Page type: artist reference
Canonical path: /abyssinians
Lyric pages live: 20
Artist profile
Abyssinians
The Abyssinians formed in Kingston in the late 1960s with Donald Manning, Bernard Collins, and Carlton Smith. Their name came from the biblical story of the...
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Curated by Ethan Walker
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Songs in focus
Keep moving through Abyssinians
Abednego
1 visits
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Abendigo
1 visits
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African Race
1 visits
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Black Man's Strain
1 visits
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Declaration Of Rights
1 visits
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Forward Jah
1 visits
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Forward unto Zion
1 visits
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I and I
1 visits
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Jah Loves
1 visits
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Jah Marley
1 visits
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Keep On
1 visits
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Know Jah Today
1 visits
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Lego Beast
1 visits
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Let My Days
1 visits
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Peculiar Number
1 visits
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Reason Time
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Background notes
Archive material and source history
The Abyssinians formed in Kingston in the late 1960s with Donald Manning, Bernard Collins, and Carlton Smith. Their name came from the biblical story of the Abyss, which reflected their spiritual leanings. Early on, they had trouble getting noticed among the more established reggae acts of the time.
In 1969 they put out 'Satta Massagana,' a single that became their calling card. Its harmonies and Rastafarian themes connected with listeners and helped define roots reggae. Other songs like 'Forward unto Zion' and 'African Race' carried similar spiritual and social messages.
They released albums such as 'Forward on to Zion' in 1976 and 'Arise' in 1978. The group performed at reggae festivals and shared bills with artists like Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Their live sets were known for close harmonies and steady rhythms.
The Abyssinians' music, built around songs like 'The Good Lord' and 'Let My Days,' kept a focus on spiritual themes through the trio's vocal blend.
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LyroVerse currently has 20 visible lyric pages for Abyssinians.
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