What was Bob Marley's mission? See MSNBC Host Ari Melber's breakdown & Ziggy Marley Interview (2024)

our current ERA has many clashes over borders that always have to do with history Ukraine defending itself from an invasion that Putin insists is an effort to restore Russia's past borders US Congress debates how to ensure border security of the US with Mexico which is a product of treaties, land agreements, wars and, if we go back far enough, colonialism in which European empires conquered other nations using technology and violence to plunder and enslave, the British Empire ruled areas representing approximately 50 different countries today and this is not distant history, the British did not completely relinquish all colonial control of Hong Kong until 1997 and the impact on many former colonies lingers from societies disrupted families separate economies hampered These are stories that involve dozens of different countries, there is no single way to tell it, except one of the most influential.

The leaders against colonialism were not a politician or a rebel fighter but a singer. I wish you could sing like a bird in the tree. Reggae singer Bob Marley led a global movement against British colonialism and predatory capitalism and for liberation and social justice. The Rastafari. religion and pan-Africanism the most iconic reggae artist of all time a man whose art as a composer was always at the cusp of much of the public's political frustrations his music has become a rallying cry for millions of black people around the world world for Jamaicans Marley was not simply a great singer and writer, but rather a national hero and prophet, he was a spiritual leader and a political spokesperson, a defender of marijuana, of human dignity, of black power.

Marley made reggae music a truly global sensation and always emphasized that his music was also a medium. means to spread social justice, Liberation and Revolution, he said it at that time, our revolutionary, who has no help and does not receive Bri from anyone, fought scorched with music with music, as a poet and writer may sound, the reference from Marley to fight with music. as a metaphor and he was peaceful, he didn't literally take up arms, we try to get me to bring peace knowing that we can't really solve a problem with a war, you know, it really solves a problem, you don't feel like killing someone whose problem you I'm going to solve when I kill someone, you know

what

I mean, so I think peace is best and yet at the same time he used his platform and power to defend the rights of the dispossessed.

Freedom, the right to self-defense and In the rebellion against colonialism, there were fighters in Africa who said they saw their music as a motivation for their literal struggle and in a pre-internet era where communications were limited, they saw the music of Marley as a powerful and powerful editor of ideas about liberation against decades or centuries of foreign control. oppression now Marley's impact is back in the news right now with this new film Bob Marley won love, has opened to box office success and is reviving important global conversations about Marley's work and exposing him to a new generation, What Bob Marley protested then clearly resonates in Politics and Justice Today a critique of oppressive government racism and police brutality that has only gained more force over time this morning.

I woke up in Aur, oh God, I was a prisoner too, I couldn't recognize the faces that were in front of me, all dressed in uniforms of brutality. and on one level many can identify with the criticism of oppressive policing, on another, Marley went beyond an often domestic approach to so many people that he channeled the protests of people in his own native Jamaica and the broader struggles of the people in many other places and the most complex resistance. to colonial foreign policy, interweaving ideas about Liberation and Marcus Garvey's back-to-Africa movement, and looking at how European empires were wrong to displace native peoples in their supposed exploration of our Earth, it's a simple Rari message from that you should return to Africa.

Yes, and that the Earth should be ruled by Africa, a government going forward, not backward,

what

do you think is the majority of Africa's problems in terms of uniting? I mean, I see the problem with Africa is that people from the outside keep tiring the people you know and they can't. I can't really put it together, you know, if it's not this superpower it's that superpower, do you consider yourself more African than Jamaican? Yes, because one of the main things is that we, R of Jamaica, proved that the Arak Indian lived there. and it belongs to the Arak Indians, now our history shows that two black people who work with slaves come from the West and, you know, we still think that Africa is a root, that is the philosophy that underpins Marley's many successes, such as Africa unite Revolution rebel. music one drop or War, a song in which Marley models the lyrics by quoting a United Nations speech given by the leader of Ethiopia that demanded an end to white supremacy, as the speech stated that until human rights basic rights are guaranteed equally for all, without distinction of race, the dream of a lasting life.

Peace, global citizenship and the rule of international morality would remain only a fleeting illusion. The speech also invoked ongoing foreign policy. The liberation struggles at that time discussed the unhappy regimes that kept the brothers in Angola, especially Beek and South Africa, in inhuman slavery until they were overthrown. and destroyed until that day the African continent will not know peace we, the Africans, will fight. Marley used his abilities to ensure that many more people heard that speech and until basic human rights are equally guaranteed to everyone, regardless of race, this is his war until that day. the dream that destroys peace, work, citizenship and the rule of international morality will remain only a fleeting illusion that must be pursued, but never achieved well, everywhere there is war, this R of that day, the African continent does not will know peace, we Africans will fight.

