The first line-up of the group was Garth Dennis, Don Carlos, and Derrick "Duckie" Simpson. The group has undergone several lineup changes: Carlos left, replaced by Michael Rose; then Dennis left to play with The Wailing Souls, and was replaced by Errol Nelson. During this early period, the band's most famous recording is the album entitled Love Crisis, later rereleased as Black Sounds Of Freedom. In 1979 the group was joined by Sandra "Puma" Jones, a social worker from North Carolina, USA. Under this lineup, (Rose, Simpson and Jones), with Sly & Robbie as producers (and also permanently employed on drum and bass), they released the band's most popular albums: Sinsemilla, Red, Chill Out, and the Grammy-winning Anthem¹, as well as others. During this period, Black Uhuru became one of the most popular reggae groups in the world, regularly touring with the likes of The Police and The Rolling Stones. Live 1984 (a concert at the Rockpalast in Germany, but was actually recorded on October 18, 1981) captures the band at the height of its powers.
After Rose went solo in 1985, Junior Reid joined for a few records and also left; Puma Jones left in 1987 (and died of cancer three years later, in 1990). In 1990, Simpson reunited with Dennis and Carlos in the original line-up of the group. They recorded several albums and toured extensively. By the end of the 90's, Dennis and Carlos left the band and fought a legal battle against Simpson over the name Black Uhuru. Simpson won the lawsuit and formed yet another incarnation of Black Uhuru with Andrew Bees as lead singer. Only one album, Dynasty, was released before Bees left the group.
In February 2004, it was announced in the Jamaican press that Simpson and Michael Rose had re-united under the name "Black Uhuru feat. Michael Rose". Together with a female backing singer named Kay Starr, they released a single, "Dollars" and performed at several concerts including "Western Consciousness 2004" on April 28 in Jamaica, of which a live video was released shortly thereafter. A new album has been reported to be in progress.
== Discography ==
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Errol "Tarzan" Nelson'
*1977 - 'Love Crisis'
*1981 - 'Black Sounds of Freedom' ("Love Crisis" reedition)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Michael Rose, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1979 - 'Showcase'
*1980 - 'Black Uhuru'
*1980 - 'Sinsemilia'
*1981 - 'Red'
*1982 - 'Chill Out'
*1983 - 'Guess Who's Coming To Dinner' ("Black Uhuru" reedition)
*1983 - 'Anthem'
'Group: Derrick Simpson, Delroy "Junior" Reid, Sandra "Puma" Jones'
*1986 - 'Brutal'
*1987 - 'Positive' (Puma Jones replaced Olafunke)
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Garth Dennis, Don Carlos'
*1990 - 'Now'
*1991 - 'Iron Storm'
*1993 - 'Mystical truth'
*1994 - 'Strongg'
'Group: Derrick "Duckie" Simpson, Jenifah Nyah, Andrew Bees'
*1998 - 'Unification'
*2001 - 'Dynasty'
'Live / Dub albums:'
*1982 - 'Uhuru in Dub'
*1982 - 'Tear It Up - Live' (album and video)
*1983 - 'The Dub Factor'
*1986 - 'Brutal Dub'
*1987 - 'The Positive Dub'
*1988 - 'Live'
*1988 - 'Live In New York City'
*1990 - 'Now Dub'
*1990 - 'Love Dub' ("Uhuru In Dub" reedition)
*1992 - 'Iron Storm Dub'
*1993 - 'Mystical Truth Dub'
*1994 - 'Strongg Dubb'
*2000 - 'Live 1984'
*2001 - 'In Dub'
*2001 – 'Dubbin'It Live' (summer 2001, at Paléo Festival)
Black Uhuru Anthem
Black Uhuru Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead x2
Were mind ah decreasing from a distant culture
Were manners increasin' cause we backing down vulture
I n i are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead x2
Blessed be the children of man
And together will overstand
Blessed be the children of man
As numberless as grain of sand
I n i are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead x2
Some building costly in the hill
While some many others don't never get no share
They priving a human of their rights
It's a crime against the worst don't have to tell you about prison
I n i are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead x2
Were mind ah decreasing from a distant culture
Were manners increasin' cause we backing down vulture
I n I living out there hopefull and bright
Break
I n i are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
I n I heart of the maroon heart
I n I taught to the maroon tall
I n I trod the maroon trod
Inna desolate places
I n i are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead x2
____________
Et en français :
Nous sommes les dreads vivants
Parmi l'aube des morts vivants x2
Nos esprit s'avillissent a cause de cette lointaine culture
Nos manieres s'accroissent car nous cedons aux vautours
Refrain x2
Benis soient les enfants de l'homme
Et ensemble nous comprendrons
Beni soient les enfants de l'homme
Aussi peu nombreux que des grains de sables
Refrain x 2
Certains batissent cherement dans les collines
Pendant que tant d'autres ne reçoivent pas leurs du
Ils privent un humain des ses droits
C'est un crime des pires, je ne vous parle meme pas de prison
Refrain x2
I n i vit là, plein d'espoir et lumineux
Break
Nous sommes des dreads vivants
Nous avons le cœur d'un Maroon
Nous avons l'enseignement d'un Maroon
Nous suivons les chemins des Maroon
A travers des lieux desolés
Refrain x2
The song Black Uhuru Anthem by the reggae group Black Uhuru speaks to the struggles faced by the black community, both in Africa and around the world. The lyrics paint a picture of a culture that is losing touch with its roots due to outside influences, represented in the lines "mind ah decreasing from a distant culture" and "manners increasin' cause we backing down vulture." The chorus emphasizes the unity and strength of the black community, stating "blessed be the children of man" and "together we will overstand."
