Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande

classified 12A
Film

Please note: This was screened in July 2024

Director
Tim MacKenzie-Smith
Cast
Masta Ace, Jazzie B, Cut Chemist
Details
89 mins, 2022, UK
Primary language
English

Celebrate Come the Revolution's 10th anniversary with a special screening of Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande, in partnership with Come the Revolution and St Paul's Carnival.

In the racially turbulent landscape of early 1970s Britain, a group of black musicians came together in South London with a shared love of music and a message of peace.

Cymande combined influences from funk, calypso, soul and jazz, to form a unique and intoxicating sound. Despite success in the USA, they were largely ignored in the UK and experienced abhorrent racism from the music industry, causing them to split in 1975.

However, their recordings never stopped inspiring and influencing generations of artists and fans, from Soul II Soul to De La Soul, MC Solaar and The Fugees, prompting their return after forty years.

This is their story, told on screen for the first time, with tributes from a galaxy of musicians and producers influenced and enthralled by their music to this day, including Mark Ronson, Norman Jay, Jazzie B, DJ Maseo of De la Soul, Jim James and Louie Vega.

Image title

Image title


× Close

Help us make our website work better for you

Allow analytics cookies Deny analytics cookies

We use Google Analytics to gather information on how our website is used. This helps us to make changes to our website that improve the usefulness and overall experience for our visitors.