The Abyssinians

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, in the late 1960s, The Abyssinians established themselves as a roots-reggae vocal trio led by Bernard Collins and brothers Donald and Lynford Manning. Their sound was heavily influenced by American soul—artists like Sam Cooke and Curtis Mayfield—and by gospel harmonies. From 1969 The Abyssinians helped bridge rocksteady and roots with tracks such as “Satta Massagana,” first recorded for Coxsone Dodd’s Studio One and later issued on their own Clinch label, which secured the group’s place in the reggae landscape. Their style relies on tight harmonies, a meditative tempo, deep bass lines and Rastafarian imagery drawn from biblical references and Amharic words, giving the songs both a spiritual and social dimension. The albums Forward On To Zion (1976) and Arise (1978) captured this studio sound and accompanied the trio’s appearances on Jamaican and European stages amid lineup changes centered on Collins and the Mannings. Revived in the 1990s—most notably with Reunion (1998)—The Abyssinians continue to perform in varying configurations, sustaining a reggae approach focused on ensemble singing and Rastafari anthems.