Mojah (Lloyd Timmothy Benn)

Websites:  No
Origin: Jamaica - Toronto, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Toronto reggae pioneer, poet of protest, and founding voice of Truths & Rights

Mojah, born Lloyd Timmothy Benn, is a foundational figure in Canadian reggae—a powerful singer, songwriter, and community activist whose music has long carried the rhythms of resistance and the spirit of Rastafari. Based in Toronto since the 1970s, Mojah was a key architect of the city’s burgeoning reggae scene and a force behind the influential roots-reggae band Truths & Rights, whose fierce political vision and boundary-pushing sound helped define a generation of Black Canadian expression.

Formed in 1977 under the umbrella of the Immi-Can initiative—a community project aimed at giving voice to Toronto’s Caribbean youth—Truths & Rights combined dub-heavy grooves with lyrics that challenged systemic racism, environmental destruction, and social inequality. Mojah, as lead vocalist and principal writer, brought a deeply poetic sensibility to the band’s songs, with anthems like “Acid Rain” and “Live-Up” addressing climate consciousness and Black pride well before they were part of the mainstream discourse. Their 1980 single Acid Rain was co-produced by Lillian Allen and featured artwork by Ato Seitu. It became a winner in Q107’s Homegrown contest and remains a landmark in Canadian reggae.

Following his time with Truths & Rights, Mojah continued to evolve musically. He fronted the genre-blending project V, a multiracial reggae-rock group that included future members of Parachute Club, such as Lorraine Segato, Billy Bryans, and Terry Wilkins. Mojah also led a high-energy soca outfit called Compass, showcasing his versatility and stage power across styles and festivals.

In 1990, Mojah released the solo album Broken Arrow on Toronto’s Verse to Vinyl label. Recorded at Toronto Recording Workshop and mixed by Jerry Brown at Kingsound Studio, the album was co-produced with noted Canadian jazz-fusion keyboardist Eddy Bullen, who handled drum programming, bass, keyboards, and overdubs. Featuring contributions from Muhtadi (percussion, live drum overdubs), Sara McClurehan (trumpet), and Jody Golick (saxophone), Broken Arrow presents a distinctive electronic reggae fusion sound, with digital rhythms layered beneath live instrumentation and atmospheric arrangements.

The album blends elements of dub, synth-based reggae, and socially conscious performance art. Its lyrical content — including tracks like “Today,” “Don’t Walk On By,” and “Mothers & Fathers (B. Youth)” — is printed directly on the back cover, revealing themes centered on youth empowerment, political awareness, and Black family unity. Mojah’s delivery combines chant-like repetition, spoken declarations, and melodic hooks, creating a hybrid style that bridges reggae tradition with modern digital production.

Mojah’s artistic legacy is inseparable from the activist ethos he brought to every project. He stands not only as a pioneer of Canadian reggae but as a cultural worker who used music to speak truth, demand justice, and inspire unity. His work helped lay the groundwork for Afro-Caribbean voices in Canadian music and continues to influence socially conscious artists across genres.
-Robert Williston