REDCLIFF based reggae artist Jah Bless born Tavona Kevin Padoro continues to make inroads on the
international scene with some of his songs now getting favourable airplay on Jamaican radio
stations.
Jah Bless also known as The Entertainer has rebranded to global brand name, Ganjahtrix in an effort
to conquer the international market with his latest album Born to Lead loaded with tracks ranging
from Reggae, Dancehall, Hip Hop and Afrobeats.
His singles, Jah Love and Sinach's rendition of Waymaker is a testimony of an artist with a conviction
of turning his dream into reality. He also boasts of a string of well-polished hits which include Dada
ne rudzi rwako, Ndouya ikoko, Entertainer, Nyakuzvida, Tendai and Swedera, among others.
He paid tribute to Selecta Country Tiger for being the first Disc Jockey to play his music in Jamaica.
“In Jamaica, he is the first DJ to play my music. Big up the legendary Selecta Country Tiger all the way
from Clarendon.
“He was also instrumental in the rise of Charly Black and Little Hero amongst other superstars. He is
a cousin to the late Dancehall legend Merciless,” said Jah Bless.
Born in February 1975, Jah Bless is best described as a visionary, original, versatile, intellectual,
motivator, innovator, mentor, consultancy, business person, revolutionary, self-conscious, musician,
entertainer, music producer, songwriter, artist, singer, performer, philanthropist, spiritual,
Rastafarian, principled, vegetarian, consistent, fighter, hardworking and humble.
Exposed to Reggae music at a tender age of four, Jah Bless grew up listening to iconic Reggae gurus
like Garnet Silk, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Burning Spears amongst others.
Fast forward to 1996, Jah Bless became a founder member and lead singer of one of Zimbabwe's
first Reggae bands, the Crucial Mix which was led by the Jamaican Elder Trevor Hall aka Ras Jabulani.
During the same time, he was working with one of Zimbabwe's biggest sound system then, the
Startime Supapowa, as both selector and MC.
From 1996, because locally music genres like Dancehall, Hip -Hop were not given their proper
recognition, he decided to do live performances till 2002 the year he did his first single Dada ne rudzi
rwako which was recorded by Delani Makhalima aka Step Aside.
The track went to become number one for seven weeks on one of the daily chart shows at what was
the most popular local radio station.
In 1998, the artist being called Ijahson had his first personal encounter with Jamaican star Buju
Banton after he had come to perform in Zimbabwe. Banton encouraged him to further his studies.
And year later he enrolled for a Higher Diploma in Accountancy with the Harare Polytechnic College.
And as an artist in a society which was looking down upon music as a viable career, he took the most
painful decision by temporarily shelving his music for six years for a full-time managerial job.
During that period, he was able to gain corporate experience when he held managerial post at the
Grain Marketing Board, Norton, Guruve and Katchula Depots from 2002 to 2007.
He resigned in 2007 to undertake Postgraduate studies at the University of Zimbabwe, for a
Diploma in Management for Executives and a Masters in Business Administration/ MBA Financial
Services.
In 2012 he relaunched his music career and has not looked back since then. He has produced three
Albums Yedu Singles Collection 2016, King of Zimdancehall 2017 and Usazvitarisire Pasi 2018.
He was recently hosted by the Jamaican based USA, Dr Empress Rose in a well rewarding interview.
He has done international collaborations with Bobo Vizion a Jamaican based in the USA on the track
Hate and Female Donkey from Namibia, on Shine Africa. All these artists feature on his album Born
To Lead. Locally with Guspy they did the track Nothing Serious.
Jah Bless has shared the stage with legends like Freddy McGregor, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffith.
Passion for Africa his mother continent and humanitarian work is what motivates Jah Bless.
