“Hamala is a song that came to me in a dream. It sings to the Garifuna youth to embrace the freedom that their ancestors fought so hard to keep,” says songwriter Emilio Thomas.

“Hamala is the story about a little boy who wants to fly. He wants to go out in the world and experience it, learn from it. But in order for him to accomplish this, he needs his community to embrace him, prepare him for what lies ahead. He knows that the rich culture of his people has the elements he needs to grow his wings and fly.”

ABAN will be released on September 15, 2019.