Peter Tosh Day ft The Abyssinians

WorldBeat Center is honoring the late Peter Tosh's birthday with reggae legends, The Abyssinians. The Jamaican reggae roots harmony vocals trio the Abyssinians was formed in 1968 by founding members Donald Manning, Bernard Collins and Linford Manning. The Abyssinians is the first group in Jamaica to record in Amharic. Their first song, Satta Massagana (give thanks) was recorded in 1969 and was a result of Manning's Rastafarian influence on the group. It was recorded on Coxson Dodd’s Studio One label and launched them into the ranks of Reggae music greats. “Satta Massagana” became one of reggae’s most popular songs; becoming an anthem that was heard on the radios, in the dancehalls and in the churches of Jamaica.

The Abyssinians’ first full album was recorded in 1976 and is regarded as one of the greatest in the history of Jamaican music. The sessions were supervised by Clive Hunt and resulted in the album known both as Forward Onto Zion and Satta Massagana.

About Peter Tosh
Peter Tosh was a Jamaican reggae musician who was a core member of the band The Wailers, and who afterwards had a successful solo career as well as being a promoter of Rastafari.