Born into one of Rastafari’s most famous dynasties, Naki Wailer accepted principles of the faith early in life. He expresses his spirituality in his new song Follow the Leader.

Born Asadenaki Livingston, he is the son of reggae legend Bunny Wailer who died in March 2021 at age 73.

“Follow the Leader is inspired by my life-long relationship with the Most High. I have always approached life with a positive attitude, knowing the magnitude of word, sound, and power. This track covers an eternal theme: the feeling of trusting our own spirit and not blindly following the direction the world is taking us. Trusting Jah alone,” he said last week, shortly after the song’s release.

Follow the Leader is co-produced by Naki Wailer himself, along with guitarist Earl “Chinna” Smith, Simone “Chuka” Simpson, and Simon V.

Naki Wailer credits his unyielding faith for helping him through challenges of the past four years when his father’s health deteriorated after the three-time Grammy winner suffered several strokes.

To make matters worse, Bunny Wailer’s long-time spouse, Jean “Sister Jean” Watt, went missing in May 2020 and has still not been found. Watt was diagnosed with dementia, which causes memory loss and an urge to stray.

“Rastafari is like my solar battery, it is what has been keeping me going and growing. My faith is what has kept and is keeping me strong this past year since the ascension of my father. I feel he left that legacy of faith in me,” said Naki Wailer.

While he followed his father’s footsteps into singing, Naki Wailer noted Bunny Wailer also encouraged him to pursue a career in film-making. He has a degree in communications/media studies from Clayton State University located in Georgia in the United States.

Naki Wailer is director, videographer, and narrator of WAILnSOUL, a 32-minute feature that revisits the struggles his family faced, coping with his father’s illness, and the disappearance of his father’s life partner Jean Watt.