Nyabinghi is both the heart of Rastafarian religious ceremonies and a precursor of Jamaican reggae, ska, and dancehall.Ras Michael has been one of nyabinghis most visible ambassadors since the 1960s through his performances with Bob Marley, his educational and religious leadership, and his roots reggae group, the Sons of Negus.
The development of nyabinghi is intertwined with the history of Rastafarianism, a spiritual, social, and political movement that began to develop among Jamaicas poor during the 1930s. Rastas, as they came to be known, believed in the divine nature of Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia, and helped to revitalize Pan-African nationalism throughout the island. ![]() ![]() The core of binghi are three drums: the giant bass drum, the cylindrical funde and the smaller kette or repeater drum. Their sounds ring out when Rastas praise the power of Jah and chant down oppressors. Binghi is commonly heard at ceremonies like Groundation Day, an annual celebration of Selassies first visit to Jamaica. The rhythms of nyabinghi first met Jamaicas recording industry in 1958 when Count Ossie played hand drums on the early ska recording Oh Carolina, creating a riddim found in dancehall hits to this day. ![]() His Sons of Negus group was originally based in Trenchtown. Negus is an Ethiopian term for a supreme ruler.) That gave him access to recording studios like the renowned Studio One, where he traded session work for studio time to make his first recordings. When the Sons of Negus released their first records in the late 60s and early 70s, they added an electric guitar. To this day, Ras Michael frequently incorporates electric instruments in his performances. In Richmond, the Sons of Negus will include bass, keyboards, guitar, trap drums, and saxophone along with the three traditional binghi drums. Even after I got the other instruments involved, the vibration of the music is always nyabinghibinghi is the heartbeat of reggae, Ras Michael explains. That reggaebinghi sound was heard on his landmark 1975 LP Rastafari, which opened with Ras Michaels trademark song None of Jah Jah Children and featured Peter Tosh on guitar. Three years later he would play a key role in the One Love Peace Concert where Bob Marley attempted to reconcile warring political factions whose disputes had resulted in bloodshed. He says his role is to teach and show this generation and the generation to come that this nyabinghi is the real roots of the music. When you have the nyabinghi, it is taking you back to Africa.
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