African Head Charge

African Head Charge

African Head Charge is a British psychedelic dub ensemble from the United Kingdom, active from 1981 to the present. It is founded in 1980 by percussionist Bonjo I, also named Bonjo Iyanbinghi Noah, and develops around a shifting line-up rather than a fixed membership.

Style and label

The group works in dub and reggae, with later descriptions also placing it in industrial, jungle and psychedelic territory. Its music is closely associated with Adrian Sherwood and On-U Sound, with most of its albums released on Sherwood’s label. The project is often linked with Sherwood’s idea of a psychedelic African sound, and with studio-based, heavily mixed and abstract dub production.

History

African Head Charge debuts with My Life in a Hole in the Ground in 1981. Early releases include Environmental Studies in 1982, Drastic Season in 1983 and Off the Beaten Track in 1986. The group does not perform live throughout this early period, then later tours and takes a break before returning with Songs of Praise in 1991.

Further releases include In Pursuit of Shashamane Land in 1993, Akwaaba in 1995, and Voodoo of the Godsent in 2011. The act also issues remix sets, singles and compilations as part of its catalogue.

Membership

Across its changing line-up, African Head Charge includes Sonny Akpan, Burnell Anderson, Eskimo Fox, Jah Wobble, Junior Moses, Skip McDonald, Perry Melius, Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah, Wayne Nunes, George Oban, Nick Plytas, Adrian Sherwood, Bruce Smith and Crucial Tony. Earlier line-up descriptions also mention Prisoner and Crocodile.