Rebirth of The Abyssinians
Widely regarded as reggae’s national anthem, Sata Masa Gana by The Abyssinians is synonymous with the roots-reggae movement that exploded in Jamaica during the 1970s.
Despite their reputation as trailblazers, the group, which formed in Trench Town over 50 years ago, is not often mentioned in their country.
There are plans to reintroduce them to Jamaicans with a series of shows, including Musical Elegance, which is scheduled for Stella Maris in St Andrew on April 28.
The current line-up comprises founder, 83 year-old Donald Manning; George Henry, a member since the early 1970s; Everton Pessoa; and Nazzle Man, dual winner of the Festival Song Competition.
Three of Manning’s sons are in The Abyssinians band. They are Prince on drums, Judea on bass, and Andrew on keyboards.
George Nooks, Errol Lee, Harold Davis, DiMario McDowell, and Maria Myrie are the other acts on Musical Elegance line-up.
“We’re presenting The Abyssinians, because the other artistes are fresh in the minds of young people and corporate Jamaica. People know of The Abyssinians but they can’t put a face to them,” said Pessoa, who joined the group five years ago. “We want as much people to come out and listen to these songs an’ mek it bring back memories.”
Those songs also include Declaration of Rights, Forward On To Zion, and Y Mas Gan.
Illness caused Bernard Collins — who sang lead on those tracks and Sata Masa Gana — to stop performing with the group five years ago.
Pessoa, who also won the Festival Song Competition, has toured Europe and Latin America with The Abyssinians. He is overwhelmed by the reception they receive in those areas.
“Young people know the songs; they carry the albums to the shows for us to sign. They say their parents sent them,” he said.
The oft-covered and sampled Sata Masa Gana was recorded at Studio One in 1969, but was not released until two years later by The Abyssinians’ Clinch label. It was followed by the haunting Declaration of Rights, another self-produced track cut at Studio One.
In 1976, the group recorded Satta Massagana, an album co-produced by Geoffrey Chung and Clive Hunt.
The Abyssinians are scheduled to perform on May 4 in Mexico City at the From The Roots Festival along with The Wailing Souls, Max Romeo, Linval Thompson, Rod Taylor and Reggie Stepper.
