Kananga reveals life as a homeless, aspiring entertainer

Rastafarian recording artiste Kananga experienced firsthand just how challenging it was to tell someone he was homeless or had no food to eat.

"In St Mary, where I grew up, there were no studios at the time. Artistes always talk 'bout coming to Kingston to record. So, when me come ah town fi do music, me never have nuh mother or nuh father fi tek care ah mi...me stay with a big brother. But anytime fi him girlfriend come over, an' dat ah often, me can't stay in the house," he told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Kananga's solution was to sleep on old tyres at the tyre shop which was across the road from the studio on Slipe Road.

"The experience was rough, especially when me never have nuh food fi eat and haffi hol' it. More time me ask fi a $50, but mi nuh like beg and worse yuh nuh want to ask and hear a 'no' when yuh really need it," he said. Before becoming a touring act, Kananga, whose given name is Stephon Goss, hunted down studios and producers he thought would give a young up-and-coming artiste a try.

In between recording, he said being homeless for that short period of time made him realise that the experience was going to change his life and he had to be the one to do it. Some days he had to focus entirely on food and shelter rather than writing new music. He eventually learnt how to patch tyres and worked at the tyre shop until he was discovered at age 17 by dancehall deejay Cutty Ranks.

In his latest single Stronger, Kananga speaks about his humble beginnings, surviving those hard years and how protection from Jah has made him stronger and smarter.

He said, "Ah nuh me alone as artiste go through dem type of experiences. I waan tell yuh a nuff man pass through dah tyre shop deh, some ah artiste to. I know I can survive anything now."

Kananga anticipates travelling to the US by the end of March to perform in New York. He is also looking forward to the release of a collaboration with Busy Signal, with whom he normally tours.

-S.L.