PER THADDEUS ONOJA AKPA
For most lovers of reggae music, today brings back memories and nostalgic feelings of one of its pioneering masters: Bob Marley, forty-one years after his death. Bob Marley needs no introduction: The Musician, The Reggae Guru, The Composer of One Love, One Heart; he conveyed his message of love and peace, pan-Africanism and emancipation through his music.
By bringing reggae to the world, Bob Marley put Jamaica on the map. His legacy goes beyond music, spreading messages of love and unity. Marley’s sincere message of unity, peace, and religious devotion, “One Love,” has become her most enduring success. The song was released three different times.
Robert Nesta Marley, known as Bob Marley, was born on February 6, 1945 and died on May 11, 1981. From the 1960s to the 1980s, he successfully transcended three musical genres, namely rock. steady, reggae and ska. However, he was, and still is, widely accepted as the king of reggae.
In the song of Redemption, he sang that we should emancipate ourselves from mental slavery, borrowing from the writings of Marcus Garvey: no one but ourselves can free our minds.
From the popular lyrics of “No Woman, No Cry”, “Africa Unite”, “Could You Be Loved” to “Get up, Stand Up”, a powerful call to action continues to resonate among those struggling to win the oppression.Be what inspired him, Bob’s message is clear.For the first two verses, he tells people not to wait for the next life to find fulfillment, it is their right to be free and happy on this planet .
Lines that deny that God will come down from heaven to solve the world’s problems may seem strange from a singer who was deeply religious, but fits perfectly with Bob’s God, who was not above the clouds, but lived with the remaining. of us as Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia.
In very succinct but cloudy lyrics of Buffalo Soldier, stolen from Africa, brought to America, fighting for survival, Bob summed up the African history of the transatlantic slave trade.
In April 1978, Jamaica was on the verge of a civil war between the National People’s Party (PNP) and the Jamaican Labor Party (JLP). The National Party was controlled by Michael Manley, who was serving his first term as Socialist Prime Minister. On the opposite side is the more conservative Edward Seaga, leader of the Jamaican Labor Party, who favored development.
In an unprecedented move, Marley led opposing party leaders to unite in unity. So symbolic was this gesture that unity was possible.
The role he played in bringing peace in times of tension steeped in Jamaican history underscores the power of celebrities as non-state actors in international relations.
Celebrities are much loved, almost adored and admired all over the world. His fame and name have opened doors and literally turned swords into plowshares and spears into pruners. From the beloved Princess of Wales, The Timeless Diana to the Master of Music and convener of ‘We Are The World’, Michael Jackson. The United Nations has recognized the efforts of Angelina Jolie, the Holy Father the Pope and the Dalai Lama to promote peace and brotherhood in the Universe. Former presidents and great celebrities have done what Napoleon Bonaparte could not do.
Nigeria needs its celebrities to increase its game to change the narrative. BB Naija’s housemates will have more of an impact when it comes to visiting IDP camps and ruined public schools than just posting photos on Instagram and visiting Dubai. We expect Efe, Mercy Lambo, Maria, White Money, and General Pete to make a positive impact on our youth and children. We hope that Tu Baba, Burna Boy, Kiss Daniel, Wizkid, my dear Teni, Flavor Na bania, Naira Marley, my Duduke Simi and Tiwa Savage will hold hands and promote peace and unity in Nigeria.
Our politicians can also impact impoverished society where poverty walks on all fours. The 100 million naira used for nomination alone is an offense to a country that is the world capital of poverty, a nation where more than 100 million Nigerians live in miserable and extreme poverty.
Back in Jamaica, in May 1981 Prime Minister Edward Seaga and the Honorable Michael Manley met again in public and shook hands. He went to the state funeral in Jamaica for Bob Marley. The Honorable Robert Nesta Marley OM
One Love!
Thaddeus Onoja Akpa is a Catholic priest from the diocese of Idah, Nigeria. He is an author, writer and musician. You can contact him by WhatsApp 07030194226 and Twitter @akpaonoja.
