A new documentary sheds light on Cymande, a Black British soul-funk band from the early 1970s whose influence has often been overlooked. Originating in south London as descendants of the Windrush generation, Cymande quickly established themselves as a formidable live act, supporting soul legend Al Green during a U.S. tour and headlining at New York’s famed Apollo Theatre.

Despite their talent and growing acclaim, Cymande did not receive significant exposure on mainstream British media, notably missing out on airplay by the BBC at the time. Nonetheless, their distinctive fusion of percussion and bass lines left a lasting imprint on the development of disco and hip-hop. American DJs, though often mispronouncing the band’s name, helped circulate Cymande’s music through underground channels and frequently sampled their tracks, embedding the band’s sound into emerging genres.

The documentary features insights from prominent British artists including Craig Charles, Jazzie B, Mark Ronson, and Loyle Carner, all of whom praise Cymande’s pioneering contributions to music. It also highlights the band’s recent resurgence, documenting their debut appearance at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival. Cymande is currently touring once again, reigniting interest in their influential body of work decades after their initial success.

Scheduled to air at 10:10 p.m., the film provides a long-overdue recognition of Cymande’s role in shaping contemporary music and honors their legacy as trailblazers coming from the Windrush generation’s cultural heritage.