Musician left ‘crushed’ by £20k robbery reaches his fundraising target to rebuild his livelihood

A musician who had £20k worth of equipment stolen by thieves has reached his fundraising target to help rebuild his livelihood.

Young Warrior, 33, said he felt ‘crushed’ both financially and mentally after he was targeted by thieves who stole his equipment earlier this year.

The independent musician and sound system engineer had his van and sound equipment stolen from outside his home in the Catford area just before 2pm on Monday March 8.

Young Warrior, the son of iconic reggae toaster Jah Shaka, began building his sound system in 2009 and has played at dub and reggae events across the UK and Europe, including Notting Hill Carnival.

After the theft, he said: “Just as we are about to enter a road of recovery out of lockdown and for live events to restart I cannot believe that this has happened.

“I cannot personally explain my feelings or to explain this loss, but it has totally crushed me both financially, mentally and also now I fear physically.”

After setting up an online fundraiser, he has now reached his £15,000 goal with over 120 people donating.

One donor, Clive Topliss wrote on the gofundme page: “The only good system is a sound system!! Never had the chance to see you out on the road, never will if we don’t get back what is rightfully yours. Sound systems are a there for the community, bring love and joy through music, word sound and power.”

A sound system is a custom built PA system manned by a team of artists, engineers, and a DJ.

The sound system is an important part of Jamaican culture and history, and was introduced into the UK through Black families from the Windrush Generation in the 1950s.

Young Warrior had built his sound system following in the footsteps of his father and paying homage to his reggae roots.

“I was just 14 when I first started organising my own community youth arts shows in Deptford,” he said.

“This was an initiative to help support young people by giving them work, a place to express themselves and also show their talent to the local community.

“I hired and trained only young people to run their own projects and teach talent classes to other young people to show what was possible.

“Unfortunately, around this time the media was pushing a strong narrative and campaign against young people by closing venues and concerts which played music young black people would listen to, in order to stop them gathering together as it was seen that this was the root of high crime rates – but this is now found to be known as illegal racial profiling.

“After a few years of working in the Lewisham and Deptford community I began to organise more shows but with me as the DJ and solely promoting the music I grew up on, which is Reggae Music.

“I did this because I see Reggae as one of the greatest music’s, just like gospel, which solely focused on equal rights, love, positivity and the uplifting of forgotten nations.”

After years of investment and hosting Notting-Hill carnival events from 2009, Young Warrior finally completed the Young Warrior Sound System which played its first event in 2011 at the Brixton Mass music venue.

He added: “Year to year I have travelled all over the world bringing this positive music to all nations and ages of people and while doing this have maintained a strong foundation in my local community by creating a project called ‘The Reggae Garden Party.’

“A series of family focused and friendly events where the system is played alongside face painting, family BBQs, bouncy castles and just great entertainment for the children to experience what traditional sound system is and it’s music from a tender young age in order for it to be something that makes a great impact on their lives.”

You can still donate to Young Warrior’s fundraiser here.