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Mother of Song (Queen Marimba)

by Kibir La Amlak feat Iber Jose Gomez

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about

Located in East Africa, south of Lake Victoria or Nam Lolwe, Nalubaale or Nyanza, to use some of the pre-colonial names of the waters, the Wakambi people, speak of ‘Queen Marimba’ who is credited as being the ‘Mother of all Song' and creator of countless instruments.

In 2018, whilst touring in Bogota, Colombia with El Gran Latido, Kibir La Amlak recorded Iber Jose Gomez, a renowned Marimba player from the Colombian Pacific Coast. Together they created this genre bending piece of music 'Mother of Song (Queen Marimba)'. A blend of Afro-Colombian melody with a UK style digi-dub drum and baseline.

The journey of this instrument from the shores of Africa to the Americas is a journey that is testament to - the determination to hold onto the memories of your roots against all odds. Recorded in Bogota, Colombia, the Marimbas was carried across the Atlantic Ocean in the memories of the Africans that were stolen, stripped of language, traditions and cultures and sold as slaves. Yet despite these atrocities - the strength, beauty and power of Africa could never depart. The Marimba was recreated from memory and served as an unbreakable thread between the diaspora and the continent.

In 2019, the 'Humanitarian Refuge for Life' was staged in Bogota. Feeling as though their freedom and life itself was hanging by a thread, over 3,000 social leaders from all regions of Colombia gathered to take a stand against systemic violence against; African descendants, indigenous people and women - throughout Columbia. El Gran Latido Sound System provided the amplification and musical backdrop for this occasion and 'Mother of Song' was given its first musical airing. The response was powerful and the combination of the traditional Marimba melody with the militancy of the roots reggae drum and bass elevated the spirit of protest.

To honour this story and amplify the cause, an additional version, entitled “El Pueblo No Se Rinde Carajo” has been made featuring a speech from Diego Fernando Porto Carrero, highlighting the ongoing plight of black and indigenous people in Columbia from slavery times up until this present day.

credits

released September 3, 2021

Marimba: Iber Jose Gomez
Keyboards: Benjamin 'Ashanti Selah' Smith
Bass: David 'JAH David' Goldfine
All other instrumentation: Jamie 'Kibir La Amlak' Thomas

Mixed, mastered, arranged and produced by: Jamie 'Kibir La Amlak' Thomas at Kibir La Amlak Studio 2018-2021

©℗ Before Zero Records 2021

Original Cover Photography: Manuela Uribe
Cover design: Jamie Thomas

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Kibir La Amlak London, UK

Kibir La Amlak is a live dub show, record label, studio and sound system based in London, UK, founded by Jamie "JT" Thomas in 2009. After a decade of worldwide festival performances, club events, numerous tours and an ever expanding list of titles in the discography Kibir La Amlak has become a household name in the world of roots reggae and dub. ... more

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