Nigel “NiyoRah” Olivacce was born on October 9, 1980 in the coastline village of Pointe Michel, Dominica. At age 4, he moved to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with his family, and cultivated an interest in music through listening to artists in his father’s and uncle’s roots reggae collections which included artists like Bob Marley, Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear and Lucky Dube. By age 16, NiyoRah began singing and chanting on the streets about the life experiences in his community, downtown Charlotte Amalie, in the SAVAN area or ghetto. SAVAN was the first town for Free Slaves in St. Thomas, USVI, known as “Suakasa” in the early years. At age 18, NiyoRah decided to pursue a career in reggae music. “Reggae had one of the greatest positive influences on my life. It’s the type of music I cling to for some mystical reason,” he says. “The Creator guided me more than I did myself.” He took on the name NiyoRah - a combination of his nickname growing up and respect for the omnipotent power of the sun. It correlates to “Nu-Ra”, meaning PEOPLE OF THE SUN.