Nasio was the youngest of seven children born to a Carib Indian mother and father of African descent, in the village of Carte-Bois, Dominica. The family lived in a one room wooden country house without running water or electricity. Before heading off to school, Nasio and his brothers and sisters walked miles to the Gwiyo River to fetch fresh water for the household.
When he was eight years old, Nasio began singing in the Bagatelle school and the village Catholic church. Nasio had a habit of making instruments out of everything he could find. "My Dad, Atto, made my very first instrument, a piece of board with fishing lines for strings; it meant everything to me." According to the village residents, Nasio was often the highlight of the annual school talent shows, and "a blessing to listen to".
Nasio’s musical inspiration comes from Rastafari but on the earthly plane, reggae greats such as Culture’s Joseph Hill, Burning Spear, Jacob Miller and of course Bob Marley. He is also influenced by Marvin Gaye, the Beatles, Curtis Mayfield, and Dominican Cadence music, like Chubby and the Midnight Groovers. He is very focused on what his music is saying, the message he wants to portray.
In the mid-1980s, Nasio moved from Dominica to the hustle and bustle of the island of St. Maarten where he recorded his first 12" single Born to Be Free (1986) and EP Babylon is Falling (1990). His first full length CD Reggae Power (1994) was followed by Wolf Catcher (1997) and Revolution (1999). He soon became a sensation by the power of the music and word of mouth alone.
Lovers of reggae music throughout the world know Nasio’s name, his voice and his conscious lyrics. He speaks of revolution, of waking up the sleeping consciousness of oppressed and freedom loving people across the Earth. In his own words, “the music is important; I want my music to be my contribution to the people of the world.” The world of Reggae and indeed the world of music needs a new voice, get ready to be "Living in the Positive" with Nasio Fontaine.
Africa We Love
Nasio Fontaine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ohhy! Ohhy! Ohhy yeah! Yeah!
Yeah!
Africa we love, Africa we love
We love, love, love, she we love
Yes we love ya
Africa we love, Africa we love
Africa we love
Yes the root of creation
Mother of Civiliaztion
Yet you're a victim
Of western civilization, deedle, deedle, deedle
Your rivers run deep,
Your gold is so rich
Yet there is suffereation
Inna your midst
So I got to sing like
Jah bless Africa, oh yes!
Jah bless Africa, I wanna let them know seh
Jah bless Africa, Oh yes!
Jah bless Africa
Ohhy! Garden of Eden
Africa the first
Land of a people so terrible
From the beginnings
I'm gonna tell you, hey
Land of I and I fathers
Where jah love to be
Land of a people
So black, so great,
So mighty
So I got to sing like
Jah bless Africa, oh yes!
Jah bless Africa, I wanna let them know seh
Jah bless Africa, Oh hoi oh! Yes!
Jah bless Africa, yeah yeah!
Play me right
Gonna tell you about it
Root of creation
Mother of civilization
Yet you're a victim
Of western exploitation
Mama! Mama know
Your rivers run deep
Your gold is so rich
Yet there is suffereation
Inna your midst
So I got to sing like
Jah bless Africa, oh yes!
Jah bless Africa, Haile Selassie 'I' know seh
Blessed be thou
Blessed be thou Africa
Seh we love, seh we love, we love you
Yes we love you, I know seh we love you
ESPAÑOL
Jah I-continuamente bendiga a África, África
Ohhy! Ohhy! Ohhy yeah! ¡Sí!
¡Sí!
África nos gusta, nos encanta África
Nos encanta, el amor, el amor, que nos encanta
Yes we love ya
África nos gusta, nos encanta África
Nos encanta, el amor, el amor, que nos encanta
África nos encanta
Sí, la raíz de la creación
Madre de Civiliaztion
Sin embargo, usted es una víctima
De la civilización occidental, Deedle, Deedle, Deedle
Sus ríos son profundos,
El oro es tan rico
Sin embargo, hay suffereation
Inna su medio
Así que tuve que cantar como
Jah Bless Africa, oh, sí!
Jah Bless Africa, quiero hacerles saber seh
Jah bendiga a África, ¡Oh, sí!
Jah Bless Africa
Ohhy! Jardín del Edén
África, la primera
La tierra de un pueblo tan terrible
Desde los inicios
Te voy a decir, hey
Tierra de I y padres
Donde jah amor que se
La tierra de un pueblo
Tan negro, tan grande,
Tan poderoso
Así que tuve que cantar como
Jah Bless Africa, oh, sí!
