Bob Marley

Bob Marley

Art and culture

Who was Bob Marley?

• A Jamaican reagge singer, songwriter, musician, rhythm guitarist

• Became well known by his reggae song as “No Woman No Cry”, “I Shot the Sheriff”, “Could You Be Loved”, “Jamming” and many others

• The album Legend was the best selling reggae album in the world in 1984

• It is selling more than 12mil copies worldwide

Jamaica

Robert ,Bob‘ Nesta Marley

Childhood

• Born in Jamaica, Nine Mile, 6 February 1945• Father – a white soldier• Mother – a black singer in church choir• faced questions about his own racial identity throughout

his life • Once he said: “My father was a white, my mother black

and I was something between them. I don't dip on nobody's side. The only truth is in God. He created me as black and white man.”

Career

• Left school at the age of 14 and said: “If I graduated all those school, I would be a living idiot now.”

• Started to make music with his friend Nevill Levingston

• Marley said about music: „How can music be so perfect when people make it? The music opens gate to heaven. It takes you to different places. It is beautiful.“

• After few changes he and his other 2 friends, Nevill and Peter, formed a music band “The Wailers” in 1863

• They started to make new songs which were mainly about love, freedom, revolution, laws and destiny

“The Wailers”

• Their first album – “Catch A Fire”• Eric Clapton recorded one song from this album – “I Shot

the Sheriff” and raised Marley’s international profile• “The Wailers” broke up in 1976 and all members started

their solo careers• Despite the break up, Marley continued as “Bob Marley

& The Wailers”• Recorded probably the most popular song “No Woman

No Cry”

Diagnosis of Cancer

• Marley injured his toe during the playing football in Paris• Doctors found the tumour• Marley refused the sergery • Rastafari believe that the body must be as one unit• He said: „Rastafari refuses the amputation. I do not allow

to take my body to pieces. He regarded doctors as cheaters, crooks

• The rest of the tour was cancelled

During his favourite game

Marley’s Death

• While flying home from Germany to Jamaica Marley's vital functions worsened

• After landing in Miami, Florida, he was taken to the hospital for immediate medical attention

• Died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami on the morning of 11 May 1981, at the age of 36

• His final words to his son Ziggy were “Money can't buy life”

Legend is a greatest hits collection of Bob Marley & The Wailers songs, released in 1984

• Marley was buried near his birthplace in Jamaica• In the coffin, there were his red guitar Gibson, a football, a

ganja bud, his ring and the Bible• In April 1981, Bob was declared as a national hero • The day of his death is called as the Day of Sorrow in the

whole Jamaica• Marley’s music has remained popular many years after his

death • He was the man who introduced the world to the mystic

power of reggae to the whole world• In 1999, Time magazine chose Bob Marley & The Wailers'

Exodus as the greatest album of the 20th century.

His personal life

• Marley had a number of children• three with his wife Rita• two adopted from Rita's previous relationships

• several others with different women • The Bob Marley official website says about his eleven

children• Bob Marley was a member of the Rastafari movement,

whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae

What is a Rastafari movement (Rasta)?

• is a monotheistic, new religious movement that arose in Jamaica in the 1930s

• The origin of this religion is in Africa in Ethiopia• It is not only a religion but also a lifestyle• The major faith – Heile Selassie is alive God for the

black race• H. Selassie was the black Emperor of Ethiopia• He is viewed as the Messiah who will lead the people of

Africa to freedom

Some features of Rasta

• 3 colours – red, green and gold• Red - signifies the blood of martyrs • Green - the vegetation and beauty of Ethiopia • Gold – the wealth of Africa• Sometimes the black colour is used – colour of Africa

• Wearing the dreadlock on Rastafaris’ heads

• Rastas maintain that locks are supported by Leviticus 21,5: „They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh.“

• Marihuana = ganja• Is used for spiritual events• Its use is described in the Bible:• Psalm 104,14 „...and He gave grass to cattle,

livestock and as plant to people“ • Exodus 10,11 „...eat every plant on the Earth“.

• Food – I-tal meal• Natural food without any chemicals• Many rastafaris (also B.M.) are vegans or vegetarians• prefer natural and vegetal drink• Alcohol, milk and coffee are regarded as an artificial

products

Marley’s

quotation:

“If you laugh, the

whole world

will laugh with

you.

If you cry, you

will cry alone”.