Marley grew up in a poor part of Jamaica called Trench Town, and it is here where his musicality and innate storytelling abilities developed.  Marley and his band, the Wailers, brought the unique sounds and rhythms of Jamaica to the global stage and their music and words resonated deeply with listeners.  

Songs like “Exodus”, “Buffalo Soldier”, “No Woman, No Cry”, and “Redemption Song” struck a chord in many because of their themes of anti-colonialism, Pan-Africanism, and revolution.  While Marley was not a revolutionary leader himself, his songs embodied this revolutionary spirit, explored African unity and self-reliance and encouraged people to fight for freedom and equality.  His song, “Get Up, Stand Up”, became the rallying cry for many human rights campaigns and his songs “War” and “Africa Unite” brought attention to the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa.  His music reflected the sentiment of many people worldwide and his words acted as a soothing balm for those fighting against oppression and inequality.  

Marley’s music became especially important to Jamaica in the late 1970s as he used it to bridge the divide between rival political groups.  In particular, his “One Love” peace concert held in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1978, saw Marley clasp the hands of the two opposing party leaders, Michael Manley and Edward Seaga, while on stage, emphasizing his desire to see peace and unity within his own country.  While Marley, himself, never sided with a particular political group, his actions at this concert sent a clear message of the importance of unity to a country overrun with political strife and unrest.

While the influence of Marley’s music on social movements is undeniable, his deeply rooted beliefs in the Rastafarian religion also impacted his musical journey.  Rastafarianism originated in Jamaica and emphasizes a connection to African heritage, the sanctity of nature, and the belief in the divinity of Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie I.  The infusion of his spiritual beliefs in his music made Marley a cultural ambassador for not only rastafarian religion but also Jamaica.  His lyrical rhetoric reflected his hopes and fears for his own people and inspired people with messages of salvation and divine redemption.  

My painting, “One Love, One Bob Marley” pays homage to an artist that was able to use his platform to encourage people to become more socially conscious, fight against oppression, and spread peace and love.  I chose to include an image of Marley playing his guitar at an outdoor concert because it captures him in a moment where he is lost in his music, capturing that “flow” state that is understood so intimately by artists.  

The larger portrait on the left shows Marley in a moment of relaxed joy and I like the candid photo of him distractedly holding his dreadlocks.  This image is the focal point of the artwork and embodies the positivity associated with his music.  

I chose to include the stage lights from another photo of one of Marley’s stage performances to create a triad in the composition and balance the two portraits.  The starburst effects around the light also create interesting leading lines and movement in the composition.  The dominant deep reds and hints of green and yellow reflect the stage lights but also the Rastafarian colours and the official colours found in the Ethiopian flag.  Red signifies the blood of those killed in the Black community throughout Jamaica’s history, green represents Jamaica's vegetation, and yellow symbolizes the wealth of Ethiopia. 

My intention with this artwork is to honour Bob Marley’s legacy of love, strength, and peace that he embodied through his music.  His words and music brought solace, hope, strength, and global attention to those fighting against oppression and injustice.  It is a reminder to viewers that greatness often comes from humble beginnings and that music possesses healing powers.  Bob Marley was more than just a musical icon, he was an ambassador for reggae music worldwide and embedded Jamaican culture into international consciousness.  The enduring popularity of his music today and influence on social movements is a testament to his global reach, ability to transcend cultural and racial barriers, and powerful messages of love, unity, and resistance.