Watch the Abyssinians Get Lost in ‘Satta Massagana’ in Kingston, 1972

A primer on one of the great Jamaican vocal groups, whose sibling harmonies soar through every measure.

In 1969, two brothers and a friend booked time at Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One and, backed by the classic house band, recorded a reggae spiritual called “Satta Massagana.” An ode to liberation and gratitude, it cemented the group’s identity as the Abyssinians : Descendants of an Ethiopian lineage, rooted in Rastafarian reverence for Haile Selassie and the spiritual vision of Zion. The title of the song translates to “Give Thanks” in Amharic, the liturgical language of Ethiopia.

Dodd, however, didn’t think the song would sell, so he didn’t release it.

A few years later, the group bought the master tape from Dodd and put it out themselves. It was a hit. So much so that within a decade citizens were describing “Satta Massagana” (“Give Thanks”) as a kind of Jamaican national anthem. Here’s a clip of them singing it; it’s taken from the opening scene of the great reggae film Rockers.

The Abyssinians’ sound was rooted in the singular power of sibling harmonies, with Donald and Lynford Manning’s voices intertwining in sublime unison. Bernard Collins’ lead vocals and songwriting provided direction, while the Manning brothers added glorious heft to his every lyric. Together, they forged a roots reggae style dense with spiritual and emotional depth. Their songs also tended to feature wonderfully weird musical accents, whether funky keyboard runs, squiggles of unknown origin, or wild drum fills. One of the best is “I and I.” Hear it below — and definitely stick around for “I and I Dub” at the halfway point.

What the Abyssinians didn’t do was immediately release an album, which meant that when reggae started receiving international attention, they didn’t have record to sell — or a label like Island to market it. Instead, across the next seven years the Abyssinians issued a series of singles that, 50 years later, have come to define roots reggae — no small feat considering the brilliance issued by kindred vocal groups Culture, the Mighty Diamonds, the Heptones, and, of course, the Wailers.

The Abyssinians’ debut album, named for their biggest hit, was finally released in 1975 by their producer, Clive Hunt (although the group themselves were heavily involved in its production) but it was a tiny pressing. (Originals go for about $150 on Discogs.) Between 1976 and 1978, Satta Massagana came out on three different labels, most prominently on American label Jam Sounds, under the title Forward on to Zion.

Regardless of the title, that 1976 album is killer. One fan? Sade, who invited the group to sing backup for during her 2001 Lovers Rock tour. The Anaheim concert was recorded and issued the next year as Lovers Live. Below, hear a lovely performance of “Slave Song,” in which Sade incorporates part of the Abyssinians’ song “African Race.” Their original version is the final song on Satta Massagana.