The band was started by brothers Vaughn Benjamin (August 13, 1969 - November 4, 2019)
(vocals) and Ron Benjamin (keyboard, but later switched to bass) circa 1989 according to an interview with former Midnite drummer Ambrose "Amby" Connor by Midnight Raver. The band's music follows in tradition with the roots reggae bands of 1970s Jamaica. The lyrical portions of Midnite's compositions are characterized as the "chant and call" style which gives their music a spiritually intense and an overtly Rastafari movement feel. The lyrics are centrally focused on the plights of the oppressed, the inherent faults of the current political, economic and social settings on a global scale, and the redemption available to mankind through a life dedicated to Jah.
The Benjamin brothers were raised in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, the sons of Antiguan musician Ronnie Benjamin, Sr. Vaughn Benjamin cites Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, The Abyssinians, and bassist Flabba Holt as his earliest influences.
"Bob Marley has had a big impact. And the drum and the bass from like Flabba Holt. Sometimes I listen to the bass man alone or the drummer alone."
The group's debut album Unpolished was released exclusively in Namibia in December 1997. The album would not see a proper U.S. release until the Rastafaria label released it wide in 2001. They recorded Ras Mek Peace (Before Reverb and Without Delay) while living in Washington, D.C. during the mid-90s, and it was released in November 1999. The album was named so, because it was reportedly recorded live in one room, straight to two-track analog tape. It was mastered without the use of compression or corrective equalization. Like Unpolished, Ras Mek Peace (Before Reverb and Without Delay) is recorded using no mixing board, no filtering, no compression, no equalization, no noise reduction, multitracking or overdubbing, giving it a similar raw sound. The album was recorded using only two-tracks at Mapleshade in Upper Marlboro, MD with studio engineer and owner Pierre Sprey whose recording style is summed up in the phrase he had printed to green Mapleshade T-shirts to promote the studio: NO Mixing Board, NO Overdubs, NO Noise Reduction, NO Compression, NO Multitracks, NO Reverb, NO EQ, Nothing BUT The Excitement of Live Music, MUSIC WITHOUT COMPROMISE.
Later, they returned home to St. Croix in the late '90s to play with local musicians and record at their music studio, Afrikan Roots Lab.
Midnite frequently collaborates with new artists and has played as the back-up band on a number of Afrikan Roots Lab artists' releases, such as Dezarie's Fya and Gracious Mama Africa and Ikahba's Trodding to Zion.
In September 2011, Midnite released their first professionally produced music video for their song "Mongst I&I". The video features members of the band in casual settings and depicts the Rastafarian culture in Frederiksted, United States Virgin Islands (referred to as "Freedom City," St. Croix), and Kingston, Jamaica.
Singer Vaughn Benjamin featured on Tribal Seeds' 2014 album Representing.
The band was featured in the 2014 documentary film Escape To St Croix.
In 2015, the band reformed around co-founder Vaughn Benjamin as Akae Beka without bassist Ron Benjamin. Ras Elyments Took Ron Benjamins Position on Bass. Suren Felton Replaced Ras L on Keys. The reasons for the reformation have been stated as due to "Life changes, convictions and revelations. Stated on the band website was "Due to a medical emergency the tour is postponed" Members of the band themselves won't even say during the recent Akae Beka Coronation Tour in November 2015. '. Akae Beka's first performance took place in Denver, Colorado on July 17, 2015 in honor of Nelson Mandela Day.
Vaughn Benjamin died in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on November 4, 2019, at the age of 50.
In its Top 50 Reggae Albums of the 2K list, reggae news and information website Midnight Raver ranked Midnite's Jubilees of Zion as the best album of the new millennium and 'Beauty for Ashes' as the third best. In its review of Akae Beka's Homage To The Land, Midnight Raver referred to Midnite as "the most revered, influential and prolific reggae act in two decades."
Mamã África
Midnite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Africa I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong
Ey ey Africa I belong I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong
And still I call you mama
May you neva be ruled
Controlled by no Yankee dollar
Oh Africa and still I call you mama
Wid love as my tool
Still I and I must prosper
Oh Africa and still I call you mama
From one of your sons abroad
How I wish I could be
back on Bassa corner
Mama mama mama
I keep wishing I could capture
Love in a bottle and blow it all around
I keep wishing I could capture
justice in America
And fling it all around
Sling ding dang whey ee
Justice dun sell out to the
highest trigger finger awhoa
Sling ding dang whey ee
When will you them a call nigger
Stop pull trigger an one another
Mama mama
Them bourgeoisie black man
Them a sit down pan the truth
And by your silence you agree
You think say that the dollar is the sample
And the example of Jah
You feel you rule with superiority
Sp ling ding dang whey ee
Justice dun sell out to the
highest trigger finger a whoa
Sling ding dang whey ee
When will you them a call nigger
Stop pull trigger pan one another
Mama mama
Africa I belong I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong
Mama don’t cry daddy gone a penitentiary hey
I man will find a way
We know we know say
That tings narn go easy
So when I man flash it ina foreign
Wid hour four string guitar
And hour empty belly
Man is through ganja hustling
Man put roof and bed under mommy
When we did run it
pan the loco line full time
Although we musically inclined I find
I keep seeing hard time
Will neva respect nobody
I was going under een
I man start over seen
One more chance
One more try
Chu I’m not ready
for the sweet by and by
I man start ova
Glad to be alive
Mama mama mama
Oh Africa still I call you mama
May you neva be ruled
Controlled by no Yankee dollar
Oh Africa and still I call you mama
May prosperity rule hey hey
Africa I belong I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong
Africa I belong I belong
Hey hey
The lyrics to Midnite's song Mama Africa reflect the artist's deep connection and love for his African roots. The song begins with a repetitive chant of "Africa I belong," emphasizing the strong sense of belonging that he feels towards his homeland. He then proceeds to ask that Africa never be controlled or ruled by foreign powers, specifically referencing the "Yankee dollar." The artist also addresses the issue of violence within the Black community, highlighting the need for justice and a call to end the use of the racial slur "nigger" and stop the pulling of the trigger on each other. The accompanying phrases of "sling ding dang whey ee" also connote the need for a change towards a more peaceful world, and this concept resonates throughout the lyrics of the song.
