The Abyssinians live, SunSplash '93, Jam World, Jamaica.

‪@LeoOReggio‬
Facebook: everoreggio
Another rare clip from Synergy Productions' world-famous and culturally iconic "Reggae Sunsplash" concert series. I was one of the video directors for the multicamera recording of this concert.
The Abyssinians are a Jamaican roots-reggae group, famous for their close harmonies and promotion of the Rastafari movement in their lyrics. 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. They recruited a third vocalist, who was still at school and often unable to attend rehearsals; he was soon replaced by Donald's brother Lynford Manning, who had previously been a member of their brother Carlton Manning's group Carlton and The Shoes.
"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. In 1971, the group purchased the master tapes from Dodd for £90 and released it on their own Clinch label, the single becoming a massive success, prompting Dodd to release his own instrumental and deejay versions. The group released further takes on the song on Clinch by Tommy McCook, Big Youth, and Dillinger, as well as their own "Mabrak", featuring the group reciting passages from the Old Testament. It has since been recorded by dozens of artists. 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. Their 1973 single "Y Mas Gan" was similar to "Satta" in its use of Amharic.
The group continued to record throughout the 1970s for producers including Lloyd Daley, Tommy Cowan, and Geoffrey Chung, and their debut album, Forward on to Zion was produced by Clive Hunt and released in 1976. The follow-up, Arise (1978), was recorded under stressful conditions with internal rivalries threatening to break up the group, and after the album's release, Collins left the band, to be eventually replaced by Carlton Manning. This line-up performed at the 1979 Reggae Sunsplash festival but split up the following year.
Donald Manning had a brief solo career in the early 1980s, in which he recorded as Donald Abyssinian.
Bernard Collins launched his own version of the group in the late 1980s, with two versions of the group existing for a time. The original line-up reunited in 1998 and went on to record new material, including the singles "African Princess" and "Swing Low" and the album Reunion, although Collins was not involved in songwriting at this time. Collins left again in 1999 and released material as Bernard Collins & the Abyssinians, releasing an album the same year.
The Abyssinians are credited on "Slave Song", from Sade's 2002 album, Lovers Live, which starts with a sample from the Abyssinians' song "African Race".

[@anthonymuriithi7957]

Benard Collins during yester years.Loving Jah everyday!We give thanks and praises...Bless 🇰🇪

[@LeoOReggio]

No doubt.

[@donovanphillips4973]

Still sparkling 2023 💥💥💥💥💥

[@peterdew8852]

The Abyssinians are compulsory in reggae music the foundation the message

[@papajahko7121]

Carlton & the shoes / Abyssinians will always have a place on my turntable 🔥🔥 Don’t have to be RasTafarian to know & feel proper heartfelt music & vocals Respect as always Leo 🫡 🤜🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇯🇲🤛🏾

[@LeoOReggio]

Blessings, Papa.

[@badly5998]

One heart One blood One love

[@zeusapollo8688]

I saw them in a small club. Never danced harder. Knew all the words. Big impact

[@iyahras2918]

Will we ever have authentic reggae music like this again ?.. Great upload brethren!

[@reggaeroots1693]

Pure heartical vibes...more love Abyssinians and give thanks

[@Tully-ki8rv]

i have struck gold!

[@francomelendez3742]

Bwoy so missed real stage show performance and reality vibes ,keep up the great vibes family respect 🙏🏿

[@LeoOReggio]

Give thanks, Franco. Stay safe.

[@Elizabeth-ci7jt]

ROOTS ROOTSSSSS....,.

[@wellingtonalmeida5295]

Legendary Masters 🇪🇹 🔥

[@cezarykapusta1546]

true roots n culture 🔥🔥🔥

[@surfnOB]

Big Daddy Leo, your catalogue is absolutely off the charts. Just beside myself going through it. Bless up. The memories!

[@LeoOReggio]

Thank you, Surfn415. Stay safe.

[@surfnOB]

@@LeoOReggio Grew up in NYC, now San Fran. I saw every act outta JA humanly possible back in the 80’s-90’s- and still do not miss much. Things have changed, your catalogue just brings it all back. Seeing Mykal Rose and Burning Spear in the next 30 days. Need to keep the vibes alive!!

[@LeoOReggio]

Give thanks, Surgn415.

[@keep-itmoving.always-givet5263]

Blessing!

[@paulreuben7343]

great

[@Gab144000]

❤️💛💚

[@lg7879]

Huuuuuuge drop, real (wrathakhan) music..

[@nellynelson5315]

❤💛💚🖤🙏

[@nemeta3846]

tis is a very old show! bernard was young and fit! not now!

[@LeoOReggio]

So true. Thanks for liking and subscribing.

[@user-ei8ox2kk7f]

😙😔

[@AbengNewsMag]

Bum!!!

[@peterdew8852]

The Abyssinians are compulsory in reggae music the foundation the message