Emperor In Exile
Babba Maas & Friends
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0:00/3:06
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0:00/5:13
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0:00/4:08
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4. Exile Song 5:190:00/5:19
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0:00/3:33
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Never Give Up 3:240:00/3:24
RECORDING CONTINUES…
Update 24 June 2026: We’re delighted to announce that all featured vocalists have now completed their recordings for Emperor In Exile.
Over recent months we’ve had the privilege of working with an incredible line-up of artists, including Earl Sixteen, Carlton Smith (Black Roots), Da Fuchaman, Bekele Sengor (Talisman), Nia Melody and Knati P, each bringing their own unique voice and perspective to the project.
With all vocal sessions now complete, the album has entered the final stages of mixing with engineer Uri Green at Yam and Banana Studios in Bristol. The tracks are really beginning to come together, bringing the story of Emperor Haile Selassie’s years in exile at Fairfield House, Bath, to life through roots reggae and dub.
Once the final mixes are completed and approved, the album will move on to the mastering stage ahead of release.
We’ve started posting short reels which you can view on via the Instagram link above right
Thank you for following the journey and for all your continued support. We’re excited to share more news very soon as Emperor In Exile moves ever closer to completion.
Themes From the Album
Train from Addis Ababa to Bath Spa
This track traces Haile Selassie’s journey into exile in 1936, as he left Ethiopia under Italian invasion to continue the fight from abroad. A story of survival and resistance, the track reflects a path shaped by displacement, determination and the will to return.
Today Its Us Tomorrow You…
…draws on Haile Selassie’s 1936 address to the League of Nations, where he exposed the brutality of Italy’s invasion and the use of chemical weapons against his people. Challenging the world’s silence, he warned that the failure to act against injustice would have consequences beyond Ethiopia — a message captured in his stark prophecy: it is us today, it will be you tomorrow.
Our Country's Not For Sale
This title reflects Haile Selassie’s refusal to surrender Ethiopia’s sovereignty in the face of invasion, bribery and political compromise. Rejecting offers of personal power and territorial deals, he stood firm against attempts to divide and exploit his nation, asserting that independence and justice could never be bought or sold.
Exile Song
'Exile Song' reflects the quiet desolation of Haile Selassie’s years in exile, a period marked by loss, uncertainty and distance from his homeland. Though he rarely revealed his inner thoughts, the track imagines the weight of that silence — a restrained, dignified endurance shaped by isolation, responsibility and the hope of return
Sylvia
‘Sylvia’ honours the role of Sylvia Pankhurst, whose unwavering support for Haile Selassie and Ethiopia during the years of exile helped keep their struggle visible to the world. Through her activism, writing and advocacy, she challenged injustice and gave voice to a nation under attack, offering solidarity, influence and hope at a critical moment.
Never Give Up…
…reflects Haile Selassie’s unwavering perseverance in the face of exile and invasion. Guided by conviction and foresight, it captures a belief that justice would ultimately prevail — a message of resilience, patience and enduring hope. Positioned at the closing of the narrative, the track sits on the threshold of return, carrying a quiet sense of destiny, even though that outcome is not yet known or spoken within the song itself.