Messenjah

Messenjah was a Canadian reggae group from Kitchener, Ontario, that formed in 1980. The ensemble was founded by the musicians Errol Blackwood and Rupert "Ojiji" Harvey and is famous for being the first Canadian reggae group signed to a major label and for its contribution to the history of Canadian music. They achieved professional recognition in 1982 after releasing their debut studio recording Rock You High independently before signing with Warner Music Canada. Their discography includes the studio recordings Jam Session (1984), Cool Operator (1987), and Rock & Sway (1990). In 1989, the group won the Juno Award for Best Reggae Recording. Messenjah collaborated on the single “Can't Repress the Cause” (1990) and performed at events including Reggae Sun Splash in Jamaica and a 1998 tribute for Nelson Mandela at the Toronto SkyDome. Although the ensemble disbanded in the late 1990s, they reunited briefly in 2014 for a tribute concert.