‘Reggae saved my life’ - Selector Dynamq hails the power of Jamaica’s music

Champion selector Dynamq has credited reggae for transforming his life.

The defending Reggae Sumfest Global Sound Clash champion, the musical art form which was birthed in Jamaica, was born in Sudan and grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya after fleeing war in his country.

"I wish that my family could be here to witness how reggae music saved my life," said Dynamq, who promises to treat the audience at tonight's sound clash to his musical genius.

"I have something special for them," he said.

An energetic performer, who knows the Jamaican Patois and is a student of the history of reggae music, Dynamq has a knack for pulling out the big, bad tunes that make his opponents tremble and his fans push their hands in the air and inject raw passion into an infamous three-syllable expletive in total appreciation of his skill.

Dynamq is no stranger to sound clash titles and finals. He won the War Ina East championship in 2019; he is also a Rumble champion; he made it to the semi-finals in the Boom Clash in Jamaica; he is the holder of the inaugural Rebel Salute Sound Clash title, and he won the Sumfest title in 2023.

The self-styled 'River Nile Crocodile', first connected with Jamaican music while in the refugee camp. He was resettled in the United States, where his love for Jamaica's music became irresistible. He has since established himself among the giant selectors in the business.

"The Sumfest title boosted me. I got some follows from some big artistes. Super Cat knows me, Buju Banton knows me and Beenie Man knows me. When I went to Buju's studio to do some dub plate, Buju look pon mi and seh, 'What a gwaan, African?' And I was like, 'Yow! Buju know me?!' Buju was at the studio doing his stretches and he served me and my friend breakfast. Can you believe that? He had a zapper killing the flies, and him seh, 'Bwoy, African, I really wonder if dem fly yah come from foreign.' And then him give an assessment of my playing. He said ,'African, yuh too emotional ... but once yuh ketch a gear yuh can gwaan good.' Buju has a song called Sudan and he did it for my sound ... no charge," Dynamq told THE STAR.

The selector, whose on-stage antics are amusing, still pinches himself from time to time to make sure that his life is real.

"I didn't belive that this was possible, for the simple fact that I am African. Black people are colourist. I am a refugee from a Third-World country that people don't expect anything good to come out of. But I love the Jamaican saying, 'We likkle but we tallawah'."

Of his reggae music journey, Dynamq told THE STAR,"I'm learning every day. It is a beautiful culture ... and sound clash can unite us. Reggae has healed a lot of people. Just last week during the peaceful protests in Kenya, they were playing One Love. I think people are out of their minds when they say that reggae music is dying. It's the only music that when you hear it you have to move... it's a feeling [that] you cannot describe."

Dynamq, whose given name is Kennedy Ongele Lorya, is also a reggae-dancehall artiste, music producer, and the founder of Dynamq Sounds. His desire is to follow in the footsteps of the great King Jammy.