ARTISTE PROFILE

?NATIONALITY:AFRICAN
?COUNTRY:GHANA, WEST AFRICA
?HOMETOWNS:BOSO, NEAR ANUM (PATERNAL)
?ADA-FOAH (MATERNAL)
?PRESENT NAME:RAS CALEB APPIAH-LEVI
?PREVIOUS NAMES: EMMANUEL OBIRI KWASI APPIAH
?A.K.A.:CHARLES BUCKMAN APPIAH
?A.K.A.:CHARLIE BUCK-LEVI
?DESIGNATION:SONGWRITER, COMPOSER, ARRANGER,
SINGER, PERFORMER, BROADCASTER, WRITER, FARMER, PANAFRICANIST, RESEARCHER, CONSULTANT; GARVEYITE, RASTAFARI & NKRUMAIST
?MEMBER:MUSICIANS UNION OF GHANA (MUSIGA);
WORLD COUNCIL OF PANAFRICAN ORGANIZATIONS
PANAFRICA); WORLD ASSOCIATION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (WANGO).GHANA ASSOCIATION OF PRIVATE VOLUNTEERS IN DEVELOPMENT (GAPVOD)
?EX-MEMBER:ALPHA BLONDY & THE SOLAR SYSTEM (COTE D’IVOIRE)
?FOUNDER/PREZ:PRODIGY INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS ASSOCIATION (PIPA)

?FOUNDING PREZ: PANAFRICA-GHANA (PG)

?PROJECT INITIATOR & CONSULTANT:

Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi back from hibernation with “How Long?” and “Living The Dream” Project.

Where has Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi (a.k.a. Emmanuel-Ist Charlie Buck-Levi) gone? Where did he vanished to? In another way, where has Ras Appiah-Levi emerged from? His ‘fans’ and ‘admirers’ demand an answer!!! Yea.

There has been a morbid fear of seeing and hearing of artistes fading off; but Ras Appiah-Levi, the African Teacher is far from this stage of life. He is not only vibrant, but also wide-awake, musically as he was years ago; with a global mission. Join them!
“On March 6 this year (1993), I was walking around the Sadisco Traffic Lights at Kokomlemle (in Accra) when I heard some heavy reggae music vibrating in the air. Since reggae is my favourite music and I had some time to spare, I decided to trace where the sound was from, for the music was quite different from any other reggae I have heard, and believe I have heard a lot.

The trail took me to the Afro-Caribbean Center at the former Sparks Center and there on the stage was a Rasta haired gentleman with a lady. And the music they were playing was really mean. My first impression was that they were probably from outside the country, but subsequent enquiries proved me wrong at least in one aspect.

I was pleasantly surprised that we have such a talent here in Ghana, but what really amazed me was that very little was known about this gentleman, and I wish to correct this long overdue mistake.

So ladies and gentlemen, meet Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi also known as Emmanuel the First Charles Buckman Appiah also known as Charlie Buck-Levi, also known as Obiri Kwasi. He is a native of Boso-Gua, near Anum (in the Eastern Region of Ghana)…. ……”.

{Culled from “Entertaining Eye” Newspaper, March 12, 1993}The Arts and Entertainment with Matilda Brown)

THE LEVITES

Ras Buck-Levi: Carrying Jah Heavy Load

“He sees himself as Africa’s Divine Cultural Ambassador, a Pan Africanist, human rights activist and teacher. But for one primarily imbued with innate affinity for music, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi, also known as Charlie Buck-Emmanuel-Ist exudes the visible characteristics of a mainstream reggae artiste – beard, tufts of overhanging dreadlocks festooned with rainbow colours (red, gold and green) and a “skunking” deportment to match.

Soft-spoken, calm and genial, a passing acquaintance in 1990 with Uhuru (Magazine)………This time around, with a twinkle in his eyes, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi’s journey back into past difficulties, appraising his dreams with admirable alertness, his projections targeted mainly at a future of sharp introspection and hard work. His objectives?

