Belizean Legend Bredda David to Celebrate Kungo Music

He’s a well-known name in Belize’s music scene, hailed for inventing the Afro-Caribe genre, Kungo Muzik. David Obi, better known as “Bredda David”, and his Tribal Vibes are back and they’re ready to get back on stage and bring on the beats. The Institute of Creative Arts is inviting the public to join them at the Bliss on August fifteenth of for a live concert to celebrate Bredda David’s extensive music career. News Five’s Britney Gordon has more details on the upcoming show.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

After six decades of making music and shaping Belize’s cultural soundscape, Bredda David is ready to take center stage once again. The iconic musician, known for creating the vibrant genre of Kungo music, is gearing up for a special performance at the Bliss Center for the Performing Arts. He’s played countless shows over the years, but this one? He says it’s different. It’s personal. It’s the one that truly captures the heart of his musical journey.

 

Bredda David, Musician

“The inspiration could really come true from NICH, right? That da mi a good time. And when the minister mentioned it to me, I said, perfect because when the time come, the know it. And as I hear it, I say, yes, this seems like a very good time for sharing music with the people. We have the musicians available, we have a nice place for sharing music.”

 

He first introduced Belize to Kungo Muzik in the early eighties with his single, “No Fear”. It’s a blend of several genres, inspired by the brukdown music he grew up hearing in Dangriga with rock, calypso and funk elements.

 

Bredda David

“We have the drum to start with. We have the set drum, we have the percussion ’cause African beat always start with the drum, and of course we have my guitar, my unique guitar, which consists of a lot of range because my personal life as a guitarist has been a lot of music. So you can hear rock ina the music, hear blues ina the music, soul ina the music.”

 

Bredda David was the first Belizean to be signed under a Hollywood contract and has been praised for his contributions to the arts. But he’s not in the industry for the recognition. What drives him to keep creating is his passion and love for the arts.

 

Bredda David

“If you are a musician and you love it, right? And it part of you and who Jah choose, no man curse. So I done realize that I’m musician. I get rewarded as a musician. I love doing it. This da weh I do every day. I almost have no choice until when he seh Bredda David, you done do your part, then I’ll stop. But to have one of our latest release say, we no wa stop. So until, Jah say a time for you stop. Then we’ll continue doing music.”

 

Although times have changed since he first started making music, Bredda David believes that his music still connects with listeners and will continue to do so for years to come.

 

Bredda David

“It’s more relevant today because the message from then was positive Know thyself and now to the people that pay more attention to knowing themselves, so even more relevant, that’s why the time fi do the music is so perfect.”

 

Britney Gordon for News Five.