Monday
Feb072005
Redemption songs: Bob Marley's philosophy is losing out to MTV bling
Monday, February 7, 2005 at 05:09AM
When the celebrations kick off in Ethiopia to mark the 60th anniversary
of Bob Marley's birth, they will go unnoticed by the very people for
whom he sang. Bob Marley is still seen on T-shirts, posters and Africa
Unite pop-up buttons. But as his merchandising status grows, his
message is lost. Marley would never have said that his message of
unity, love and faith was meant only for black people, but his own
upbringing ensured it holds particular relevance to those who would
have known the pinch of poverty and racism. So it is tragic that the
essence of what he stood for now adds up to empty rhetoric and a stack
of hemp rucksacks. Marley's philosophy of pan-Africanism and racial
pride gave black people a new way of thinking about themselves and
their fellow man. The Bob Marley Foundation recognises this, and on his
birthday this Sunday have seized on his One Love refrain to organise
Violence Free Day in his homeland, Jamaica. But this level of awareness
is not found elsewhere. Marley introduced millions of black Britons to
their first political thought, but they have turned their backs on his
legacy. Seeing their own children worshipping at the altar of bling,
they say nothing: these once politically aware, switched-on people hear
50 Cent's Wanksta's cool beat and think they don't need to worry about
the lyrics. [more]
- Bob Marley brings Ethiopians, Rastafarians together -- but all is not harmonious [more]