Bob Marley performed at the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston, Jamaica, on April 22, 1978. Both the Jamaican Prime Minister, Michael Manley (far left), and his political opponent, Edward Seaga (3rd from left), shared the stage with Marley.
Marley aimed for the star-studded concert, hosted in Kingston, Jamaica in 1978, to contribute towards achieving stability and peace in a nation plagued by division and violence.
In the early hours of April 22, 1978, Bob Marley and his band graced the stage at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, for the One Love Peace Concert. This marked Marley's return to performing in his homeland after an absence of almost two years.
Marley's participation in the concert was prompted by gang leaders from opposing political factions, who hoped that a star-studded musical event could be a catalyst for peace in Jamaica, which was grappling with political divisions and violence. Although the performance created a poignant moment of unity, the nation continued to face challenges of political unrest and violence.
Bob Marley and the Wailers emerged as both a cultural and political force.After surviving an assassination attempt at his home in Kingston in 1976, Bob Marley, along with his wife Rita Marley and two others, sought refuge in the Bahamas and later in London. Marley, a prominent figure with his group, the Wailers, had already established himself as a cultural and political force in Jamaica since the early 1970s. His songs addressed themes of Pan-Africanism, colonial oppression, and the political tensions between the ruling People's National Party (PNP) and the opposition Jamaica Labor Party (JLP).
Marley's association with the PNP became evident in the lead-up to the 1976 election, where he was invited to present a concert by the Minister of Culture. Despite being labeled a PNP concert, it was a government-sponsored event. Marley was shot by a suspected JLP gunman just before the concert, an act believed to prevent him from influencing an event that favored the PNP's interests.
Despite the attempt on his life, Marley remarkably recovered and performed a 45-minute set at the "Smile for Jamaica" concert, attended by 80,000 people at National Heroes Park in Kingston. During his exile in England, he recorded "Exodus," one of the Wailers' most famous albums. However, politically-motivated gang violence persisted in Jamaica, particularly in Kingston, as the PNP consolidated its power under Michael Manley, who won the 1976 election.
Black Culture, Black Consciousness and Rastafarianism;
Understanding Bob Marley's music and political motivations involves recognizing his identity as a Rastafarian. Raised as a Catholic, Marley embraced Rastafarianism in the mid-1960s. This religion, originating in Jamaica in the 1930s, holds Ethiopia as the promised land and reveres Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia as the Black Messiah foretold by Jamaican political activist Marcus Garvey to come from Africa. Marley's commitment to these Rastafarian beliefs influenced his engagement with the conflicting political parties and led to his participation in the One Love Peace Concert.
Marley expressed his desire for people to see themselves in his music, emphasizing his affiliation with the house of David and identifying Ethiopia, particularly Timbuktu, as his home. He believed in showcasing the rich civilization of Africa predating European influence. Quoting Marcus Garvey, Marley highlighted the importance of knowledge about one's past, likening a people without such knowledge to a tree without roots.
Party Leaders and Political Violence
Michael Manley, son of PNP founder Norman Manley, sought support from Bob Marley and the Rastafarian community during his successful 1972 prime ministerial campaign. The party's slogan, "Better Must Come," originated from a reggae song by Delroy Wilson. During the campaign, Manley embraced African attire and wielded a staff gifted by Haile Selassie.
Expressing concerns about the impact of white-oriented societal brainwashing on Black self-perception, Manley imposed a state of emergency in June 1976 to address escalating political violence between PNP and JLP-affiliated gang leaders. The emergency led to the arrest of 1,000 Jamaican citizens, resulting in a significant reduction in serious crimes. While effective in curbing violence, the state of emergency was viewed by JLP leader Edward Seaga as an encroachment on civil liberties and a response to his party's rising popularity. As a Democratic Socialist with ties to Cuba, Manley believed the JLP was fostering destabilization and falsely labeling the ruling party as communist.
Marley Returns Home for 'One Love' Concert
In February 1978, after a 15-month absence in London, Bob Marley returned to Jamaica, responding to an invitation from rival political faction leaders Claudius "Claudie" Massop (JLP) and Anton "Bucky" Marshall (PNP). These leaders believed Marley could use his music to promote peace, considering him the ideal figure for this purpose.
On April 22, 1978, Marley performed before 30,000 people at Kingston's National Stadium, featuring a symbolic moment during his rendition of "Jammin." Marley invited political rivals Michael Manley and Edward Seaga to the stage, where they joined hands in a gesture of unity and peace, infusing the troubled nation with a sense of hope and optimism.
However, despite the concert's rich symbolism, it did not bring an end to the political violence and gang-related issues in Jamaica. In 1979, Claudie Massop, one of the concert's organizers, was killed in a police shooting during a car chase in Kingston. The 1980 election, where Seaga defeated Manley, witnessed around 700 reported murders. In the same year, Marshall, Massop's counterpart, was killed in a New York City nightclub.
Amidst the ongoing political turmoil, Marley faced his personal battle, diagnosed with melanoma in 1977. The revered 36-year-old musician, considered a hero of the people, succumbed to the disease in 1981 in Miami.
