Sello Lawrence is a South African artist based in Berlin, certainly one of those who bring music back to reggae, following the footsteps of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Dennis Brown, Burning Spear and all those great pioneers. Good lyrical content, vibes and the upliftment of the soul. “The music is the force that carries us through, therefore it has to be the inspiration. It has to reach the heart and soul, body and mind”, said Sello about the role of music in his life.
His latest album “Salute The Leaders” released in 2023, an homage to freedom fighters, especially those who led Africa out of colonialism. Marcus Garvey who inspired most African leaders. His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie, Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Kenneth Kaunda, Julius Nyerere, Agostinho Neto, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Malcom X and all those that have not been mentioned, it’s about time. “Aluta Continua”, the struggle continues. “We are not free yet”. “Amandla..”
Sello Lawrence Sihlabeni was born in Cape Town, South Africa. He is a self taught multi instrumentalist, playing keys, guitar, bass and drums. His career starts in the eighties in the ghettos of South Africa, during all those school boycotts in the defiance against the apartheid regime. A keyboard player for a bands like the Spears (of the nation). The Regulars, as well as the Sons of Selassie from Cape Town. He came to Europe with the band Makwerhu. A South African formation playing a mixture of Traditional/African Music and Reggae, with influences of High Life from West Africa. They travelled extensively throughout the continent and neighbouring countries, playing club gigs and a lot of festivals, among others, the famous Africa Festival in Würzburg, Germany. The last appearence ended with Papa Manu Dibango jamming with the band.
In 1998 Makwerhu took a pause from the big stage, some went back to Africa. Sello stayed in Europe and in 2001 he went on tour with Vitamin X, a Ghanese Reggae/Afro Band, with which he appeared on a number of festivals, including the Chiemsee Reggae Festival in Germany, sharing the stage with artists like Bunny Wailer, Third World, Misty in Roots, Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers and many more.
Sello Lawrence invested all his assets in studio equipment, and gaining the knowledge of music production. He has been involved in quite a number of records, with different bands. In the early nineties he recorded the album “CHANGES” with THE SONS OF SELASSIE. In 1996 he recorded the album “TRIP TO AFRICA” with MAKWERHU. In 2000 the albums LESIEM 1 and in 2001 the album LESIEM 2 with the MEISEL COMPANY in Germany. In 2006 he recorded his album “NEW NATION”. His latest album is “SALUTE THE LEADERS”, released in 2023. “THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES”, “ALUTA CONTINUA”.
In between Sello has been involved in film-synchronisation as a speaker and an adviser. He has worked on films like the MONEY MONSTER with George Clooney or the RED SEA DIVING RESORT on Netflix. He has started his own record label BERLIN CAPE TOWN RECORDS. The albums NEW NATION and SALUTE THE LEADERS were released under his label. The HESS BROTHERS album FAMILIENBANDE was also released by BERLIN CAPE TOWN RECORDS. Snippets of the music are on the SHOP.