If I asked, ‘Have you heard of Cymande or their song ‘Bra’? I’d bet that you would say no. But I guarantee that once you hear the opening riffs, instant recognition will hit you like a brick, and you will be like, ‘Ohhh! I know this one!’.
Cymande’s music has been beloved by DJs and crate diggers for decades. Their influence, particularly in the early days of hip hop, cannot be overstated, with DJs like Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash deconstructing Cymande’s songs to use as breakbeats.
Throughout the 1980s, ‘Bra’ was sampled by many hip-hop artists, including De La Soul on ‘Change in Speak’ from their 1989 album, 3 Feet High and Rising and Sugarhill Gang on their 1985 single ‘Work, Work the Body’. The song gained further recognition when film director Spike Lee featured it in two of his movies: Crooklyn (1994) and 25th Hour (2002).
But despite their popularity, particularly in the US, few people know anything about the band, referred to by one writer as ‘the most influential band you’ve never heard of’1
Black British music’s best kept secret
Cymande was formed in London in 1971 by bassist Steve Scipio and guitarist Patrick Patterson. Hailing from African and Caribbean countries including Guyana, Jamaica, St Vincent and Nigeria, the band name derives from the calypso word for dove, which symbolises peace and love.
The band was known for its eclectic mix of afro, reggae, soul, and funk, which they called “nyah-rock” in reference to Nyabinghi, one of the oldest denominations of the Rastafari faith, whose ritual rhythms underpinned Cymande’s sound.
In 1973, Cymande became the first British band to headline the Apollo Theater in New York.2 However, the group was relatively unknown in the UK, and after three album releases, they disbanded in 1974 before reforming in the 2000s. In a 2019 interview with RhythmPassport.com, they said:
Although we had been accepted and appreciated by American audiences in a wonderful way (which was unique for a UK black band playing funk and jazz), we found that when we returned to the UK, we were back in the land of the unseen and unheard, which was the place to which black music and black musicians had generally been confined in the UK music industry. It was dispiriting and devoid of dignity, and we all had other options, so we took a little respite. We prefer to describe the extended absence as a sabbatical. We took the band off the road, but never really split, and we have always remained connected and friends, working together on various projects over the years and discussing the idea of returning when the time was right.
‘But it’s alright, we can still go on’
‘Bra’, a slang word for brother in the UK African Caribbean community, is the second single from the band’s self-titled debut studio album.
Initially I’d only heard samples of the song, so I thought it was instrumental, not realising that there were vocals. But I heard the track in full, a close listen to the lyrics revealed a song celebrating brotherhood, friendship, and the importance of Black people working together.
The song’s verses refer to the injustices faced by Black people, offering a message of hope and encouragement in the chorus. It’s a powerful reminder of the resilience and strength of the Black community, and perhaps of the band itself.
They might have said we’re lying
No matter how hard we try
Those who have watched us crying
Can pray that the helpless dieBut it’s alright, we can still go on
Listening to the song today feels as valid and current as it must have on its initial release. Why the British public did not embrace Cymande sooner is anyone’s guess. I can only assume that they just weren’t ready, as I think Cymande were perhaps ahead of their time despite being very much of their time—if that makes sense.
But I’m glad that in recent years, the band is still active and finally receiving the recognition and praise they so rightly deserve.
- Cymande – the most influential band you’ve never heard of – The Big Issue ↩︎
- Cymande // Darren Farnsworth. https://darrenfarnsworth.com/music/playlist/bands/cymande/ ↩︎
Just Read It 