There are moments in culture when music does more than entertain — it shapes identity, it restores pride, it reclaims a narrative. Scratchylus, the international reggae artist, stands at the forefront of that tradition. With Our Story, his collaboration with Empress Reggae and Sizzla Kalonji, he has crafted not just a song but an anthem: a declaration that Africa is more than history’s footnote — it is civilisation’s foundation.
Scratchylus understands the power of visibility. When Empress Reggae’s youthful voice sings “Africa, Mother Africa”, it becomes a proclamation that the next generation will not be defined by silence or erasure. When Sizzla Kalonji enters with his fiery urgency, the message becomes unignorable. And when Scratchylus himself grounds the track in steady reasoning, the song transforms into what reggae has always been at its best: truth-telling set to rhythm.
At its heart lies a refrain both simple and seismic: “They only mention His Story, teach the children Our Glory.” It is a reminder that Black History Month is not simply about commemoration — it is about correction, elevation, and the confidence to walk in the world knowing exactly who you are and where you come from.
Our Story feels less like a song and more like a manifesto. What was the spark that first inspired you to create it?
The spark came from what I was seeing and hearing everywhere I went. In schools, in books, in the media — the story of Africa was either missing or distorted. They talk about “history” but it’s really “his story” — the story of those who conquered, those who colonised, those who benefited from keeping us down. I wanted to balance the scales.
The ancestors were calling me to put this message into music. Because music goes where speeches cannot reach. It gets into the hearts of the people, especially the youth. So Our Story became more than a song. It is a reminder, a declaration, a manifesto that Africa is not a side chapter in the world’s story — Africa is the foundation. It is apt to mention here that the legendary Earl Chinna Smith and the foundational Inna De Yard Musicians family contributed to ‘Our Story’
The refrain — “They only mention His Story, teach the children Our Glory” — is both haunting and powerful. What do those words mean to you today?
Those words are the core. They mean we must reclaim the narrative. Too many generations have grown up only knowing pain, slavery, oppression when they hear about their ancestors. But before all of that, there was glory. Civilisations that built temples, pyramids, libraries, universities. The first doctors, scientists, philosophers.
When I say teach the children our glory, I am saying: let us stop robbing the youth of their inheritance. Give them the full truth, because knowledge is strength. That refrain is not just a lyric — it is a command. And I will chant it until it is planted in every heart.
Your daughter, Empress Reggae, carries whole verses of the track. What does her voice bring, not only to the song but to the message you’re trying to share?
Her voice brings light. When Empress Reggae sings “Africa, Mother Africa”, it is not only history — it is living truth. She represents the children, the youth who are inheriting the future. When her voice is on the record, it tells every young person listening: you are part of this, you belong, you are the continuation.
As a father, it fills me with joy to see her standing strong in the tradition. As an artist, I admire her clarity, her sharpness, her courage. She reminds us that reggae is generational — passed down, renewed, kept alive by the children. Her presence makes the message unshakable, because it comes from the very ones we are singing for.
Sizzla Kalonji brings fire and urgency to his verse. How did that collaboration come together, and what does his energy add to the project?
Sizzla has always been my artist so it was an honour to collaborate with him. Sizzla is one of the most prolific and powerful voices in reggae. His fire, his energy, is unmatched. When he came on the track, it was like the final piece of the puzzle. My verses are the reasoning, Empress Reggae brings innocence and hope, and Sizzla brings the warrior spirit — the urgency that says Babylon must tremble, the people must rise, the truth must be shouted.
We have worked together before, and every time it is a blessing. He doesn’t just sing words, he chants fire. That is what makes Our Story not just a sweet song, but a declaration of resistance.
The song speaks directly about renaming, cultural theft, and propaganda. Why was it important for you to confront those truths in music rather than in essays or speeches?
Because music reaches places essays cannot. A speech you might forget. A book you might not pick up. But a song — you hum it, you sing it, it stays in your spirit. Reggae is the people’s university. It is where truth lives when the system tries to hide it.
I had to sing about the renaming, the propaganda, the cultural theft, because those wounds are still with us. But I don’t just point to the wound — I sing the healing too. When the chorus says reset the mindset and claim our glory, that is the way forward. Music makes the medicine easier to take, but the lesson is serious.
Reggae has always been the soundtrack of protest and resistance. Where do you see Our Story sitting in that tradition of “words, sounds, power”?
Reggae has always been the voice of the voiceless. It carried the struggles of the people, the cries for freedom, the calls for justice. Our Story stands in that tradition because it is about truth-telling. It is protest against silence. It is resistance against erasure.
But it is also empowerment. It says to the children: your ancestors were not just victims. They were builders, kings, queens, creators. That’s why I call reggae “educational vaccination.” It strengthens the spirit. It gives the people armour against oppression. Our Story is another chapter in that same movement of words, sounds, and power. That is why me and Empress Reggae’s mum named her Reggae that is the name on her passport
You’ve said music can be an “educational vaccination.” How does this track, in particular, serve as a kind of protection or preparation for the younger generation?
When a child sings along to a lyric like “teach the children our glory”, it plants in their mind a new self-image. It prepares them to walk with confidence in a world that often tries to tell them they are less. That is the vaccination. It’s not medicine for the body — it is medicine for the mind, the spirit.
This track is like armour. It equips them with knowledge that cannot be taken away. When they know their true history, no teacher, no system, no media can make them feel small. That is the strength Our Story gives them.
Our Story is being highlighted for Black History Month 2025, what do you hope audiences — from classrooms to concert halls — will take away from it?
I want them to take pride. I want them to walk taller. I want children in classrooms to know they come from greatness. I want parents in concert halls to feel renewed in their duty to guide and protect. I want educators to think about how they teach history.
For Black History Month 2025, Our Story is a reminder that this month is not only about remembrance of struggle — it is about celebration of triumph. It is about balance. I hope when people hear the track, they leave with more love for Africa, more respect for themselves, and more unity for the community.
You’ll be touring throughout October. What can people expect when they come to one of your Black History Month events?
They can expect more than a concert. They can expect reasoning, dialogue, debate, and upliftment. Every show is a space for the people — to sing, to dance, to learn, to question, to unite.
In October, I will be performing Our Story and other songs across the UK. There will be events in universities, cultural centres, and community halls. Some nights we will perform, other nights we will hold debates and Q&As. It is about engaging the people, especially the youth. It is about sparking conversations that continue long after the music ends.
Finally, if you could leave one lasting line from Our Story in the hearts of every child who hears it, what would it be — and why?
It would be: “Teach the children Our Glory.” Because that one line holds everything. If the children know their glory, then no system can break them. If they know where they come from, they will know where they are going.
For further information about Scratchylus Our Story Standing Firm In Power and Pride’ Black History Month Tour please email ukuniversitytourbhm@gmail.com