File
Bob Marley (centre) urges Prime Minister Michael Manley (left) and Opposition Leader Edward Seaga to shake hands at the One Love Peace Concert at the National Stadium on April 22, 1978.
Mel Cooke, Gleaner Writer
It is one of the enduring images in the making of a legend, Bob Marley holding the clasped hands of Michael Manley and Edward Seaga high in the air at the National Stadium, St Andrew, Jamaica, on April 22, 1978.
It was midway between the 1976 State of Emergency and fractious general election of that same year and the extremely violent 1980 general election. Political tensions were high and Marley's symbolic move, inviting then Prime Minister Manley and Opposition Leader Seaga onstage, as he did Jammin', became a landmark moment.
Almost didn't happen
But it nearly did not happen and, if Marley had not wanted to top former fellow Wailer Peter Tosh, whose explosive speech ("I am not a politician, but I suffer the consequences," he said to roars from the crowd) punctuated his performance, it wouldn't.
In the interactive session following his delivery of the 12th annual Bob Marley Lecture at the University of the West Indies, Mona Undercroft last Tuesday evening, Dr Jelani Niaah was asked about that moment at the One Love Peace Concert. He had spoken on 'One Love: Bob Marley and Rastafari in the New African Millennium', in which he had made extensive reference to Mortimer Planno, the Rastafarian pioneer and teacher who mentored a young Marley.
Bit into the system
And it was the late elder Rastafarian's information that Niaah passed on to the audience.
"Marley was told that he should invite the two leaders onstage and declined," Niaah said. Marley said he did not want to do this, "however, after Peter Tosh's performance when he really bit into the system, Marley was left with no alternative but to pull a bigger rabbit out of the hat".
And, Niaah said, with Marley not having Tosh's personality, he had no bigger card to draw on.
It proved to be a huge draw, as Tosh's speech has not had the widespread publicity and impact of the opposing leaders' handshake. It wasn't until 2000 that Tosh's performance was released as 'Live at the One Love Peace Concert' by JAD Records. Even then, it has not been accorded anywhere near the historical significance as the triple handshake orchestrated by Marley, a moment, Niaah said, which cements the notion of 'one love'.
Over the last three years, members of Playing for Change, a multimedia organisation, travelled across the world recording some of the most familiar peace anthems. Among those songs recorded was Bob Marley's One Love. More than 35 musicians across four continents revived Marley's 1977 hit and the video will be a part of the documentary, Playing For Change: Peace Through Music.
"The aim of the One Love video was to inspire the planet to unite as a human race through music," said Mark Johnson, co-founder, director and producer of Playing For Change.
"A small crew of film-makers travelled around the world with a mobile recording studio and cameras with the intention of connecting people through songs. Bob Marley has always served as a great source of inspiration for Playing For Change, and we feel his music and message can continue to inspire the world."
Throughout the rendition of One Love, people from dozens of countries share a line of the song which Playing For Change says "reveals a relentless insight of humanity that strives for global unification".
"Bob Marley serves as the greatest example of timeless music and the ability to transcend our differences on this planet, and focus on the connection of the human spirit," added Johnson, who is a Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer.
"He is as relevant today and will be in the future as he was when he walked this Earth because he represents global unity of people everywhere."
Overcoming differences
Johnson continued, "We wanted as many different cultures as possible to sing in the video to represent our ability to overcome our differences, such as race, gender, religion and economic status. We will forever use the music of Bob Marley to guide us on a path of unity and global enlightenment as it is time for the world to unite."
Ben E. King's Stand By Me is also performed as part of the documentary and it includes interviews with the musicians. Playing For Change: Peace Through Music will be available on CD and DVD in the spring.
- LeVaughn Flynn
As if international travel hadn't become sufficiently challenging, intrepid globe-trotters may soon be able to try clearing customs with suitcases bearing the face of Bob Marley.
Reuters reported that the family of Marley, the Jamaican singer who died in 1981 at the age of 36, struck a deal with Hilco Consumer Capital, a private equity firm, to license Marley's dreadlocked visage and other trademarks for retail products.
Hilco, which also owns brands such as Ellen Tracy, Halston and the Sharper Image, will license the reggae singer's likeness for merchandise like luggage, video games, musical instruments, stationery and collectibles.
- New York Times