Nyabinghi

The Nyahbinghi Order is one of the first Rastafari Mansions. Being the strictest, it supports the Theocratic Kingdom of Haile Selassie I, God in Flesh, Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords for the Rastafari Culture.

Nyahbinghi Drums

According to Rastafarians, Jah blessed, guided and brought to life a woman in Uganda named Muhumusa from the 19th century. Muhumusa inspired a rebellion movement against the colonial authorities in Africa and the warriors of this movement were called the nyahbinghi, which means " black victory" (nyah=black; binghi=victory).

The rhythms of these chants would eventually influence the popular music known as ska, rocksteady, and reggae. The Nyahbinghi uses three types of drums: the bass, known as the 'Pope Smasher'; or 'bass' or 'Thunder', which represents the breath, the second drum is the 'funde' which represents the 1,2 of the heart, and having breath and heartbeat there is life, but since Jah's creation is perfect there is a third drum the "akete" (also known as the 'repeater') which represents reasoning and plays an impromptu syncope role, while the 'melts' it plays the role of a two-beat timer as the bass drum hits the first beat very audibly, and more softly on the third (or fourth) beat. When groups of performers come together, only one akete player can play at a time. The other drummers keep regular rhythms while the akete drummers solo, punctuating the sound when speaking of evil in chants and softening them when speaking of Jah.

The Nyahbinghi touch used in musical rhythms

Niyabinghi drumming is not exclusive to the Niyabinghi order, and is common to all Rastafarians. Its rhythms are taken for the base of Reggae music, as is the case of the most influential ska band, the Skatalites. Its drummers are said to have revolutionized Jamaican music by mixing the rhythmic parts of Niyabinghi into a complete drum kit, which took elements of jazz to obtain a totally new form of music, baptized as ska. The rhythms with the Niyabinghi were first implanted in his musical themes by Count Ossie, who had incorporated influences from the Jamaican Kumina percussions (and especially the forms themselves) with songs and rhythms learned from the Nigerian musicians of Babatunde Olatunji.

Composition of Nyahbinghi Toques

Binghi songs usually include recitals of the Psalms, or also variations of well-known hymns from the Christian hymnbook. The rhythm that it takes is 2 beats and a pause (called by Rastafari as 1-2) in the case of fundeh; 1 hit for the bass drum and 2 pauses starting with the new dry hit (that is, when the fundeh plays 1-2; the Bass Drum plays 1---2); and the akete guides the other drummers with the peal. The touch has the function of achieving meditation in the prayer of the Rastafari, being also praise for JAH God. The Nyahbinghi drums represent the beating of the Heart; as it also represents Sadrac, Mesac, and Abed-negotiation; the 3 friends of the biblical Daniel. The story tells that Sadrac, Mesac and Abed-negotiation were sentenced to death for not respecting and worshiping the image created by Nebuchadnezzar and maintaining fidelity to JAH God; and they were thrown into the fiery furnace. but they did not die, but the 3, plus the Angel of God, were walking through the oven without getting burned. Thus, the fidelity of Sadrac Mesac and Abed-negotiation towards God was stronger than the fire of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.

Dissemination of Nyahbinghi

Recordings by Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus, as well as the Rastafari Elders, along with Cout Ossie helped popularize this rhythm. Although Niyabinghi music functions as a different Rastafarian Ceremonial music than Reggae, musicians like Bob Marley and even non-Rastafarians like Prince Buster and Jimmy Cliff (both Muslims) use it in some of their songs. Recently, new Dancehall Sizzla and American Roots Reggae artists such as Groundation and Jah Levi have been using Niyabinghi percussion extensively on their recordings. Despite being a way that gives continuity to the cultural formation of Africa, it is rather seen as the voice of the people who rediscover their roots. It is that combination of inherent traditions and conscious discovery of African traditions that makes the Niyabinghi - and Rastafari - drum so powerful.

The Nyahbinghi Order

The Nyahbinghi Order is one of the first Rastafari Mansions. It is considered the strictest mansion of the Rastafarian movement, proclaiming the ideas of a world Theocracy headed by Emperor Haile Selassie I, who is proclaimed as the promised Messiah and incarnation of the Supreme God, JAH, God in Flesh, Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords for the Rastafari Culture.

Usually misconstrued as a movement generating violence to promote 'death to black and white oppressors' (death to the oppressors, white and black), the Niyabinghi are actually pacifists who believe that black rule (the humble, the poor, the needy) is simply a matter of fate and not a reason to wage war (which they would prefer remove as if they were superficial colored lines). They do not believe in violence, since they believe that only Jah has the right to destroy. They make the promise by the power of the word, believing that only when all of Jah's children make the promise together will the oppression end.