Kiddus I

Kiddus I

Kiddus I is a reggae singer from Saint Mary, Jamaica. He is associated with roots reggae, dub and rockers, and his work is linked to the Rasta and Black Ark scenes in Jamaican music.

Early life and background

He is born Frank Dowding in St Mary, Jamaica, and uses Kiddus I as a performing name. The name is explained as meaning “Blessed One” in Amharic. He is a graduate of Ras Michael’s Sons of Negus and is also a member of Inna De Yard All Stars.

Work in Jamaica

Kiddus I operates a Rasta commune and crafts centre at 1C Oxford Road in Kingston, Jamaica, a location at the meeting point of Uptown and Downtown Kingston. He is involved with a mixed social setting there, and he also stands out in the Jamaican music industry as a voice against political oppression during the roots reggae era.

He is linked with The Wailers milieu and is described as a Black Ark artist. His recordings from this period are few, including a 7-inch single and several 12-inch releases made with Lee “Scratch” Perry at the Black Ark. He also issues “Security In The Streets” on his Shepards label, a record that praises figures named on the track and connects him to the 1978 Peace Movement.

Recordings and releases

His song “Graduation in Zion” appears on the soundtrack to the 1978 film Rockers and remains his best-known recording. He has little widely released material from the early 1980s onward, and his output is noted for its originality, integrity and broad musical range.

After a long gap, he releases Inna de Yard, his full-length debut, on the Makasound label in 2005. The album includes “No Salvation Until,” which reflects reggae’s one-drop rhythm, while much of the rest of the record has a blues-influenced feel. Later, a compilation of his 1970s and 1980s recordings is issued by the Japanese label Dubstore.