The Essence of Bob Marley

Bob Marley's appeal

The essence of Bob Marley’s music is not merely entertainment. His giftedness transcends ordinary musicianship and converts to the truly inspirational. It is so potent that it gave an entire nation hope in their fight against injustice and the scourge of apartheid.

There are incidents of freedom fighters in various regions of Africa who listened to the sounds and words of Marley’s music that gave them hope of a day when they would conquer over injustices. One such incident that took place was in Zimbabwe. Formerly called Rhodesia.

The report of others

In a recent article in the Sunday Gleaner (a Jamaican news paper) dated November 9, 2008 Tommy Cowan former marketing manger for tuff gong, stated that on a tour to Africa the mother land, Bob was invited by some soldiers who had visited him. He said they asked Bob if he would “honor the people of Rhodesia” by his performance in their independence celebrations. They further said.

“When we were losing the battle it was Bob’s music that inspired the victory of the war”

Memorable eye witness accounts

In Cowan’s own words concerning memorable moments of that concert he said.

“On Bob’s third song I heard a commotion over the back fence of the stadium which I went to investigate, and to my surprise I saw thousands of black men heading towards the gate”. The police started to throw teargas, some got in my eyes and I ran back to the stage.”

“I took a wet towel and covered the face of young Ziggy (Marley’s son) and the show came to a halt. We learnt then that it was the prisoners of war who broke out of jail to see their hero Bob Marley. When it was time to resume, there was no I Three (Bob’s back up singers).someone took them away. On resumption, Bob sang Zimbabwe and Africa Unite to the lowering of the Rhodesian flag and hoisting of the Zimbabwe flag.”

“We eventually caught up with the I Three later on Bob Marley jokingly said”

‘Now I know who is the true revolutionaries.’

Such is the mystique and reach and power of “The Legend”

May Bob Marley live on forever and ever.