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YahKali (Colin James Baker) hails from the Northeast United States, born in Rockville, Connecticut and brought up in the capital, Hartford. Before he could even pronounce the word, Colin knew that he wanted to be a musician. As a youth, Colin was known for his theatrical performances—singing, dancing, and entertaining. During his childhood he learned to play many different instruments including piano, trumpet, guitar, bass, and percussion. Colin first began singing and composing songs in a band called Mission Orange with his two brothers James and Daniel Golden. They would often perform for family, friends and went on to play local coffee houses, back yards and in 1998 were the recipients of the Evelyn Preston Grant performing two concerts in Hartford’s Elizabeth Park. While in high school, Colin studied jazz at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and beginning around the same time, in addition to Mission Orange, began playing in many different music ensembles in and out of school.At the age of sixteen, YahKali was mystically drawn to reggae music playing first in the Lion Heads band with brothers Naffi, Lion, and Repton Angol. It was while playing with the Lion Heads that YahKali was introduced to many of Hartford’s local and international artists and musicians. YahKali went on to play with Head Cornerstones and One Band (Jah Inna We Heart). In 2006, YahKali traveled to Ghana where he studied music and history at the University of Ghana. Along with Daniel ‘Dinakar’ Isner and Virgo ‘Vinay’ Adalete, YahKali made his first documentary film: Drum Sound Language: Tweneaboah. On his return from Africa, YahKali founded Amandla Awethu Africa, Inc., a non-profit organization helping to start farms and build schools in West Africa. YahKali went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from CCSU with a Bachelor’s Degree in African Studies.While in the states, YahKali has played with and is featured on the recordings of a number of artists including, IBA, Don Minott, Burnie T, Emergency Band, V. O. G. (Voice of the Ghetto), Mutti Lewis, and is a member of the Ises band. He has backed the Mighty Diamonds and opened for Third World, Beres Hammond, Mighty Sparrow, and Eek A Mouse playing at venues such as Toad’s Place (New Haven, CT), the West Indian Social Club (Hartford, CT), the B&G Lounge (South Windsor, CT), Vibz Uptown (Hartford, CT), 51 degrees North (Mystic, CT), China Club (Manhattan, NY) and others. In early Fall 2010, YahKali’s debut EP ‘Meditation Time’ is scheduled to be released.Currently, YahKali plays for Wendy Robin and the Quiet Storm performing in Hong Kong as well as other cities in Asia. While not writing, practicing, or performing YahKali serves as president of Amandla Awethu Africa whose mission is to empower African women, men and children at home and throughout the Diaspora to uphold and restore the Greatness in their individual and collective lives. www.amandla-africa.org
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