Ahead of the 60’s in Jamaicath On the anniversary of independence, members of the diaspora have called on the Jamaican government to name legendary reggae singer Bob Marley as the country’s eighth national hero.
Jamaicans have been debating for years whether Marley should be the next national hero on the island. The debate intensified after Barbados conferred national hero status on Rihanna in November. Since then, home Jamaicans have continued to pressure the government to follow in Barbados’ footsteps.
Just months after Jamaica’s diamond jubilee, members of the diaspora living in the United States also believe it’s time for the island to update its list of national heroes.
– Announcements –
“Bob is still Jamaica’s largest non-sponsored export,” Chandra Young, a professor at the University of Brooklyn, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
I think Barbados was very avant-garde in its (Rihanna) nomination, recognizing that times have changed and that today a person does not need to die in search of a feat to earn the noble title of hero. As a nation whose gross domestic product depends largely on tourism, Jamaica owes much to the selfless pursuit and prowess of Robert Nesta Marley. especially after the addition of reggae music to the UNESCO World Heritage List as a world cultural treasure that continues to act as a voice for all, having contributed to the international discourse on issues such as injustice and resistance. ” .
Young said that while Bob Marley is not “the only Buffalo soldier in reggae history, history reveals him as a central figure in Jamaica’s export of reggae, roots and culture to the world.” .
Marley’s worldwide influence
New York-based entertainment consultant Anthony Turner also strongly supports Marley being named national hero.
“Marley was a committed Rastafarian who had extraordinary talents that set him apart from most others. There are few people who have had such a profound impact on humanity. He inspired world leaders, kings, queens and music lovers at the level of “He has been a Third World ambassador with a vision of the First World. He has achieved world-class iconic status and deserves to be a national hero of Jamaica.”
Japanese reggae producer Eisaku “Selector A” Yamaguchi also said he is “surprised that Bob Marley has not yet been recognized as a national hero of Jamaica.”
She also sang a similar tune Sharon Marley, the daughter of Bob and Rita Marley. During a recent on-stage interview with Winford Williams, he asked Sharon if she thought her father should be named national hero.
“Why not?” Sharon replied. “And then, of course, the queen has to be with him, so my mother should be a hero too. They’ve done a lot for Jamaica. It’s just that the light doesn’t shine on the mother like the light on Bob, for for whatever reason. The foundations are still there, “he said.
Marley has the support of Jamaican government officials
In the Jamaican parliament, Senator Dr. Floyd Morris announced in December that he would table a motion in the upper house for Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Miss Lou and Usain Bolt to be named national heroes ahead of the country’s independence celebrations.
Senator Morris said he believes these four icons have given the country a distinguished service in several fields. He also pointed out that national heroes should not be linked to slavery, colonialism or political independence, as the current seven heroes are.
No new national hero has been added to Jamaica since the 1980s, although a committee that examined the nominations a few years ago included Marley on a list of ten names.
