Rafael "Rafa" Pondé is a brazilian visionary musician, Surfer, Yoga and BJJ practitioner .His explosive performances feature his band " The Brazilian Reggae Experience" , which plays a hybrid of Roots Reggae with the music of his native Brazil and also other styles of Roots music. Originally from Salvador, in the state of Bahia, Brazil also called the "Black Rome" because of the highly africanization of its culture. Rafa was highly influenced by the drums and the caribbean music that was heard in Salvador in the 80s, amalgamated in a movement called "Samba Reggae". he has been also advocating for social justice with his songs and speeches. Rafa started his career in 1996 as a guitar player, songwriter and producer in the well know Brazilian Roots Reggae band "Diamba" in his hometown. Rafa has been sharing stages with people like: Men at Work, Culture, Gladiators, Steel Pulse, Gregory Issacs, The Wailers, among others. During the pandemic, Rafa started releasing a series of singles, that announced his new Album "Brazilian Reggae Experience Vol.1" released in April 2023. When the pandemic came Rafa took time to do a holistic therapy that introduced him to Yoga and meditation. So he decided to radically transforms his life and moved to San Diego.