After the highly anticipated release of their single ‘Addis Ababa’ on October 29, 2024, The Memberz found themselves overwhelmed with requests from fans eager for a music video. The track had already gained traction on Ugandan radio for a full year before its official release, making it one of the most talked-about reggae songs in East Africa. But the journey to its worldwide debut took an unexpected turn.
The idea to strategically release the song first in Africa before bringing it to Canada and beyond came from The Memberz’ bandleader, Rosko, and their go-to videographer, Jim Resley. However, an unforeseen encounter at the Reggae North Music Awards in Brampton would change everything.
After the ceremony, DJ Chocolate, one of Toronto’s most recognized reggae and dancehall DJs, happened to give a ride to The Memberz’ harmony singer, Megan. As Megan played the song on her phone, DJ Chocolate was instantly hooked. She demanded to know the artist behind the track, and upon learning it was The Memberz, she wasted no time in urging the band’s member Mavriq Brown to release it immediately. “This song needs to be out now!” she insisted.
The next day, after a brief but impactful phone call with Mavriq, the decision was made—
“Addis Ababa” would drop in 30 days. True to her excitement, DJ Chocolate later called it “the best Canadian reggae song I’ve heard in ages.”
Initially, The Memberz had planned to shoot most of the music video in Uganda, but with the song gaining momentum faster than expected, they pivoted to filming locally in Canada. “We had no plans to shoot in Canada at first, but with the response we were getting, we had to act fast,” Mavriq Brown explained.
On December 8, the band made their way to MakeTheFilms Studio in Toronto’s Junction neighborhood for the shoot. The session lasted six hours, packed with electrifying energy from start to finish. “We had three professional dancers who completely nailed the vibe and look for this song—they were flawless,” Brown shared.
With Jim Resley behind the camera, the team was confident they were producing their best visual work yet. “Jim really did his thing,” Brown added. “This is probably the highest quality video we’ve ever shot.” The final product captures the essence of “Addis Ababa” a song that blends reggae roots with African influence, paying homage to a city that holds cultural and historical significance.
Now available on YouTube and all major visual platforms, the “Addis Ababa” video marks a significant milestone for The Memberz, proving once again that great music finds its way to the world—no matter the journey it takes to get there.
