Emmanuel Anebsa sings for the oppressed

United Kingdom-based reggae singer Emmanuel Anebsa knows the stinging crush of white oppression firsthand.

Growing up in the tough neighbourhood of St Paul's in Bristol in the southwest of England, he saw West Indian immigrants and black Britons struggling to gain a foothold in the country.

He is the product of a Jamaican father and an English mother. His father owned the Black and White CafÈ in St Paul's, before the infamous 1981 race riots in Britain.

"I was nine years old, it was April 1980, and I was coming home from school. Police had raided the cafÈ and the man dem decide to retaliate against the white cops and dem mash dem up" he said.

However, the government had the last laugh, confiscating the cafÈ years later.

ILLEGAL DRUGS

"Babylon take it away, dem claim say illegal drugs were being sold in the area around the cafÈ. Eventually, dem knock it down and eventually reimburse me, but is just one more example how 'The Man' oppresses people of colour, dismantling their businesses," he said.

That is why he makes 'freedom music' for minorities.

"I know the struggle is real, young people. Don't sell out, make up your own mind about things," Anebsa said.

He has recorded 33 albums, which have all been released on his own Wont Stop Records. He has worked with artistes such as Junior Kelly, Anthony B, Turbulence, Jah Mason and Doniki.

Anesba's latest EP, Black People, is his most ambitious to date as he has enlisted a who's who of Jamaican musicians, such as Earl 'Chinna' Smith, Robbie Lyn, Chris Meredith and Kirk Bennett.

Some of the songs of his EP include the singles Black People, Cant Take No More and Love Song.