Maroghini - Reggae Artiste

Maroghini, whose name means optical illusion, is a multi-talented Jamaican reggae artist who has played and taught his profession in over 40 countries in the world, including the Carribbean, North, South and Central America, Europe, Asia, The Middle East and Africa. He is a premier percussionist, and has been initiated a master of the great art of African and Indian drumming in several Ancient rites.

Maroghini has a number of LPs, CDs, and Videos to his credit. Most of these are signed to major recording companies such as EMI Toshiba and a few independent labels.

Early life

Maroghini is Jamaican but his father, Modupe, was born in Nigeria, West Africa. Maroghini speaks German, French, English, and Jamaicanese fluently and can entertain light conversation in West African Wolof. He grew up in a family of musicians. His debut began at an early age, having received his first drum on his third birthday. It was his mother, a prominent music educator who taught him the rudiments of music. As a youngster he started learning the rhythms and instruments of the different afro-jamaican art forms. He became profoundly immersed in the spiritual aspect of drumming. Years later he studied pharmacology at the University Of Technology in Kingston, Jamaica but switched to studying at the Edna Manley College Of The Visual And Performing Arts in Kingston, after deciding that music and not chemotherapy was the panacea for the world. Through studies at the college he got a profound practical training with a theoretical foundation. He left the school with a strong desire for more. As his website states, "It was the starting point of a unique odyssey in search of the roots of the African Art of drumming, which eventually led him to the honoured corridors of spiritual house Africa where he underwent profound training in the esoteric art of drumming." The study of local rhythms there also introduced Maroghini profoundly to West African history. He also pursued studies in Latin percussion and Indian drumming in Europe. He spent years studying Farukhabad gharana tablas under masters from the far east.

Career

Maroghini is a former lecturer at the Folkwang University (Folkwang Hochscule) in Essen, Germany, and a percussionist for reggae legend Jimmy Cliff.

Maroghini has performed with a number of well known groups and leading figures in the music industry among which include movie star Eddie Murphy, Indian Tabla master Trilok Gurtu, Henri Guedon's Percussion Orchestra, Dom um Romao of "Weather Report", Carter Collins formerly of Stevie Wonder, Mack Goldsbury also formerly of Stevie Wonder, Papa Curvin formerly of "Boney M", Dudu Tucci, Jon Otis, Matthias Frey, Albert Mangelsdorf, Wolfgang Dauner, Peter Giger Percussion Orchestra, Family of Percussion, Nana Vasconcelos, Mustafa Tettey Ade, Heinner Goebbels and Tom Nicholas.

Maroghini has also done numerous studio recordings as percussionist for a long list of musicians a few of which include Ziggy Marley, Robby Shakespear of Sly and Robby fame, Sizzla, Beres Hammond, Morgan Heritage, Richard Brownie of singer Shaggy's band and countless other Jamaican and international musicians. He has opened for groups such as Julio Iglesias, Boys 2 Men, Ice T, Sean Paul and a host of others.

Maroghini is well known for his extensive facial hair. His beard, according to some sources, hangs almost to the ground, but is usally braided tight and tucked inside his shirt.

See you in Jamaica.