“It is a big, heavy load and I need the support of all of you people – bourgeois, proletariat, fat belly and slim belly. This project is to prevent conflicts in Africa; African Unity, Peace and Love through repatriation, reparation and resettlement, also by extension to market Ghana and Africa worldwide through the cultural medium…”

As he enumerates his artistic achievements, it became evident from his repertoire that in record time, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi has really found his humble niche among reggae artistes. With a list of major songs under his belt, it cannot be gainsaid that his success goes beyond what can be described as a beginning for one who had earlier opted to chart a soloist path. Thanks to the support of his inspired group, the “Ethiopian Idrins” of Ghana. So spake, Ras Caleb, the musical preacher and crusader. He, who has ears, let him hear!”Lazarus Dempsey Maayang,
Editor, Uhuru Magazine(Culled from Uhuru No. 6. 1994 (Pages 29 & 30). Ras-Levi(Deut. 18)

HISTORY: EARLY CHILDHOOD

RAS CALEB APPIAH-LEVI also known as Emmanuel-Ist Charlie Buck-Levi (Obiri Kwasi) was born to the late Elder Cofie Essah Appiah (a.k.a. Charles: 1903-1968), a native of Boso-Gua near Anum in the Eastern Region (Mid-Volta) of Ghana, and Madam Mary Maku Hadjor, a native of Ada in the Greater-Accra Region of Ghana. She is an elder sister to the late Panafricanist, Professor Kofi Buenor Hadjor.

His father, Elder C.E. Appiah (1903-1968) was a former General Manager with the defunct A.G. Leventis overseeing the Eastern Region of Ghana. He was also a prominent cocoa farmer and buyer, and is believed to be of royal parentage (at Anum).

APPIAH-LEVI (Charlie Buck) was born at Akim Oda on the 26th day of June 1957. He is the number fourteenth (14th) child of his father’s seventeen (17) children (9 females & 8 males). His childhood which was literally nomadic saw him through Hecta International School at Akim Oda, Anglican and Presbyterian Schools at Boso, Agomenya Methodist School at Odumase Krobo, and Okaikrom Local Authority Middle School, near Kwae, Kade all in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

Elder Cofie Essah Appiah – A PATRIOT (1903-1968), Father of Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi

FORMATIVE

During his formative years, Caleb Buck-Levi was brought up mainly on Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian traditions. The early 1960’s saw him as an ardent Anglican Mass Server (Boso Anglican Church) and a Chorister (at the Agomanya Methodist Church; he had taken after his old man who played the church organ which he had previously donated to the Boso Anglican Church), though he was later confirmed into the Presbyterian Church (at Okaikrom, near Kade) where he received his communion. Caleb’s stint at Emit Electronics Institute (Mataheko, Accra) in the mid to late seventies (1974-78) could not endure due partly to his father’s passage into green pastures in 1968.

Hear him, “Electronics was not my way. I could not get what I wanted by way of preference. I could have opted to continue up to the University; possibly to read African History…I came quietly out of Emit without writing my final exams….”

MUSICAL PURSUIT

Why did he cut short his pursuit of electronics?

Says Caleb Levi, “music has always been part of me, my life. When I was a tinny little youth, I used to take my father’s sheep out for grazing (at Boso), and so, like the Biblical Psalmist, David, I used to sing – all alone. I love to be alone, I don’t know why. In short electronics could not draw my yearning passion for music and adventure”.

But when did Ras Caleb have his first contact with professional music? He recalls an earlier interaction with a schoolmate at Emit Electronics Institute, one Cecil Jones who was a drummer of a band called “ENCOUNTER NINE”:

“None of the others knew I loved music because I am one who can keep my feelings inside. When they formed the Classique Handels band, I traveled with them, though I had never been on stage or even held the microphone”.

With a natural abhorrence for playing copyright music because he had “something naturally planted inside”, Buck-Levi could not hit the stage in Ghana since the musical scene was copyright-infested. He opted to seek fortunes on a “foreign turf”, first as a solo artiste….

