A little known figure outside of reggae's deep roots circles, Little Roy co… Read Full Bio ↴A little known figure outside of reggae's deep roots circles, Little Roy contributed a handful of undeniable classics to the genre during the 1970s: populace-pleasing hits that were also vehicles for his Rastafari-inspired message. Born during the early years of the 1950s (dates range from 1950-1953) in the Witfield Town area of Kingston, Jamaica, Earl Lowe (aka Little Roy) was inspired at an early age by the songwriting efforts of his older brother Campbell. Though he soon began composing his own material, it was his brother's "I'm Going to Cool It," that a 13-year-old Earl Lowe auditioned for Jackie Mittoo in the mid-'60s, earning him a session at the legendary Studio One. The single failed to "hit" however, and Lowe quickly moved on to rival producer Prince Buster. Newly dubbed Little Roy, the singer only voiced a pair of tracks for Buster before moving on again to the stable of Lloyd "Matador" Daley. Backed by the Hippy Boys, Roy scored his first hit with "Bongo Nyah" in 1969, a song that held the number one slot of the Jamaican record charts during the weeks that followed.

By this time, Roy had begun exploring the teachings of Rastafari, having become acquainted with followers in the Washington Gardens area. This turning point led to the crucial decision to seek complete creative control over his music. Deeming the Jamaican recording establishment too conservative for his choice of subject matter, Roy formed his own Tafari and Earth labels with the help of Munchie Jackson and Lloyd Barnes. In 1974, he came knocking on the door of the Black Ark, the studio run by Washington Gardens resident Lee "Scratch" Perry, an eclectic producer known to be sympathetic to the Rastas. Perry set aside studio time for the recording of both "Black Bird" and "Tribal War." The latter proved to be a hit; its status as a roots classic was later assured through the host of versions that followed. Among them were readings by singers John Holt, Junior Reid, and Freddy McKay and DJ cuts on the rhythm by Dillinger, Trinity, and Prince Far I. Roy responded with a string of excellent, Rasta-informed singles for his new imprints that maintained the standards. Lacking the backing of a big producer, however, songs as excellent as "Prophesy," "Christopher Columbus," "Earth," and "Jah Can Count on I" eventually receded from view, and Roy's full-length Tribal War LP was given a limited release in the U.S. Roy's finest efforts then were largely forgotten until Pressure Sounds released the Tafari Earth Uprising and Packin' House sets during the second half of the 1990s.

Roy continued to record into the early '80s. While "Long Time Rock Steady" and "Skanking on the Banking," a pair of late-'70s 12"s cut for Herman Chin-Loy, found him adopting dancehall techniques, he returned to roots flavors with 1981's Columbus Ship (recorded at Channel One and mixed by Scientist). Laying low for the remainder of the decade, the singer returned with Prophesy in 1989, a collection of his '70s material in old and new guises. Roy was vaunted into the spotlight once again when Victory Dance, a one-rhythm album based around "Prophesy," was compiled at the start of the '90s. Following the release of Live On (1990) and a European tour with Gregory Isaacs, Pressure Sounds owner Adrian Sherwood brought Little Roy into a London studio for the recording of Longtime, ensuring that the singer's vision would live on into the 21st century.

Biography by Nathan Bush (AMG - All Media Guide)

Bongo Nyah
Little Roy Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ba ba baba have you any wool?
Yes Jah yes Jah one big bale full.
Some fe bredda Kayah some fe Bongo Nyah.
But none fe de pork eat jackass him shall burn wid fire.
Fire redder than red.
Nyah dreader than dread.
How can you resist Jah when you have a bald head?
Lick it back Jah.

Lick it back Jah.
Look from you de yah you no know Bongo Nyah.

Rafftry redder than red Feres dreader than dread.
How can you resist him when him have a bald head

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Little Roy's "Bongo Nyah" speak of the importance of faith and righteousness in the Rastafari movement, as well as the consequences of straying from this path. The first two lines reference the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb," but uses sheep's wool as a metaphor for spiritual guidance and abundance from Jah (God). The next two lines mention two Rastafarian figures, Kayah and Bongo Nyah, who are given this wool to symbolize Jah's blessings. However, the next line warns against indulging in forbidden meats like pork or donkey, with the punishment being a fiery damnation. The repetition of the chant "Fire redder than red, Nyah dreader than dread" further emphasizes the severity of this punishment.

The following lines shift the focus to the importance of recognizing Jah's influence in one's life, even if it may be difficult at times. The singer urges Jah to "lick it back" or discipline those who stray from the righteous path. The song then closes with a reference to another Rastafarian figure, Rafftry, who is similarly feared and revered for his spiritual power.

Overall, "Bongo Nyah" serves as a reminder of the central tenets of the Rastafari movement, such as the avoidance of impure substances and the importance of recognizing Jah's presence in one's life. It also highlights the consequences of failing to adhere to these principles, but ultimately offers hope for redemption through faith and discipline.

Line by Line Meaning

Ba ba baba have you any wool?
Asking if there is any fleece available

Yes Jah yes Jah one big bale full.
Affirming that there is indeed a large amount of fleece available

Some fe bredda Kayah some fe Bongo Nyah.
Some of the fleece is meant for Kayah, while some is intended for Bongo Nyah

But none fe de pork eat jackass him shall burn wid fire.
The artist warns that anyone who eats pork or donkey meat will be punished by fire

Fire redder than red.
The fire being referred to is extremely intense

Nyah dreader than dread.
Bongo Nyah is feared even more than other feared figures

How can you resist Jah when you have a bald head?
If one is a believer in Jah and has a shaven head denoting their faith, how could they resist following Jah’s will?

Lick it back Jah.
The artist is calling on Jah to take action

Look from you de yah you no know Bongo Nyah.
If one is present in this place and does not know who Bongo Nyah is, they should not be there

Rafftry redder than red Feres dreader than dread.
Rafftry is even more intense than the already intense mentioned fire, and Feres is even more terrifying than the previously mentioned dread

How can you resist him when him have a bald head
Once again, if one is a believer and has a shaven head, how could they resist following Bongo Nyah?

Writer(s): EARL ALEXANDER LOWE, EARL LOWE, DALEY

Contributed by Alexander K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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