This was art, but not fiction. real life lyrics about real people, real liberation efforts in Africa and the Caribbean when Marley highlighted them with real flags on the survival album cover, including Rhodesia where African residents were able to end minority rule British white and proclaim independence under the name of a country. Today we probably know Zimbabwe and those new leaders of that new nation invited Marley to perform his song Zimbabwe, which had become an anthem of the revolutionaries. We talk about Justice, we talk about art, we talk about politics from Bob Marley's experience, now with a new Spotlight.

Today we can learn a lot about how truth in art can not only channel but also shape the world around us. Many know Bob Marley and his many children, including Ziggy Marley, who participates in the new movie that I mentioned and it is an honor for us to invite Ziggy Marley. back to the beat now son of Bob Marley producer of the film Bob Marley Love uh welcome sir yes AR that was beautiful brother thank you very much that was beautiful I love that oh thank you I wanted to start with you how? Remember, uh, what your father stood for and stood for, that meant so much to the people then and now, yeah, well, we saw him enough, we saw him growing up, we saw him wanting to unify the people, in Jamaica, we, my brother and I were with him on a trip to Zimbabwe and we experienced that whole Freedom Movement, so we experienced it with him, you know, and he allowed us to be there with him for a reason, you know when you remember or reflect on that trip, Did you understand it then or did you come to understand it?

Over time, how many people there were motivated by his music because ultimately his music was about justice, it was about philosophy. Now, when I was there, that's when it really hit me, and I can't remember it now, that some of the Freedom Fighters came to the hotel room that he was in and they were talking to him and showing him everything and at that time it was something in my mind. mind when he was a kid, he became something bigger than just a musician or music just for entertainment. it meant something else and I realized that then wow wow that's wonderful uh you and your family are part of this creation of this movie we're going to show a clip from the new movie where they run towards them they're afraid, they've seen enough fear far away , everything here is politicized Bob, I really don't think you should move forward with this concept Chris, listen, there's no way we're going back, but that's Bob's decision, isn't it?

Thank you. Let me go help this woman, yeah man, I'll be right back. Okay, you know they called me to the American ambassador's office, oh yeah, what he said, apparently I've been associating with someone who could destabilize the country, what I, tell us about making the film and trying to capture something so personal to you. and for many, yes, it was a positive experience because we went into it knowing that it wasn't just about making a movie but also about spreading a message within this movie and that scene is really true because, um, Chris, that's Chris.

Blackwell, and Bob and Chris Blackwell were calling the US embassy in Jamaica and told them that he had been around someone who they believe could destabilize the country at the time, so that's the truth and you know, we went. I want to tell the truth and bring an emotional side of my father to people as well and when you watch the film now, what do you think he managed to capture and what did you have to leave out because any filming any story you can't include everything yeah we left out some things that we really liked actually um just because the story that was the story that the movie wanted to tell at some point doesn't fit what we want so we had to follow the story, where the movie was taking us and what we feel for us.

This movie really tries to bring people closer to my father in an emotional way, not because of the praise, not because of those things, but because of the human side of him, of what he went through during this period of time and how it changed him, how did it make him who we know today, you know that human side, I mean he was so passionate, from what we see from a distance, how did he do it? How did that play out for you and the family of people in his life? I mean, you get again, we don't know what you know, but you study his music, which I did and I watched the movie and other things you know. the sense that he was almost continually present or vibrant, yeah, well, you know, one of the things that working on the film made me think about that I had never thought about before was that I thought about my father, not like this like Rockstone, this Rebel, this you.

I know the Stand Up For Your Right guy, but I started thinking about him as a person and what he must have felt, what he must have been going through beyond Limelight during this period of time where he almost got killed, he had to run and leave. in his country he was diagnosed with cancer he likes what and then at the end of all this he came to a conclusion and realized he said my life is not for me if my life is just for me I don't want it for my. life is for people so for someone to come to that conclusion they must have gone through some things that changed them and this is what the movie is about about that period of time that changed them to become the person wow , you put it so beautifully, and he was. so young, of course, at that time and he died young because, as you say, because of cancer, I wanted to play for you something that we did because there has been debate and reaction, as you would expect, in many places, including Jamaica, some people say Wow, they love this movie, other people ask, you know various aspects of it or their memories, uh, and you know we're the news, so we welcome all that, we're no strangers to debates, yeah, but hey, Hey, Mar, most people don't. let's say some people some people most people love it some people okay that's how we do in politics let's say don't wait 5050 okay so you say most of the people love it and I will say the box office was a great opening but what I wanted to play because we thought how to mention this to you, I mean let me play what we found online so it's different people a lot of them are in Jamaica and the different type of reception, take a look at Tik Tok, yes, yes.

