Our playlist of 5 reggae songs for Emancipation Day
With August 1 celebrated as Emancipation Day in Jamaica, Observer Online looks at five songs that capture the significance of that historic day (August 1, 1838) when slaves in this country, then a British colony, were granted freedom.
Bob Andy in a scene from Children of Babylon
Unchained (Bob Andy): Powerful track released in 1968 by Studio One. It marks the emergence of Andy as a potent songwriter and socially-aware activist. The lines, “Just take these chains away, And set me free. Remove me out of bondage, And we’ll agree. Too long I’ve been a slave, I don’t want to be no more” help make Unchained a classic.
Reggae band The Wailers. From left are Peter Tosh, Bob Marley, and Bunny Wailer.
Slave Driver (The Wailers): From the group’s outstanding Catch A Fire album, released in 1973 by Island Records. Written by Bob Marley, the song reflects on the atrocities of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade which lasted for over 300 years, starting in the 15th Century. It also addresses the prejudice blacks faced in the late 20th Century.
“Every time I hear the crack of a whip, my blood runs cold. I remember on the slave ship, how they brutalise the very souls. Today, they say that we are free, only to be chained in poverty. Good God, I think it’s illiteracy!”
Burning Spear
Slavery Days (Burning Spear): One of the great statement songs in popular music, Spear went into his soul for this anthem, taken from his outstanding Marcus Garvey album from 1976. Released at the height of the black conscious movement in Jamaica, it resonated with militant youth, many of whom embraced the Rastafarian faith.
The Mighty Diamonds
Africa (The Mighty Diamonds): Many songs that became classics were recorded at Channel One studio in 1976. One of them is Africa, which hears Tabby, Bunny and Judge longing for the Motherland. A heart-wrenching song written by bass player Ranchie McLean.
Mutabaruka
Great Kings of Afrika (Mutabaruka featuring Dennis Brown and Ini Kamoze): ‘D Brown’ and Ini Kamoze add vocal flavour to Muta’s narration which salutes some of the continent’s heroes including “Shaka the Zulu”, and “Afronso of the Kongo”. Produced by Gussie Clarke and released in 1982.
– Howard Campbell
