Prof was ridiculed when he first set up a studio in the front room of his south London home in the late 1970s, but plenty of hits soon followed thanks to his creative drive, perceptive production skills and technical expertise behind the mixing desk; in the best reggae tradition, Ariwa drew from diverse influences to create a unique sound, making use of unbridled artistic ambition to fill any gaps that may have appeared due to a lack of finance.
Since those humble beginnings, Mad Professor’s music has seen him circumnavigate the globe countless times and his skills as a dub remixer have drawn requests for collaboration from numerous stars working in different popular genres all over the world, all of which is testament to the pervasive and broadly appealing nature of his creations. We are now celebrating over 40 years of Ariwa ingenuity and those who have had the pleasure of spending time in Professor’s company know that he is a man of high intelligence and easy wit, committed to progressive social change as well as evolutionary music; he is also a gentleman in every sense of the word.