Towards the end of the song, we see a personal reflection of the artist's journey, specifically the struggles he faced and overcame in his life. He mentions his father being away in prison and his own monetary struggles, but he keeps moving forward and recognizes that he is glad to be alive.
Line by Line Meaning
Africa I belong I belong I belong
The artist feels a strong connection with Africa, which he proclaims repeatedly.
Africa I belong I belong
The artist states his belonging to Africa, which is deeply personal to him.
Ey ey Africa I belong I belong I belong
The artist reinforces his message of belonging to Africa with a chant-like repetition.
Oh Afree ca
The artist proclaims his love for Africa in a distinct, passionately expressed way.
And still I call you mama
The artist sees Africa as his motherland, and will continue to call it 'mama'.
May you neva be ruled
The artist hopes that Africa will never be under external control and influence.
Controlled by no Yankee dollar
The artist expresses that he wants Africa to be free from the influence of the United States and its currency.
Wid love as my tool
The artist believes that love is a powerful weapon, and wants to use it for good.
Still I and I must prosper
The artist affirms that he will always strive for progress and success, despite challenges.
From one of your sons abroad
The artist is referring to himself as one of Africa's sons who are living outside the continent.
How I wish I could be back on Bassa corner
The artist reflects on a specific place in Africa where he has fond memories and would like to return to.
I keep wishing I could capture love in a bottle and blow it all around
The artist wishes he could spread love everywhere, and that it would be as simple as blowing it around like bubbles from a bottle.
Justice in America
The artist is referring to the lack of justice he sees in America, and how he wishes it could be transported to Africa.
And fling it all around
The artist wants to spread justice around Africa.
Sling ding dang whey ee
This is a rhythmic chant that emphasizes the previous line's message.
Justice dun sell out to the highest trigger finger awhoa
The artist criticizes the corrupting influence of money on justice, which allows the wealthy to 'pull the trigger' so to speak.
When will you them a call nigger
The artist criticizes black people who use derogatory language against other black people, instead of lifting each other up.
Stop pull trigger an one another
The artist wants to see an end to violence among people of African descent, both in America and Africa itself.
Them bourgeoisie black man
The artist is criticizing wealthy, middle-class black people who he perceives as being too complacent and ignoring the struggles of the wider black community.
Them a sit down pan the truth
The artist accuses these supposedly complacent black people of knowing the truth, but doing nothing about it.
And by your silence you agree
The artist believes that by not addressing the truth and doing nothing, these black people are condoning the status quo.
You think say that the dollar is the sample
The artist believes that these complacent black people prioritize money above all else, which he sees as a negative influence.
And the example of Jah
The artist believes that these people should look to their spiritual values and culture as a guide, rather than focusing solely on wealth.
You feel you rule with superiority
The artist believes that these complacent black people feel superior to others based on their wealth.
When we did run it pan the loco line full time
The artist reminisces about a time when he was able to make money through music and enjoy being on the 'loco line'.
Although we musically inclined I find
The artist acknowledges that despite being musically talented, he and others in the same situation still faced many challenges.
Will neva respect nobody
The artist has experienced a lack of respect from others and doesn't want the same to happen to others.
I was going under een I man start over seen
The artist faced a difficult situation but was able to start again and overcome it.
One more chance One more try
The artist is hopeful and wants to keep trying despite setbacks.
Chu I’m not ready for the sweet by and by
The artist is not ready to accept death, and wants to keep working and living life to the fullest.
Glad to be alive Mama mama mama
The artist expresses gratitude for still being alive and existing in the world.
May prosperity rule hey hey
The artist wants prosperity and success to be the driving force of society in Africa.
Hey hey
A concluding chant that emphasizes the overall message of love and hope for Africa.
Contributed by Levi I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@beyondempowerment
R.I.P. Vaughn. You healed so many of us with your music.
@mansourtoure3572
Rip 😢
@AnnazettePhillip
Oh no 😊c
@ukwezi
❤
@happymeltedcity
Violence, genocide, poverty, famine, pestilence. Mama, please heal us.
@strictlythebestclothing
Understanding your history is one thing but hearing Vaughn make the connection with music is another, not a word wasted. Rip brethren, will miss that last conversation at my shop as I try to keep up, you were way ahead of your time!!
@sparticus785
I never felt like I was away from home until I heard this song I felt so happy I began to cry in bliss Thank you Midnite
@jahrevelationgodseeeveryth5258
me too
@0liverr94
sparticus785 PURE BLISS IN A TIME OF SORROW
@hlrdc3809
Heard this song over 25 years ago as a teenager @KAFA house in Washington DC when midnite was starting off this great careers. rest in peace.