Juice Records, a Virgin Islands-based recording
company. He joined with six other reggae artists under the
company to co-found Star Lion Family. His voice can be heard on
Star Lion Family's EP "Brighter Days" released in November 2003.
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NiyoRah's songs delve into a wide
range of issues, including cultural living, love for nature,
strengthening of all peoples, especially Africans, and spiritual
growth. In concert, NiyoRah has performed in front of thousands,
sharing the same stage with artists such as Sizzla, Capleton,
Junior Reid, Buju Banton, Bunny Wailer, Glen Washington, Eve of
Rough Riders, Midnite Band, Dezarie and Junior Kelly.
NiyoRah's debut solo album "A
Different Age" was released in the summer of
2005 to wide acclaim. Thereafter, Niyo embarked on the
first I Grade Family Tour alongside Ancient King, Abja and Army
backed by the Black Foot band.
2006 began
with a bang as NiyoRah performed at the first annual Winter
Reggae In Paradise. Thereafter another extensive tour of
the U.S. was launched just prior to the release of his second
solo album "Purification Session".
Of his music,
Niyorah states "I and I is the vessel, so check the lyrics and
not the man. I and I just a vessel for his majesty and the
black diaspora. Love for all people, but more focusing on
the unification of I and I people. Because, as his majesty
said in prophecy, as black people come together, the earth will
come together. So I'm stressing that our black people must
come together and purify so that that energy can help other ones
along the way also."
NiyoRah Links:
The Music of
NiyoRah -
Track List
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