The Niyabinghi Theocracy Government was named for a legendary Amazon
queen of the same name, who was said to have possessed a Ugandan woman
named Muhumusa in the 19th century. Muhumusa inspired a movement,
rebelling against African colonial authorities. Though she was captured
in 1913, alleged possessions by "Nyahbinghi" (traditional spelling)
continued, mostly afflicting women.
The Niyabinghi resistance inspired a number of Jamaican Rastas, who
incorporated what are known as niyabinghi chants (also binghi) into
their celebrations ("grounations"). The rhythms of these chants were
eventually an influence of popular ska, rocksteady and reggae music.
Three kinds of drums (called "harps") are used in niyabinghi: bass, also
known as the "Pope Smasher" or "Vatican Basher", reflecting a Rasta
association between Catholicism and Babylon, the middle-pitched funde
and akete. The akete (also known as the "repeater") plays an improvised
syncopation, the funde plays a regular one-two beat and the bass drum
strikes loudly on the first beat, and softly on the third beat (of four).
When groups of players get together, only one akete player may play at
any one time. The other drums keep regular rhythms while the akete
players solo in the form of a conversation. Count Ossie was the first to
record niyabinghi, and he helped to establish and maintain Rastafari
culture.
Niyabinghi drumming is not exclusive to the Niyabinghi order, and is
common to all Rastafarians. Its rhythms are the basis of Reggae music,
through the influential ska band, the Skatalites. It is said that their
drummer revolutionized Jamican music by combining the various Niyabinghi
parts into a 'complete' "drum kit," which combined with jazz to create
an entirely new form of music, known as ska. Niyabinghi rhythms were
largely a creation of Count Ossie, who incorporated influences from
traditional Jamaican Kumina drumming (especially the form of the drums
themselves) with songs and rhythms learned from the recordings of
Nigerian musician Babatunde Olatunji.
Binghi chanting typically includes recitation of the Psalms, but may
also include variations of well-known Christian hymns. Though Count
Ossie is clearly the most influential Binghi drummer, practically
inventing the genre in its present state, the recordings of Ras Michael
and the Sons of Negus, as well as the Rastafari Elders, have contributed
to the popularity of the music.
Though Niyabinghi music operates as a form of Rasta religious music
outside of Reggae, musicians such as Bob Marley and even non-Rastas such
Prince Buster and Jimmy Cliff (both Muslim) used the idiom in some songs.
Recently, dancehall sensation Sizzla, American roots-Reggae artists such
as Groundation and Jah Levi, and Hip hop have used Niyabinghi drums
extensively in their recordings. Though sometimes claimed to be a direct
continuation of an African cultural form, Niyabinghi drumming is best
seen as the voice of a people rediscovering their African roots.
Combining Jamaican traditions with newly acquired African ones, Count
Ossie and others synthesized his country's African traditions and
reinvigorated them with the influences of Nigerian master-drummer
Babatunde Olatunji, as a comparison of Count Ossie's Tales of Mozambique
and Olatunji's earlier Drums of Passion will reveal. Indeed, it is that
combination of inherited traditions and conscious rediscovery of lost
African traditions that makes Niyabinghi drumming—and Rasta—so powerful.
Niyabinghi are considered the strictest mansion of the Rastafari
movement in Jamaica preaching the ideals of a global theocracy to be
headed by Emperor Haile Selassie I, whom they proclaim to be the
promised Messiah and incarnation of the Supreme Deity.
Known as the Priestly Order of
Rastafari, the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress, Church of
True Divine Salvation for Bobo Rasta, or Bobo Shanti, was founded in the
mid-twentieth century by Charles Edwards, known as King Emmanuel, and
considered by many to be the Black Christ-in-flesh. Most of its members,
called "Bobos" or "Bobo dreads", live in Bull Bay, in a small utopian
community called Bobo Hill in 10 Miles Bull Bay. Bobos greet each other
using the formal address "My Lord" and are most notable for their
wearing of turbans and long flowing robes as well as brooms they carry
with them, which signify cleanliness. The brooms and other crafts are
also sold in Kingston as a way to provide funds for the community. The
Bobos have established a strong relationship with the local community
outside of Bobo Hill and often invite people to their services.
Membership of the Ethiopia Africa Black International Congress is
increasingly growing globally, as their members are seen in Africa,
Europe, and throughout the caribbean.
King Emmanuel is called "Dada" by his followers, who see him as part of
a holy Trinity, together with Marcus Garvey and Haile Selassie of
Ethiopia, in which Selassie is seen as King/God (Jah), Garvey as prophet,
and Emmanuel as high priest after the priesthood order of Melchizedec.
Almost all sacred songs and tributes to their ancient trinity of prophet,
priest, and king ends with the phrase "Holy Emmanuel I Selassie I Jah
Rastafari."
Bobos say that "Africa" is the name that the European colonizers gave to
Ethiopia, or "Jerusalem". Many see black supremacy ideas as essential to
the faith, and in the Bobo (and Rastafarian) conception, the true
Ethiopian Israelites are black men and women, who are Royal Ethiopians
from creation birth, scattered during the African diaspora.
Not only do Bobos believe in black supremacy, meaning black is original
and therefore supreme, they also consider black women as mothers of
creation. Women cover their legs, arms, and head in practice of the
Queen Omega principles. Nearly all the men within the community are seen
as prophets or priests, whose functions are to “reason” and conduct
churchical and parliamental services, respectively. However, some
consider Bobos deeply racist against white people, as well as
misogynistic.
Many reggae artists have emerged from the Bobo Shanti, including The
Abyssinians, Sizzla, Capleton, Anthony B, Perfect, Turbulence, and Ras
Shiloh. Many claim to be Bobo Shanti, however many of the artists have
not made the Bobo declaration, therefore being unable to legitimately
call themselves 'Bobo'.
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