“He was a man with no time, with a mission that no one in popular music had ever attempted before,” said Rolling Stone magazine of musician Bob Marley and his struggle with terminal cancer in 1980, “In the past few years, he had managed to popularize reggae–a music that had once sounded strange and foreign to many ears–and to convey the truths of his troubled homeland, Jamaica, for a mass audience.”
Bob Marley, one of the founders of reggae, had a mission during his lifetime that extended far beyond music. His goal was to spread messages of love, unity, and social justice to people all over the world. Born in Jamaica in 1945, Marley used his music as a platform to advocate for change and to speak out against oppression and inequality. Although raised a Catholic, Marley’s life changed dramatically when the Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie visited Jamaica in 1966. The visit prompted Marley to join the Rastafari faith, and to embrace an outlook of Pan-Africanism which seeks the unity of African people worldwide.
Another pivotal moment in Marley’s life was his performance at the One Love Peace Concert in 1978 in Kingston, Jamaica. During the concert Marley brought together political rivals Michael Manley and Edward Seaga on stage and had them join hands in a moment of unity. As a result, Marley was awarded the Peace Medal of the Third World by the United Nations.
Marley passed away at 36 years old from melanoma related cancer in 1981–just as his mission had gained worldwide momentum. Due to his Rastafari beliefs, he had refused Western medical treatment. However, four decades later he remains one of the best-selling musicians of all time, with sales of more than 75 million records. His musical legacy burns brightly, and serves as a source of inspiration for countless people who are seeking to create a better world.
“This music is about struggle. Reggae is a vehicle of freedom and peace,” said Marley. His songs continue to inspire generations of listeners to stand up for what is right and to work towards a more just and equitable society. As Marley said, “Sometimes you have to fight with music.”
