September 21, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
Having performed in Shashamane, Ethiopia during the 2016 Bob Marley Anniversary, Ras Orey Simeon Cole is currently working on his third album which he said will hit the airwaves soon.
He was a founding member of the 12 Tribes of Israel in the late 80s when he released his first single entitled: Hola We.
Before that, Oreyman as he is commonly called had been a singer at the God’s Father Dance Band in the early 80s.
In Kingtom, he started his music career at age 15 and after secondary education; he joined a community band as a singer, bass player and a percussionist. In 1996, the trio including himself, Ask Joe and Asher Parker (late) won the Bond Street Musical Competition.
After the war, he released his second single entitled: ‘Away in the Guitar Better than Gun compilation’ album launched before the crucial 2007 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections.
“That album was meant to sensitize the land on the need for peaceful electioneering so that our people would live in peace and harmony in spite of their political differences”, Oreyman said, adding that he participated in that nationwide tour funded by the Prince Claus Foundation in Holland through Shain Foundation.
His second album: Vision of Lion Mountain has songs like Reggae Rule, Good Heart, Good Wise and the track Ambition and host of other thrilling ones.
His representation of the 12 Tribes of Israel landed him on stage in King Selassie country of birth where he performed with a live band in commemoration of Brother Bob Marley.
Oreyman is an active member of the Sierra Leone Musicians Union and the Sierra Leone Reggae Union which basically came into existence in 2006, initiated by the Ripsta Culture.