This film showed glimpses of what makes our people so amazing. I felt very proud when I discovered your culture. You know, I'm saying you understand what it means. Kingsley played Bob very well right down to the movement accent. Casting 6 out of 10. Should I look further? gives a real Jamaican break b m it's Jamaica, yes, but its global legacy, the film is a very good reflection not only of the growth of free music, but also of Bob, the dynamics of his family, they wanted something more. Bob used reg music to unify people. a sample of some of your thoughts or response to the response you are receiving respect,I respect everyone, I respect everyone's point of view and of course we always want more, you can't, my father said, no matter how you treat the man, they can never be satisfied.

Could You Be Love so it's like we were very happy we we were sincere we told the truth we were true to ourselves in our art this is art it is an expression and you have to have the freedom to express the art how we feel it as artists and this is which makes sense and I love I love you using uh quoting Could You Be Loved uh what does it say to you? Even you know, even on the critical side, what does it tell you? I wonder if the feelings of people who were even born after your father died are as strong, I mean, but no, not in what I show in Jamaica, but everywhere, go ahead, no, no, we love it, we love the passion because it's a real love for Bob and the music and the culture and the message that's where it comes from, you know, most of them, even the critics, they come from a place of love, yeah, not a place of hate. , so that's great, we love that passion and I love that now my father is in the discussion with the younger generation and with everyone, so now it gives us more opportunities to spread his message.

Everything works. They all work together for the same cause. We will end up in the same thing. causeYes, yes, respect, I love it. While I have you here, we talk about your father, the movie. Of course, you're a very established artist in your own right. You talked to so many people. I don't know if you remember, but I lasted. The time we talked, I reminded you that I saw you play in Seattle, back in the day, on summer nights on the pier, and I want to show people some of your music and your work. If we talk about that for a minute, let's take a look.

I have to be true to myself I have to be true to myself Love is my religion I will take you to the storm tonight I tell you I love you the system we protest and we are the biggest the wave of consciousness I No? I really don't feel like continuing the

interview

. I feel like going dancing, but we have to finish this. Tell us about the music you're making, how you feel, how much you're performing and what. You're not thinking about feeling good. I want to tell you the truth, the last two years we've been on the movie because we were on set from day one until we finished editing and everything, um, so I've been doing. that, but right now, after this is over, I'm going to Australia in a week to do the Wad Festival there and then I'll do some shows in America this summer and, yeah, probably a tour later with my brothers too, more late. in the year, so yeah, that's what's going on right now, yeah, I think I read about that, so that's where you play with several of your brothers and you guys go play, what's that like?

I mean, it has to be fun like a family thing. Yeah man that's great, it's me, Damian Julian, Kimar and Stepen, we play, we play, we'll play our dad's set, we'll play a really good Bob Marley set. I love, uh, another thing I want to ask you is, you know? I hear from so many people, so many of our viewers, so many people in the United States, who are very focused on justice and politics right now, and that can mean different things, different people, I think it's fair to say, and your father , who we talk to. about before, continue really, you know, prioritize conscious music, and there are a lot of different ways to make music, there are no real rules, but there are a lot more American artists these days because of the system or the culture, they are more capitalist , there are many Focus on businesses that are intertwined.

I'm curious to know what you think of all that or if you think there is more than one way to do it or it's better not to be so materialistic. Well, I think there are all kinds of music. There is the commercial, you know, the capitalist, the flashy and also the conscious, but what is happening is the access, what is getting more light and the corporations are now more profit-oriented and music-oriented, etc. Whatever the trend is and what they need to make a profit, that comes before the quality of what the songs say or what they mean to society etc, but we have to look harder to find those things, but they are still available . you know, so it's there, we just have to look further, that makes sense, uh, that's my last question here is what does reggae, uh, mean today to someone who's watching who may now have remembered or learned a little bit more about your father, having learned about you and your family.

Music, what does reggae mean today? Why should people care? Why do you think it continues to have such a global impact? Yes, regga is love. You know Reg is love. And that is what we need right now in the world. We can be a much better society if we love each other more, that's common sense. We should all know that the more unified we are, the better we will be as a society, so reg is the love and love we really need right now. love each other, you know, respect, love, love that and, you know, in the news we can't love every part of our job, there's a lot of serious stuff, this is one of my favorite parts, so it's a great honor for my.

See you again I hope to meet you in person Ziggy thank you for being here very well thank you very much brother I love you brother yes sir Ziggy Marley