Winston McAnuff and His Daughter Nadia Pay Tribute to Thomas Sankara with United Souls

It all started in January 2018, when my friend and graphic designer, Christine Guais, was invited to Jamaica by her drummer friend, Christiane Prince, who had played with Winston McAnuff, the living legend of Jamaican reggae, on a European tour. Christine informed me about her trip and proposed an incredible opportunity: to offer some United Souls t-shirts to the legendary Winston.

Earlier, during the Reggae Sun Ska festival near Bordeaux, Thomas DN, a friend with backstage access, had given McAnuff a United Souls tote bag with Thomas Sankara’s image, created by artist Joy Hanoun. To our surprise, Winston wore it around his neck during the sacred incantations on stage at the festival's opening—a deeply significant moment in the reggae community. This powerful gesture moved us deeply.

Before leaving for Jamaica, I entrusted Christine with several United Souls t-shirts, including designs featuring Fela Kuti, Nina Simone, and of course, Thomas Sankara. Back then, our collection had only a few icons of struggle. Alongside her impressive graphic design work with major Parisian brands such as Christie's, Vuitton, and Paco Rabanne, Christine is also passionate about photography. She promised to capture some special moments while staying with the McAnuff family.

As soon as Christine arrived, she presented the t-shirts to Winston as a welcome gift. McAnuff immediately recognized United Souls’ Sankara design. He took advantage of Christine’s photography skills and asked her to do a photo shoot with him and his daughter Nadia, who was visiting. This chance meeting turned into a precious father-daughter bonding session, captured forever in Christine’s photos. The images, full of emotion, were shared on social media and followed McAnuff & Fixi on tour.

In 2012, Winston McAnuff and Fixi had already solidified their musical bond with the album *A New Day*, an energetic blend of reggae, maloya, afrobeat, and soul. This album made history in France, making Winston the first Jamaican artist nominated for the Victoires de la Musique award. The success of *A New Day* led to 250 concerts worldwide, from Paris’ Trianon to Berlin, Cardiff, and La Réunion. In May 2018, they returned with *Big Brothers*, an explosion of energy and creativity.

Throughout this tour, Winston McAnuff wore our t-shirts on stage multiple times—a gesture of solidarity that profoundly touched us at United Souls. We will never forget it.

Then, in September 2024, Christine called me with incredible news: Winston McAnuff was preparing a musical collaboration with his daughter Nadia, and their label, Musical Impact, was looking for father-daughter photos to illustrate the project. And guess which photo was chosen? The one where Winston proudly wears our Sankara design from United Souls, with his daughter Nadia by his side.

This new project by Nadia McAnuff and The Ligerians, titled *COLORS*, is a true musical gem that will be released on October 25 under SoulNurse Records. This beautiful combination of father and daughter promises to be a real treasure.

This father-daughter collaboration perfectly embodies the spirit of United Souls, a brand that unites souls around the world. Nadia and Winston McAnuff: two souls united for life