MARCUS ``MOSIAH`` GARVEY                                    

                                         "A race without authority and power is a race without respect."

                                                            MARCUS GARVEY’S INFLUENCE ON REGGAE MUSICANS

Reggae musicians feel that music is a way to spread consciousness to their listeners. The sounds and lyrics of reggae music have a very profound meaning to every individual listener. Music is a way for people to express their feelings, for black people the oppression they have been through has lead to this deep meaning behind reggae music. It is what opened their voices to the world and let other people hear their message. "The music of Rastafarians is not only an artistic creation in the Jamaican society, but an expression of deep-seated social rage." (Barrett, 197) It is also about remembering the past, this is why many reggae musicians speak of the prophet Marcus Garvey. They do not want his memory to fade away with history, even though he has passed away many years ago his wisdom is constantly being spread.

Burning Spear (also known as Winston Rodney) was born in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica the same town Marcus Garvey grew up in. He is known as one of the originators of roots reggae.
Throughout his illustrious career, Spear has spread love and peace through his music and has endeavored to educate and provoke free thought. His music is infused with a philosophy that combines roots, the idea that we are all one with each other and with nature; culture, the tie that binds us to the past, and history, the spiritual record of our quest for divine consciousness.
Burning Spear is an artist that is determined to empower his listeners and has three main themes in his music, which are the oppression of the black race, Marcus Garvey, and the repatriation of Africa. (Rough Guide, 86)

Marcus Garvey had a large affect on Burning Spears music, mind, and life. Burning Spear got the motivation from Garvey to have direction in his music. This is why Burning Spear knew that he did not want to only sing to his audience, but be a teacher to them. Burning Spear spoke with many elders in his town and knew he needed to spread Marcus Garvey’s word to as many people as he could. Many musicians felt they should not speak of Garvey because it was to philosophical, but once Spear opened the door by releasing an album in dedication to Garvey more artists started speaking of him in their songs. (Nazareth, pg. 1-2) Burning Spear expresses this feeling in his song "Old Marcus Garvey,"

No one remember old Marcus Garvey,No one remember him, no one
they been talking about Paul Bogle,They been talking about William Goddon
They been talking about Norman Washington Manley,including Bustamante

Noone remember old Marcus Garvey ,Noone remember old Marcus Garvey

Children, children, children, children,Humble yourself and become one day somehow
You will remember him you will

The end of the song shows that it is important for the youth to keep in mind the struggles that Garvey had to go through and the accomplishments he made for the black race.

Spear also entitled one of his songs "Marcus Garvey." This song was written to show the dedication Garvey had to his people. The lyrics to this song started out by stating the fact that at one time Rasta’s were lacking the essentials to life, such as money and food. Then goes on to state:

Son of Satan, First prophesy,

Catch them, Garvey old

Catch them Garvey, catch them

Hold them Marcus, hold them

Marcus Garvey, Marcus

I feel these lines can be interpreted in two different ways. One way is that Marcus Garvey tried to "catch and hold" the white race and not let them take over the black race and suppress them any longer. Another way I think one can interpret these lyrics is Marcus was trying to "catch" the black race and "hold" them together and unit the race as one. The important aspect of this song is the thought it provokes, it forces the listener to think of Garvey and the actions he pursued to fully understand the meaning behind the lyrics.

Burning Spear is not the only reggae artist that refers to Marcus Garvey in their music. There are many examples where reggae artists are referring to Marcus Garvey as a prophet. For example, Max Romeo, Bob Marley,Culture, Macka B, and Mutabaruka are a few artists that have written songs on Marcus Garvey. Max Romeo’s song "War in A Babylon refers to Garvey as a prophecy along with Culture’s song "Two Sevens Clash." Culture’s song shows Garvey’s power, ability to influence a group of people, and expressed the feeling many Rasta’s have towards him, that he is a divine prophet. This shown in Culture’s lyrics:

Marcus Garvey was inside at Spanish Town district prison
And when they were about to take him out He prophecied and said:

As I have passed through this gate No other prisoner shall enter and get through
And so it is until now The gate has been locked, so what?


Many reggae artists speak of the back to Africa movement throughout their songs, some specifically talk about Marcus Garvey and others only focus on Africa. Marcus Garvey had an enormous affect on many reggae musicians and showed many black people that they have the strength to express their feelings and spread consciousness to a wide range of listeners. Marcus Garvey is displayed as a prophet in the eyes of many reggae musicians. Although Marcus Garvey has passed away, his spirit will live on through the many reggae artists that are expressing the importance of his movement.
 

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