The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics.

History

The vocal trio was originally formed in 1968 by Bernard Collins and Donald Manning. Their first song was "Satta Massagana", which was strongly influenced by Carlton Manning's "Happy Land". "Satta Massagana" is a Rastafarian hymn sung partly in the Ethiopian Amharic language.

"Satta Massagana" was first recorded for producer Clement "Coxsone" Dodd in March 1969, but he decided against releasing it, seeing no commercial potential for what he saw as a song constituting cultural subversion. The group's second release, "Declaration of Rights", featured Leroy Sibbles on backing vocals, and like their first was a huge hit in Jamaica, (and subsequently in the international market) and has been covered several times since.

Lynford Manning died on 25 June 2024.

Discography

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File:The Congos and the Abyssinians IMG 4376.jpg|Bernard Collins

File:The Congos and the Abyssinians IMG 4380.jpg|David Morrison

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Studio albums

  • 1976 : Satta Massagana - Jam Sounds (reissued 1988 on Clinch, 1993, 2007 on Heartbeat, also released as Satta and Forward on to Zion)
  • 1978 : Arise - Tuff Gong/Virgin/Clinch
  • 1982 : Forward - Aligator records (reissued 1988 on Clinch)
  • 1998 : Reunion - Artists Only

Compilation albums

  • 1982 : Forward - Alligator
  • 1994 : Best of the Abyssinians - Musidisc
  • 1996 : 19.95 + TAX
  • 1998 : Satta Dub - Tabou 1
  • 1998 : Declaration of Dub - Heartbeat
  • 1999 : Last Days - Clinch (credited to Bernard Collins)
  • 2003 : Abyssinians & Friends Tree of Satta vol. 1 - Blood & Fire

Live albums

  • 2002 : Live in San Francisco - 2b1 II

References

  • Official website
  • Interview with Bernard Collins by Carter Van Pelt, 1998.
  • The Abyssinians at Roots Archives.
  • Discography at Discogs