established 01/04/00 Sustaining the principles of love in action : ubuntu /sharing PORTFOLIO OF CULTURAL JOURNALISM : the doors of culture and learning shall be opened struhuru@gmail.com

I open myself to the wisdom of my elders, those who have truly lived in the most trying of circumstances to resurrect the human spirit from the manipulation of exploitation and greed. To ths day Ijah Menelik is pumping out his fresh and glorious reggae music from Washington DC. As always there is great wisdom from Adam when he says that it is the work of Ijah Menelik that is bringing down the American administration. His ultimate weapon is music. To the youth we all speak, stand aside from the live fast die young, hey big spender attitude of the flashy media industry. The greatest joy a man can have is experiencing true beauty (as with the love of the child), (as with he blossoming of the earth), (as with the interpretation of musical collaboration), ambition and headonistiic pleasures is a joke to sell you products and cloud your focus of what you are supposed to be.






Is it true that those who come through the hardest schools are the richest? Is it true that those who suffer learn joy? For humility is the tool of learning and wisdom is the tool of teaching. It is amazing the walk of faith. A person may become completely isolated before they break through. Breaking through is the rendering of yur creative services as indispensable to a global audience. There have been many examples. Let me draw on the example of someone who has not yet broken through to the extent of a global super star (as of yet)! IJAH MENELIK sings a stirring sensitive passuiate and dance provoking blend of hip hop and reggae. He has an iron will and deep seated principle of consciousness which ensures his songs will not only take on a spiritual significance in their entertainment, but they will be tremendous vehicles of learning. It is the expression of the artists that mark the times. To the young girls he is saying ‘you don't need a fast car! Slow Down take your time, get an education. To the searching man he is saying honour love and respect women. And to everybody hr is saying love mother earth. Coming from the islands of Jamaica, this wise king is currently pumping his positive vibrations from Washington DC “God puts his strongest men in the hardest places.” And as the going gets tougher with the war on war on petrol, Ijah Menelk will rise as with the wings of an angel with an expansive youth having to exchange the YANKE conditioning for a new moral and peace of mind. No comparisons are necessary. Ijah Menelik is a very unique kind of musician with divine intentions. He is recorded on the Shashamane movement label. We are seeking representation in Afrika!





After years of soul searching, Ijah was pleased to find literature about fellow Montserratians, Helen and James Piper, who were the first people choosen, hand picked by HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY HAILE I SELLASIE I (pictured left), to repatriate to "Shashamane lands". Shashamane was land given by Jah for souls to repatriate from western aggression. Inspired by this great revelation, Ijah in 2000 created his record company Shashamane Movement.

Ijah Menelik, born on the 29th of October 1971.

Ijahs father Justin Cassell, The Mighty Hero, was the first calypso King of Montserrat and the Leeward Islands, performing in Kingston, Jamaica on many occasions. Together with Ijahs mother Sally Hewitt, a classical guitarist and singer in her familys band.

His uncle The Arrow, legendary Soca Superstar, known for hit songs, "Hot, Hot, Hot", Groove Master (Mighty Quinn), and Under the Sea (The Little Mermaid).

L egend have it that his family, descended from an Ashanti princess who was kidnapped from a river in Ghana.

Heard Eric Donaldsons Cherry Oh Baby. This incident would later spark a fire in his soul leading him onto the path of reggae.

In 1982, along with high school friends, formed the reggae group The Militant Youths.

Then known as Professor Money: Ijah, however, was discouraged with the music industry, due to a few factors. Reggae music is a vehicle to transfer an important message of salvation to the world, and some artists have been unfair to Reggae music. In order for Reggae to receive respect in the mainstream, the responsibility falls on us, the artists, to be ambassadors. We must keep the music original, and clean up our lyrics for the sake of the children.

Jon Mahi Militant youths Shashamane Movement Inc. writes September 2006 : "If there is not some material reward that is visible to the masses they will likely not be interested in contributing or being a part of the group. Consider the use of Jamaica and dreadlocks, the i-ble and the punky reggae party life style in promoting Rasta, these are material things. It is a blessing to see a brother successful, and his bling can be a sign of that, and in that sense he is showing how great the music business can be to a person, even if they are from the ghetto. However the idea that bling and culture is above G-d is where the line must be drawn. "