Wasamata by Simba Morri

Simba Morri, is a South African musician and producer of Kenyan origin. He came to South Africa as a scholar and studied anthropology at the University of Witwatersrand before pursuing music full time. He became a regular performer as part of the band Mapantsula, playing at political gatherings, cultural events and fundraising concerts as part of an alternative music scene inside South Africa during the dark days of the 1980s. Significantly, his music added a valuable pan-African dimension at a time when South Africa was culturally and politically isolated from the rest of the world.

In 1986 he was invited by Shifty Records to record his debut album “Wasamata” featuring Mozambican musician Gito Baloi on Bass and backing vocals. Consequently, later that year, together with Ian Herman, Morri and Gito also contributed composition and musical backing to the Mzwakhe Mbuli’s debut album, “Change is Pain” as well as the 1989 release, “Unbroken Spirit”.

In 1994, he was invited to perform at the “Out of Africa “ Arts festival - in Seoul, South Korea. During 1995-1996 two of Morri’s songs “Unity” and “Celebrating Life / Siyajabula” were used by the South African Broadcasting Corporation elections unit as part of the voter motivation campaign.

On the live performance front, He maintained a high profile on the alternative music scene and the cultural circuit with occasional shows at the Market, Playhouse, and Baxter theatres, in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. 1996 saw him supporting Crosby, Stills & Nash for their Johannesburg concert, and also record the "Celebrating Life" album. In 1997 he performed at the Fin de Siecle Festival in Nantes and Paris, France.

Mild-mannered and humble, this non-smoker and non-drinker is a wonderfully warm and radiant spiritual Troubadour. Fluent in his native Maasai, Morri is also comfortable conversing in Swahili, English, Zulu, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Sotho, Nyanja, Shona, etc. He has performed in most of the SADC countries with regular visits to Mozambique, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia.

A true exponent of African / world music, Morri collaborates with artists from all over the world, introducing them to South African audiences, whilst he has also been invited to perform and conduct workshops abroad in France, Holland, UK., and the Far East.

He is truly a unique, versatile and flexible artist, capable of playing a variety of musical styles and singing in many different languages, from his original African / world music to Jazz-Blues, Latino & standards.

Simba Morri, is a South African musician and producer of Kenyan origin. He came to South Africa as a scholar before pursuing music full time. He became a regular performer as part of the band Mapantsula, playing at political gatherings, cultural events and fundraising concerts as part of an alternative music scene inside South Africa during the dark days of the 1980s.

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