And so it came to pass that Ras Levi as Charlie Buck found himself caught in the musical maze of La Cote D’Ivoire. That was in February 1984, and by a fluke of circumstance he struck professional acquaintance with Reggae Star Alpha Blondy and the Natty Rebels (later Solar System), a development that plunged him into extensive tours with the group on many musical concerts nationwide in Cote D’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal among others. Caleb was in the membership of the Solar System when Alpha Blondy put up shows in Accra and Kumasi in Ghana in August 1986.

MUSICAL CAREER & PERFORMANCE HISTORY

1984 –In February 1984 as Charlie Buck, Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi made his first ever-professional stage (showbiz) appearance as a member of Alpha Blondy’s Natty Rebels (later renamed Solar System) in Cote D’Ivoire.

- Also as a Solo Artiste, Charlie Buck and the Nazarites performed live at “Samedi Soir” Club at Koumassie in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire on Saturday, December 15, 1984.

In May 1984 Charlie Buck appeared on Georges Tai Benson’s “Neavous Dimanche” television programme of RTI (Ivorian National TV), together with singer Souleyman from Sierra Leone and the “JAH Children” represented by Ismael Isaac, Hassan and Hussein Keita. The Ivorian Television Band backed them all. (Georges Tai Benson was the Executive Producer who financed and produced Ivorian reggae star Alpha Blondy’s first record album entitled “JAH GLORY”.

1985 - Between 1985, ’86 and ’87 he was a freelance radio broadcaster and presenter in English on Radio Cote D’Ivoire International Network with Mr. Jeremie Ahoure as his producer and co-presenter. Artistes among others he has interviewed (and done profiles) on the radio network are: Alpha Blondy, a.k.a. Seydou Kone (1985: release of “Apartheid Is Nazism” album); Burning Spear a.k.a. Winston Rodney (December 1986: “People of The World Tour” in Cote D’Ivoire); Safohene Djeni, Waby Spider, Abou Smith, Serges Kassy,Ismael Isaac et Les Freres Keita, Ice-T Cool, Solo JAH Gunt, Abram Moussa,Larry Check, Woodies, Abou Watt, Kimon Stanislas, Yolande Rasta (Yoyo), Nel Oliver,Jimmy Hope, Christ Ayite among others was most remarkable.

As Charlie Buck, APPIAH-LEVI participated in the first ever “Reggae Festival” held at the “Palais des Sports, at Triechville in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire on Saturday September 28th 1985, which was organized and sponsored by “CRAVEN ‘A’ “(of Cote D’Ivoire”; and subsequent ones in 1986, 1987 and 1987 organized by Kone Dodo’s IFATCO Productions
and sponsored by “FINE” (Cote D’Ivoire).

1986 - He was among the membership of the Solar System when Alpha Blondy performed at the Accra and Kumasi stadium on August 2nd and 9th respectively.

- He also met and performed alongside Burning Spear and the Burning Band in December 1986 in Cote D’Ivoire during “People of The World Tour”, supported
by “Infrared Rockers Band” from St. Louis, Missouri, USA (also major acts on the tour). Charlie Buck (Ras Caleb) was also a special guide and interpreter in French-English for Burning Spear (Winston Rodney) and his musicians; as well as for members of Infrared Rockers Band during the duration of the tour.

1987 - Charlie Buck did a national and external promotional tour with Ismael Isaac
et Le Freres Keita in Cote D’Ivoire, and later in Burkina Faso (in April 1987).

CALLING

1989 - RAS CALEB APPIAH-LEVI in January 1989 heeded the CALL (of JAH) and returned home to Ghana five years of self-exile and solitude. Since his return,his performances have been few. He believes that, “As a man thinketh, so is he”;he set himself to fulfill the CALLING and what JAH has ordained for him to do.

On March 6, 1989, he and a friend organized and promoted (with support of Mr.Gaddy Laryea, Managing Director of Media Magique & Research Systems:MMRS) a Festival of Music at the now defunct Orion Cinema, Accra in
commemoration of the 32nd Independence Anniversary of Ghana.

