This article may have been created or edited in return for undisclosed payments, a violation of Wikipedia's terms of use. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. (January 2020) |
Emmanuel Anebsa | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Steven Emmanuel Wilks |
Born | 27 November 1972 52)[ citation needed ] | (age
Origin | Bristol, United Kingdom and Jamaica |
Genres | Reggae |
Years active | 1999-present |
Labels | Wontstop Record |
Website | http://emmanuelanebsa.com |
Emmanuel Anebsa (born 27 November 1972)[ citation needed ] is a singer, songwriter and producer from the United Kingdom. He has recorded over 30 albums, all independently produced. [1] [2]
Anebsa, born Steven Emmanuel Wilks, [1] grew up in St Pauls in Bristol in the 1970s and 1980s. He was the child of a Jamaican father, Bertram Wilks, and an English mother. [3] He was raised by his father, Bertram, [2] who was the owner of the Black and White Café in Bristol, which was his introduction to reggae music. [1] Reggae stars such as U-Roy, Big Youth and Prince Fari passed through the café, and Anebsa grew up listening to artists such as Papa Toyan, Eek-A-Mouse and Peter Metro as well as Yellow Man, Dennis Brown and Gregory Issacs. [2] He was nine years old when he came home from school to find the café being raided. [3] After frequent police raids, the café finally closed for good in 2004. [2]
As well as recording over 30 albums, Anebsa has produced and collaborated on songs with artists such as Junior Kelly. [4] Earl "Chinna" Smith [2] and Anthony B. [5]
Anebsa was born Steven Emmanuel Wilks, but changed his name to Negus Emmanuel Anebsa to "release himself from Babylon bondage" and has used the name Emmanuel Anebsa professionally ever since. [2] He rejects his British background and considers himself Jamaican. [2] He considers his music a form of activism, designed to combat the "stinging crush of white oppression". [3] He traces his what he terms his "afro-consciousness" back to witnessing the police raids on his father's café, which he believes were racially motivated. [2]