Marley’s legacy ‘refuses’ to die
By Emmanuel Mwendwa

Honourable Nesta Bob Marley - lyricist, poet, composer, philosopher, artiste.

Reggae music recently dominated discothčques and dancehalls in Kenyan cities – Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and other major urban towns – as Rastafarians and reggae buffs celebrated Robert Nesta Marley’s would have been 62nd birthday anniversary.

Born in the hilly Nine Niles parish (province) of Jamaica ’s capital Kingston city – the artiste’s 6th February birth-date is celebrated as a red-letter day every year since 1991 in the Caribbean Island . Over two decades since he passed on 11 May 1981 , his musical legacy has hardly diminished. The indisputable popularity of the half black, half white reggae virtuoso, whose first name Nesta incidentally means ‘messenger’ – continues to grow in leaps and bounds albeit posthumously. His music is steadily also gaining new audiences, much more than whilst he was alive.

Marley’s music influence locally, across East Africa and rest of the continent has equally been profound and enduring. His thought provoking lyrics and artistic verve had reportedly inspired formation of Nairobi’s pioneer but now defunct reggae band – Watume, comprised of veteran bassist Dave Otieno and Mark Hankins aka Markus Kamau.

The formerly Them Mushrooms, for two decades renowned as Kenya’s premier band composed the song ‘Tribute to Bob Marley’, cut on their debut album ‘Uhuru Namibia’ which was released soon after Marley’s death. City based singer Jah’Key Malle also says his plunge into music was ignited by the reggae star’s illustrious career. A string of numerous local groups like C-Bash band, Big Matata, now defunct Hot Rods and Boda Boda band among other outfits across Kenya – are known to almost effortlessly infuse their performance repertoire with varied Marley hit song medleys.

Indeed, whilst his contemporaries faded into obscurity the artiste’s quintessential appeal globally, – remains unquestionable even in death. “It is somewhat ironical Marley was posthumously elevated from a controversial songwriter – to Jamaica ’s and the Third World ’s most celebrated artiste”, says reggae historian Roger Steffens.

An articulate composer, instrumentalist and lyricist, Marley is also hailed as one of most-listened-to-artistes on contemporary music scene. His claim to international fame hinges upon his role as protagonist of a ‘silent revolution’, which propelled reggae from the ghettoes into global acclaim. Marley is remembered for songs like Stir It Up, One Love, Is This Love, Bad Card, Africa Unite, Redemption Song, Zion Train, Trench Town Rock, Blackman’s Redemption, Stiff Necked Fools – to list a few off an extensive catalogue. It is this enduring impact and relevance of his timeless music that time and again – brings him back to limelight.

Ras Mystic, a disc jockey at Thika town’s Klub Cascades discotheque, says their clientele look forward to the ‘Marley Day’ shows. “We play an almost exclusively Marley songs repertoire to a houseful of fans who flock the dancehall – jamming to his music”, avers the DJ. Elsewhere, a series of seminars focusing on discussion workshops, book reviews, film and video footage are held annually to celebrate the artiste’s music. A two-day conference with theme Marley’s Music: Reggae, Rasta and Jamaican Culture – was recently facilitated by University of West Indies , Mona Campus’ reggae research unit.

Gathered to discuss Marley’s music influence on modern day society were professors, artistes, composers, historians, radio and TV personalities from around the world. “While realizing all great poets and thinkers who inspire political or cultural change – later become subjects of academic study, the seminar’s approach to Marley’s music was too philosophical”, it was noted. But there emerged a consensus that his lyrics did not entirely or primarily evolve from within him. “The westernized perception his music be regarded as individual property – is rather far-fetched..it ought to be understood as a communal Afro-West Indian traditional expression, deeply rooted in slavery era experiences.. Marley deserves to be acknowledged as a medium and channel of the African Diaspora as a whole”, observed Dermont Hussey, a Jamaican music producer.

More than two decades since he died, Marley’s influence is often described as that of an archetype. It could be the prime reason why his music still resonates with powerful lyrical apocalyptic truths whose endurance is inspirational and enduring.

emmanuel@showbizeastafrica.com