What the songs are actually saying
Roots reggae is often heard as pleasant music with a faint spiritual atmosphere. Listen to the words and it is something much more specific, and much less comfortable.
Culture
The wider story: faith, language, politics and the places the music lives.
Nyabinghi, the drums underneath everything
Before the bass line there was a hand drum, a chant and a fire that burned for days. The oldest layer of this music is also the one most listeners never hear.