Jah Bless Africa, quiero hacerles saber seh
Jah Bless Africa, hoi Oh oh! ¡Sí!
Jah Bless Africa, yeah yeah!
Juega conmigo derecho
Que va a decir usted al respecto
Raíz de la creación
Madre de la civilización
Sin embargo, usted es una víctima
De la explotación del oeste
¡Mamá! Mamá sabe
Sus ríos son profundos
El oro es tan rico
Sin embargo, hay suffereation
Inna su medio
Así que tuve que cantar como
Jah Bless Africa, oh, sí!
Jah Bless Africa, Haile Selassie "yo" saber seh
Bendito seas
Bendito seas tú Africa
Seh amamos, seh amamos, te queremos
Sí que te amo, yo sé seh te queremos
Nasio Fontaine's "Africa We Love" is a powerful ode to the continent of Africa. In the song, he speaks to the rich history and culture of Africa, highlighting its significance as the root of all civilization. He also acknowledges that despite the abundance of natural resources, the continent has suffered from exploitation and colonialism. Throughout the song, Fontaine cries out for Jah, or God, to continually bless Africa.
The lyrics also speak to the resilience and strength of the African people in the face of adversity. Fontaine sings of the great and mighty people of Africa, as well as the suffering that occurs in the midst of the continent's riches. He reminds us that the land is the birthplace of humanity and that we are all linked to Africa in some way.
The chorus of the song, "Africa we love, Africa we love, we love, love, love, she we love," is a powerful declaration of love and respect for the continent. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and celebrating the beauty and significance of Africa.
In summary, "Africa We Love" is a celebration of the rich history and culture of Africa, a call for justice and equality for its people, and a reminder of the importance of connecting with our roots.
Line by Line Meaning
Jah I-tinually Bless Africa, Africa
Continually bless Africa, Jah
Ohhy! Ohhy! Ohhy yeah! Yeah!
Expressing excitement and enthusiasm
Africa we love, Africa we love
We love Africa
We love, love, love, she we love
We love her wholeheartedly
Yes we love ya
We really do love you
Yes the root of creation
You are the root of creation
Mother of Civiliaztion
You are the mother of civilization
Yet you're a victim
But you are also a victim
Of western civilization, deedle, deedle, deedle
Of the consequences of western civilization
Your rivers run deep,
Your rivers run deep
Your gold is so rich
Your gold is abundant and precious
Yet there is suffereation
Yet, there is so much suffering
Inna your midst
In your midst
So I got to sing like
So I must sing
Jah bless Africa, oh yes!
Jah, bless Africa
I wanna let them know seh
I want to let them know
Ohhy! Garden of Eden
Oh, you are the Garden of Eden
Africa the first
The first land
Land of a people so terrible
The land of her people is greatly feared
From the beginnings
From the beginning of time
I'm gonna tell you, hey
I'm going to tell you
Land of I and I fathers
The land of our fathers
Where jah love to be
Where Jah loves to be
Land of a people
The land of her people
So black, so great,
So black, so magnificent
So mighty
So powerful
Jah Bless Africa, Haile Selassie 'I' know seh
Jah bless Africa, Haile Selassie knows it
Blessed be thou
You are blessed
Blessed be thou Africa
You, Africa, are blessed
Seh we love, seh we love, we love you
That we love you
Yes we love you, I know seh we love you
Yes, we love you
Contributed by Eliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ruffelsonstage8557
Some Jamaican Dudes were listening this Banger at a Train Station in Germany (Neuss) . Thank You very much
@fabiopeluffo9571
Stupendo il video !!!...tutta la musica vera regge e la musica più stupenda e meravigliosa di tutto il mondo intero !!!!....Sia lodato jha che ci ha promesso il monte Zaion !!!.....
@KevinWilliams-ft3pt
Thumbs up if you're still listening in 2023 👍🏾
@marcschug7439
Thank yuh fi this good vibes.Super song ❤️💛💚 Jah bless Mama Africa
@rastafaraimaraj5099
Yes nasio Jah bless love from Trinidad 🇹🇹
@baboucarrfaal2113
This is certainly the best reggae song I have ever heard about Africa. Everything about the whole song is just perfect and soul touching. Big up my true brother. From your Gambian brother in babylon.
@orinweever
0lp0000pp0😊😊9okp0p0000p000o00poo 99😊😊😊a k😊0
@orinweever
0😊in 90p9to 0😊9po😊😊
@sadonjeanpierre
😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
@kirbysamuel8485
So proud of my Brother Nasio Fontaine From the Nature Ilse of Dominica..🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲🇩🇲