Were Caleb’s experiences in his musical career rewarding? Says he:

“Yes, especially when I was with Alpha Blondy. Not in terms of cash, but in terms of popular appreciation, people’s response to our musical presentation. You could feel that it really came right from their insides, their hearts. This was also a launching pad. Sometimes after a gig, people step up to ask for my old jacket as a souvenir. Sometimes I wept out of joy. Quite often students invited me to their colleges to share some positive vibes which made me feel happy and Irie”.

What about disappointments?

“I can say I have lots of them mainly at the hands of our own Black brethren, because despite the talents and good works that are being put about by us artistes, we are not given the requisite exposure and appreciation. So the good works done come to naught…the seed planted die. There are many artistes who come to me and their disappointments are in no way different from mine all because of this “kill them before they grow” attitude”.

1989 - How true! When Ras Appiah finally broke out of his reclusive life to perform
publicly, he was the first artiste and only guest performer (backed by “Bibiiba
Band”) to perform alongside legendary JIMMY CLIFF and ONENESS Band Live Concert at the Accra Sports Stadium (now known as Ohene Djan Sports Stadium) on March 18, 1989. Charlie Buck sung and performed nine (9) songs from his repertoire of music which include; “JAH SACRED FEAST”, “GHANA IS CALLING”, “LIFE’S A BEACH”, “JAH-JAH LOVING ARMS”, “SITTING DOWN THERE”, “I’VE BEEN A LONELY MAN”, “SLIMBELLY MAN”, “WE NO SLIPPING, WE NO SLIDING”, and finally “WE ARE GOING”. This concert was organized and promoted by Joe Arthur’s “GYE NYAME Int’l Promotions Inc., USA/Ghana.

- Did a performance of music with other performers at the Pavilion at the Ghana
International Trade Fair Center, La, Accra that was organized by David Dontoh
for the Arts Council of Ghana on Saturday April 1st, 1989.

In June 1989 Charles Buckman Appiah, (Charlie Buck) met the LOVE OF HIS
LIFE in the personality of Juliet Elaine Anderson an African-Jamaican, a native
of Portland, Jamaica, West Indies, but living in London, England.

1990 - On Monday June 18th, 1990 after fulfillment of prophecy, the LORD JAH joined
Charles Buckman Appiah (now known as Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi) and Sister Juliet Elaine Anderson in a matrimonial wedlock at the Accra Metropolitan Authority (now Assembly: A.M.A.). Affectionately known as Nurse-Levi, Sister Anderson-Appiah is a Nurse, Teacher, Songstress, Good Cook and Mother (to all). Her parents are Mr. Lester George Anderson, a retired building contractor now living in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, and Madam Delceta Elizabeth Sutherland, a Beautician and Hotelier in Port Antonio, Portland, Jamaica. Both parents are natives of Jamaica, West Indies.

1991 - Tribute Rt. Hon. Bob Nesta Marley at Ghana International Trade Fair Center, La-Accra on May 12, 1991.

- Won a Reggae Dance Competition held at the now defunct “Afro-Caribbean Centre, at Kokomlemle, Accra t o commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the popular Reggae band ROOTS ANABO from Ghana in October 1991.

1992 – Performed at the “Afro-Caribbean Centre, Accra, Ghana with his back-up Band
as a supporting act for Sister Rita Marley and the Maccabee (from Jamaica) on
Saturday, January 4, 1992.

1992 – Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi and His Ethiopian Idrins Band (Ghana) participated in “PANAFEST ‘92”, and was among the galaxy of musical artistes, and also the
premier to mount the stage at the Independence Square, Osu-Accra to perform(for 35 minutes) on December 19th, 1992.

1993 – In February 1993 at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Benin, Ras Caleb and his band represented Ghana at a “Pan-African Historical/Cultural Festival
in Benin dubbed “Ouidah ‘92” (American-African Reunion) held from February 8th -18th,1993. On Thursday, February 11th, 1993 they performed at Centre Culturel Francais, at Ouidah. On Saturday, February 13, 1993 their performance took place at “Palais des
Sports” in Cotonou. The last performance took place at “Palais Royale” in Porto Novo
where Ras Caleb and his Band shared the same stage alongside diva Ivorian songstress
Aicha Kone and the now late singer, Francois Lougah both from the Republic of Cote D’Ivoire.

Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi & his Ethiopian Idrins (Ghana) featured at the National Theatre, Accra on Saturday August 14 1993 on the 2nd Edition of “SHOW TIME” artistic programme organized by the National Theatre in collaboration with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (G.B.C.), under the auspices of the National Commission on Culture (NCC). Again on Saturday, August 21, 1993 Ras Caleb and his Band supported the Russian Artistic Group “NOVA GRUPA” (The Eastern Stars) at the National Theatre on the 3rd Edition of “SHOW TIME”.

1994 - Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi supported by His Ethiopian Idrins (Ghana) was among a galaxy of artistes who performed live at the National Theatre, Accra on the event of Ghana
Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Awards Night on Saturday, January 8th, 1994 which was telecast live on television and featured performing artistes and groups from Ghana and
other parts of Africa, which includes songstress Nayanka Bell from Cote D’Ivoire, Ras Kimono and Edna Ngoli from Nigeria among others.

BLESSED DAY-1

1994 - On Tuesday, January 11th, 1994, three days after the G.B.C. Awards Night, Sarah-Yeshimabet Wayzero Sutherland Makonnen Abena Asamaniwaa Appiah-Naphtali was born to Juliet Elaine Anderson-Appiah-Levi and Ras Caleb at Dr. A.K. Appiah’s“King David Hospital” at Kotobabi, Accra, Ghana, West Africa.

SARAH-YESHIMABET: BORN ON JANUARY 11,1994 IN ACCRA, GHANA

HAMUTAL-ACHSAH: BORN- ON JULY 11, 2001 IN ACCRA, GHANA


1994 – In July, exactly six months after the birth of Sarah-Yeshimabet, Ras Caleb, his Diaspora wife Juliet Elaine Anderson together with their newly born daughter presented a documented program and project entitled “CULTURAL DIVINE MUSIC FESTIVAL OF
AFRICAN RHYTHMS” to the Director, International Relations/Programmes at the National Commission on Culture. According to the Commission, in response to the presentation, it stated that, “In line with the cultural policy which enjoins the National Commission on Culture to initiate sustainable Artistic, Cultural programs and projects for the promotion of Ghanaian and African Culture on both the local and international scene;having studied the aims and objectives of Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi and His Ethiopian Idrins (Ghana) and found them to be in consonance in both spirit and letter with our cultural policy; The National Commission on Culture declares its support for the “Cultural Divine Music Festival of African Rhythms” scheduled to take place in Accra…and also in the United States of America and Jamaica (West Indies) at a later date”. Up till date no support has come from the Commission or any government, public or private sector.
-September 16 -21, Ras Caleb officially introduced Ghanaian Musician Kojo Antwi to the Ivorian media and music industry in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire.

–Participated in PANAFEST ’94 [December 9th –18th]

1995 – Participated as an observer at the “Slave Route Project” Conference held at the Accra International Conference Center from April 3 – 5, 1995. Ras Caleb made professional contact with the OAU (now AU) representative Mr. Ing. Frederick Yao Alipue (Ethiopia); Mr. Doudou Diene, Director, UNESCO, Division for Intercultural Projects (France); the Mr. Filifing Sako, Chief, Tourism Unit, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa(Ethiopia); and Mr. Ousmane N’Diaye, Africa Regional Representative, World Tourism Organization (Spain).

1996 – Registered Prodigy International Productions Association (PIPA) on February 8th,1996 as a non-profit Cultural Organization, which aims in assisting in a voluntary organized re-settlement of Africans born out of Africa or in Africa, and also undertaking in rousing Black people of their condition and then to the fulfillment of the universal expectation of them, to rid themselves of the muck of ages, and advances forward with the rest of mankind for development (on a cultural platform and sentiments).

*TO BE CONTINUED

Comments                                                Add new Comment   View All