ShakaRa is the son of renowned community activist Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka and is an experienced multi-faceted performer. He has been performing for most of his life years. As experienced actor he has appeared in numerous community productions with the Soul Force Panthers, in which he has assumed the role of Actor & Director. A developing Producer, ShakaRa’s music fuses elements of Hip-hop, reggae, RnB, jazz & Afrobeat, aswell as his own unique mastery of Afrikan Drumming all of which he brings to his poetic flow.

He has been a revelation in the spoken word scene since his emergence at the end of 2003, and has become well known for his ability to address everyday issues in an exciting, challenging, and uncompromising way, that is both is both inspirational and informative.

Best known “Urban Fallacy”, a critical analysis on the current state of Black Music, his main motivation is the defence and development of Afrikan/Black cultural art forms, in order that they begin again to represent the kind of knowledge, wisdom, vision, and overstanding necessary for promoting posistivity to people as a whole.

His accolades include being one of the featured artists on the No Bling Spoken Word Special (BEN TV) in early 2004, Finalist in UK Unsigned Poetry Slam, Toronto International Poetry Slam, and finalist of Kat Francois Word Up Grand Slams.

ShakaRa is now 1/4th of the formidable spoken word collective Best Kept Secret, consisting of himself, AmeN NoiR, OneNess, & TuggS.T.A.R, all of whom have been his main influences & inspirations as a poet.

ShakaRa’s poetic expression is rooted in Afrikan cultural forms and is wholly consistent with the community activism that has shaped his life.