The song also touches on issues of social and economic inequality, with lines like "some building costly in the hills / while some many others don't never get no share" and "they priving a human of their rights / it's a crime against the worst don't have to tell you about prison." The final verse speaks to the resilience and pride of the black community, proclaiming that "I n I are the living dread / inna these ya dawn of the living dead / I n I heart of the maroon heart / I n I taught to the maroon tall / I n I trod the maroon trod / inna desolate places." Overall, the song celebrates blackness and urges the community to come together and resist oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
I n i are the living dread
Nous sommes les dreads vivants
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead x2
Parmi l'aube des morts vivants x2
Were mind ah decreasing from a distant culture
Nos esprit s'avillissent a cause de cette lointaine culture
Were manners increasin' cause we backing down vulture
Nos manieres s'accroissent car nous cedons aux vautours
Blessed be the children of man
Benis soient les enfants de l'homme
And together will overstand
Et ensemble nous comprendrons
As numberless as grain of sand
Aussi peu nombreux que des grains de sables
Some building costly in the hill
Certains batissent cherement dans les collines
While some many others don't never get no share
Pendant que tant d'autres ne reçoivent pas leurs du
They priving a human of their rights
Ils privent un humain des ses droits
It's a crime against the worst don't have to tell you about prison
C'est un crime des pires, je ne vous parle meme pas de prison
I n I living out there hopefull and bright
I n i vit là, plein d'espoir et lumineux
I n i are the living dread
Nous sommes des dreads vivants
I n I heart of the maroon heart
Nous avons le cœur d'un Maroon
I n I taught to the maroon tall
Nous avons l'enseignement d'un Maroon
I n I trod the maroon trod
Nous suivons les chemins des Maroon
Inna desolate places
A travers des lieux desolés
Contributed by Ellie M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mladjanbanjac3170
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
Where minds are decreasing, from a distant culture
Where minds are increasing, 'cause we backing off vultures
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
Blessed be the children of man
Who together will overstand
Blessed be the children of man
As numberless as grain of sand
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
(..)
Some building costly in the hill
While so many others don't never get no share
Depriving a human of their rights
It's a crime against the worst
Do I have to tell you about prison
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
Where minds are decreasing, from a distant culture
Where minds are increasing, 'cause we backing down vultures
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
I and I living out there upfull and bright!
(..)
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
I and I heart of the Maroon art
Taught to the Maroon thought
I and I trod the Maroon trod
Inna desolate places
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
I and I are the living dread
Inna these ya dawn of the living dead
@Ela-tp1zg
One of the greatest songs ever made
@Surfmus
I play Black Uhuru daily since 1990. Best heavyweight rockers indeed. Best reggae band hands down.
@jahsellassieisolja9355
When I was 18 yrs old in the state of Hawaii I was sentenced to 24 years in prison for a joint , first time ever being arrested in my life .the charge was commercial promotion of marijuana in the first degree . After 17 years in prison I was released at the age of 35 . Robert Nesta and great groups like Black Uhuru was my salvation . Reggea music kept me alive in hell and kept me humble and positive . I was released with no bitterness !! I did not let the system brake me . Jah will provide . I'm 41 yrs old now and iv just been diagnosed with cancer and I'm still smiling .. I am a true selassie I solja .. Jah bless
@rnrrosann8171
Blessed be mi idren....hold tight..mighty might...Rastafari
@lucasbelfort8519
hold on, rastaman
@waynewright5628
Jah know mi youth i hear u pain today u can grow it in u garden man
@noahbajec
jah bless,
@aleksvalentin3
jah bless ur soul
@andrewprice3744
This song is another reminder of the the Legend Robbie Shakespeare, hear the bassline. RIP Icon.
@AkiraRyuzn2010
Black Uhuru have been one of my favorite reggae artists/groups ever since I was younger, and now they are still one of my favorites. Thanks for bringing back great memories. 100000000/5