ABOUT

Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs & BAJABA

Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs
CEO JaZzLine INSTITUTE

Born on March 25th, 1947, in Seattle, Washington (King County), Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs spent much of his early years in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He graduated from Central High School in 1966 and then attended Northeastern State University until the Winter of 1968. Afrikahn was initiated into the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity in the Epsilon Epsilon chapter in 1967 on the OSU campus. Drafted into the Army in April 1968, Afrikahn was stationed at Fort Carson Colorado (for 20 months) and, while serving, he attended Colorado State University. His last nine months were spent in Special Services, where he was able to play percussion and eventually became the bandleader by rank.

In 1970, Afrikahn returned to Tulsa to attend Tulsa Technical College, where he completed an AA in Broadcasting. During this time, he also worked full-time at Sun Oil Company and played in various bands on weekends. In 1971, Afrikahn attained his first job in radio at KXOJ-AM 1550 and then moved to KKUL-FM 103.3 in 1972. He also worked as a DJ in clubs and played in a band (Program Band).

In 1976, Afrikahn moved to California and continued working in clubs as a DJ and MC. Eventually, he got involved in TV (Community Access) as a producer and host and also reconnected with radio at KKUP-FM 91.5 in Cupertino, CA.

Afrikahn’s love of Jazz and Blues, its roots, inspirational musicians, and especially the desire to showcase an array of the amazing breadth of talent that the Bay Area has to offer, led him to produce and host the BAJABA (Bay Area Jazz And Blues Artists) radio show on independent stations KKUP and KPFA. BAJABA Showcase was created by the late, great Jazz Activist Doug Edwards, (aka “The Doug of Edwards”), who made his transition in September 2010. Afrikahn has continued to grow the fan base of this uncompromisingly integral part of our Bay Area musical landscape while also hosting shows throughout the week.

Afrikahn’s History as Radio/TV Producer/Host

Monterey, CA KRML-A.M. 1410/FM 102.1 2010

San Jose/Cupertino/Campbell, CA Comcast Channel 15 2007

MorePublicRadioInternational.org 2005

JazzBeatRadio.tv Internet Radio 2004

El Cerrito, CA KECG-FM 88.1 2003

Berkeley, CA KPFA-FM 94.1 1998 - ongoing

San Francisco, CA KEST-AM 1450 1996

Hayward, CA Media One Radio Entertainment Satellite Radio 1993

Oakland, CA Media One Radio Entertainment Cable (Atherton, Menlo Park, Palo Alto & East Palo Alto) 1992

Cupertino, CA KKUP-FM 91.5 1991 - ongoing

JaZzLine (the TV Show) Gill Cable, San Jose; KSAR, Saratoga, Channel 15 1990-2010

Tulsa, OK KKUL-FM 103.3 1972

Sapulpa, OK KXOJ-AM 1550 1971

Awards – Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs

BAJABA Proclamation

Whereas, BAJABA© is hereby established to maintain the heritage, definition and preservation of Black Classical Music, the unique music that transcends race and culture that Africans brought to America and further developed as an art form.

Whereas, This Preamble of BAJABA© hereby states its mission:

Whereas, The main purpose of BAJABA© is to unify industry forces as Black Classical Music preservers whether musicians, educators, broadcasters, journalists and other industry professionals on a creative front to interpret, educate, preserve and promote America’s only true art form, the music created by African-Americans, descendants of slaves.

Whereas, Black Classical Music continues to spread its reach around the world taking on numerous forms and shapes, jazz has become so popular it has been interpreted with the following distinctions, including but not limited to, Straight Ahead Jazz, Be-Bop, Swing, Avant-Garde, Latin, Middle-Eastern, Indo-European, Western European and Russian.

Whereas, jazz music has achieved and maintains an International audience and influence and interpretation, BAJABA© hereby states that this reach does not diminish nor define where Black Classical Music originates. BAJABA© is established and charged with the effort of preserving the genre of jazz in the marketplace in all aspects.

Whereas, in 1619 some twenty Africans were brought as human chattel to Jamestown, VA; what they brought with them – those who experienced and survived the notorious Middle Passage provided America’s only true art form, the music they carried with them.

Whereas, the US Congress has officially recognized the significance of jazz, BAJABA© hereby accepts their efforts to distinguish and proclaim America’s only true art form.

It is so Ordered.

– Berkeley, CA

June 7, 2010

Evolution of blues

AA Musical Diaspora

Song produced and arranged by Ron E. Beck Music

First speaking part – Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs
Second speaking part – Ron E. Beck
Third speaking part – MC Mid One
Vocals – Ron E. Beck and MC Mid One
Soprano sax – Dawan Muhammad
Trumpet – Eddie Gale
Percussion – Afrikahn Jahmal Dayvs

This single is on LifeForce Jazz Records.