Nyabinghi

noun nya-BING-gi ɲaˈbɪŋɡi

Also spelled nyahbinghi, niyabinghi, binghi

The oldest and most orthodox order of Rastafari, and the sacred drumming-and-chanting gathering ('grounation') at its heart. A Nyabinghi session uses three hand drums — bass, funde, and repeater (akete) — under chanted hymns and 'reasoning' that can last for days. The word also names the roots of reggae's heartbeat rhythm and the spirit of righteous resistance to Babylon.

  • Di bredren dem gaddah fi a Nyabinghi.

    The brethren gathered for a Nyabinghi (drumming assembly).

  • Nyabinghi drum a di heartbeat a reggae.

    Nyabinghi drumming is the heartbeat of reggae.

  • Chant an drum go on all night at di binghi.

    Chanting and drumming went on all night at the Nyabinghi.

From an East African resistance figure/movement ('Nyabinghi'), adopted by Rastafari for its most orthodox order and its sacred drumming. See [[binghi]], [[grounation]], [[rasta]].

The oldest Rastafari order and its sacred drum-and-chant assembly; source of reggae's rhythmic roots. See [[binghi]], [[grounation]], [[burru]].