Tafari grew up poor in Gordon Town, Jamaica.Judah Eskender Tafari Interview – Part 1 2004 Interview by Peter I He taught himself to play guitar and formed a group with friends 'The Captive Lions' who became the backup group for singer Asher Mackafat. Tafari learnt to sing harmony. Mackafat was a Twelve Tribes member and the band, and Tafari himself, were absorbed into the group from 1976–78, becoming known as the Twelve Tribes Band. Tafari remained a member of the Twelve Tribes organization until his death. Fellow musicians Bagga Walker and Pablove Black introduced Tafari to record producer Coxsone Dodd as a potential vocalist. Feeling he needed a "vocalist name" Tafari appealed to a visiting Ethiopian Princess who suggested several amharic words. He chose 'Eskender' as it meant 'commander'.
