In the most recent article of The Reggae Source Magazine, Camille Taylor, wrote an article “Is is Looks, the Message or the Music?”. Unfortunately, The Reggae Source does not have a content rich website yet, but it will be coming soon. Anyways, Camille Taylor wrote a great article exploring what made Bob Marley successful – his looks, message or the music. I loved this article because it was something that I have thought about many times and debated with other reggae fanatics. The article raises the question of whether Bob Marley became popular around the world due to his lighter complexion. Although many might not agree, there is a valid argument when you look at Bob’s success compared to that of reggae legends like Peter Tosh or Jacob Miller. Similar to Bob Marley, Jacob Miller died tragically at a young age (27, in a car accident), yet his music is not known around the world like Bob Marley’s. So is appearance really what made Bob Marley a worldwide success?
My conclusion and that of the article, NO! Yes, Bob Marley had more mass appeal than Peter Tosh, but one thing that Bob Marley did exceptionally was convey a message that everyone could relate to. So, no Bob Marley’s white father did not make him a better reggae artist or Jamaican Artist. Yes, his appearance might have helped him meet all of the women who bore his children, but not be a better artist. As the article discusses, Bob Marley focused a considerable amount of his music on the injustices happening in his native Jamaica and other countries he knew about. This connected with alot of people and continues to connect to people. I remember being in Salvador, Bahia-Brazil listening to people who could not speak any English sing Bob Marley songs word for word with as much passion and energy as the next guy. That is a special message attached to special music.
Go to your local reggae/rasta shop and pick up a copy of the latest issue of The Reggae Source to read the fantastic article. Soon Come
Okay…so maybe rastas don’t run Jamaica, but they might as well. The world is getting smaller and rastas have spread out of Jamaica to all corners of the world. I have met rastas in Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, England, even Belgium. Now, some of those countries are tropical places with similar histories to Jamaica, but Belgium has a completely different climate and colonial history. And I hear that Rastas are even in Japan!!! So why are rastas popping up in random places around the globe?
For starters, we have to give thanks to the late great Bob Marley. Bob Marley is a legend and people all around the world connect with his music and struggle. His songs are easy to sing along to and memorize. I have friends in Brazil who do not speak English (nor Jamaican patois), but can sing the lyrics to every Bob Marley song and they have an understanding of what the legend is saying. Bob is the world’s most famous rasta and that has been tremendous for the rasta way of life.
Secondly, a core premise of Rastafari is standing strong in the face of adversity and this resonates with many people around the world. People in all cultures, societies and environments are held back from various opportunities based on their race, believes, culture, gender and thousands of other reasons. Rastafari is a way of life that gives the oppressed a voice and sense of peace. While living in Brazil, I was amazed at the number of rastas I met who lived in the favelas. They were always at peace and lived life according on their terms, despite being largely oppressed.
Another factor in the spread of Rastafari is identification. This is especially true in places with large Afro-Jamaican populations and large Afro-Descendant populations. Yes, there are rastas all over the Caribbean because Jamaicans have moved to neighboring islands, but also because there is a connection in struggle. Although each country that enslaved Africans, used different methods of enslaving and breaking down the slaves, there are certain connections that people of African descent have and Rastafari helps build on those connections. One of the major connections or experiences is a gaining a true knowledge of self and one’s past. Some people do not care, but Rastas do care and people that care tend to be drawn to Rastafari.
Finally, Rastafarians are about peace, love, knowledge and acceptance. These are core values for most societies, yet not enough people remember these values in their day to day life. Sometimes, we see rastas roaming around aimlessly amongst the world, but what might appear to be idleness is actually deep thought, analysis and isolation from negative influences brought on by Babylon (the oppressive forces of the world). The majority of the world is moving towards peace and that means the seeds of Rastafari will spread even more. I hope you will take the time to learn more about Rastafari, wherever you are…and remember, “yuh don’t haffi dread to be rasta“!
To learn more about Rastafari and the Rasta way of life, visit: www.jamaican-slang.com to get the definitive book on Jamaican culture and language.
Give Thanks,
Ras Zuke
