Watch Antibalas' Striking Video For 'Fight Am Finish'
Video Premiere: NYC afrobeat group Antibalas' new video is a "vision of a Nigerian slave returning to Africa to reclaim his freedom, land, and spirit."
Pioneer NYC afrobeat ensemble Antibalas is celebrating its 20th anniversary with the release of their latest album, Fu Chronicles.
The new album takes listeners to older pre-gentrification days in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, when the band was formed out of lead singer Duke Amayo's kung fu dojo.
Today we're premiering the new music video for album highlight, "Fight Am Finish," a song that about being ready for our daily battles and ultimately overcoming them. The music video was filmed in between Badagry and the New Afrika Shrine in Nigeria, as well as Grand Street in Brooklyn, the same street where Amayo's kung fu dojo was located and where he met founding Antibalas members Martin Perna and Gabe Roth.
"In 1803, Igbo slaves from Nigeria committed mass suicide off the U.S. coast near Georgia," Duke Amayo tells OkayAfrica. "It was the largest known mass slave suicide and uprising. The mutiny and suicide by the Igbo people has been called the 'first freedom march' in U.S. history. [This video] is my vision of a Nigerian slave returning to Africa to reclaim his freedom, land, and spirit. Fight Am Finish! Never ever let go of your dreams."
"The story of 'Fight Am Finish' encompasses various Nigerian tribes such as the Igbo, Yorubas, Edos, and the Hausas. It all unfolds as a dreamer returns, back from the middle passage to the point of no return in Badagry, Nigeria off the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Once taken as a child slave, he returns as a Sifu (meaning 'a master') from where the gods are in peace to pass homage to the ancestors to reclaim his dignity and spirit. He engages the guidance of the indigenous gatekeeper Ogun, Egyptian Goddess Seshat, and the Mother of the Ocean, Yemoja to be victorious!"
"The video depicts a unity dance with Ogun called Chi Sao in Chinese, it's a transfer of energy," Amayo continues, "I enlisted my daughter to play Seshat's role in the music video. Seshat is known for helping correct the lies of history in order to rebuild a balanced world. She represents the future of feminine leadership. We're releasing the video for 'Fight Am Finish' during Black History Month to honor slaves returning to the shores of Nigeria."
Watch the new music video for Antibalas' "Fight Am Finish" below.
Antibalas North American Tour Dates
Thursday, February 20 -- Neptune Theatre -- Seattle, WA
Friday, February 21 -- Rickshaw Theater -- Vancouver, BC
Saturday, February 22 -- PDX Jazz -- Portland, OR
Sunday, February 23 -- The Olympic -- Boise, ID
Wednesday, February 26 -- Knotty Pine -- Victor ID
Thursday, February 27 -- The Commonwealth Room -- Salt Lake City, UT
Friday, February 28 -- Washington's -- Fort Collins, CO
Saturday, February 29 -- Summit Music Hall -- Denver, CO
Thursday, March 19 -- The Sinclair -- Boston, MA
Friday, March 20 -- Brooklyn Bowl -- Brooklyn, NY
Saturday, March 21 -- Brooklyn Bowl -- Brooklyn, NY
Sunday, March 22 -- Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center -- Greenfield, MA
Thursday, March 26 -- Terminal West -- Atlanta, GA
Friday, March 27 -- The Grey Eagle -- Asheville, NC
Saturday, March 28 -- Cat's Cradle -- Carrboro, NC
Tuesday, March 31 -- Brooklyn Bowl -- Nashville, TN
Wednesday, April 1 -- Headliners Music Hall -- Louisville, KY
Thursday, April 2nd – The Ready Room – St. Louis, MO
Friday, April 3 -- Sleeping Village -- Chicago, IL
Saturday, April 4 -- SPACE -- Evanston, IL
Friday, April 10 -- Lee's Palace -- Toronto, ON
Saturday, April 11 -- Lee's Palace -- Toronto, ON
Friday, April 17 -- Theatre of The Living Arts -- Philadelphia, PA
Saturday, April 18th - RFK Stadium - Washington DC