How Reggae Music Was Influenced by Political Leaders

Reggae music has been around for decades and has been a major influence in many political leaders’ careers.

The Birth of Reggae

Reggae is a genre of music that was created in the late 1960s in Jamaica. It is a combination of African and Caribbean music. Reggae is usually played on the guitar, drums, and bass. The most important instrument in reggae is the drum. The drumbeat is what makes reggae unique.

The late 1960s in Jamaica

The late 1960s in Jamaica was a time of great political turmoil. Between 1967 and 1968, there was a series of violent protests against the government, which led to the deaths of hundreds of people. This period of unrest was known as the Ghetto Uprising.

In the midst of this turbulence, a new form of music was born: reggae. Reggae’s signature “riddim,” or rhythm, was influenced by the sound of African drums that were brought to Jamaica by slaves. The lyrics of reggae songs often address the struggles of life in the ghetto, which resonated with many Jamaicans who were living in poverty.

Reggae quickly spread beyond Jamaica’s shores and became an international sensation in the 1970s, thanks in part to legendary artists like Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff. The genre has since been adapted by musicians all over the world, making it one of the most popular forms of music today.

The influence of Rastafarianism

Reggae music was greatly influenced by the political situation in Jamaica during the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, there was a great deal of unrest in the country, and many people were looking for a way to express their feelings about the government and the social conditions they were living in. The Rastafarian movement was one of the things that gave birth to reggae music, as it provided a way for people to express their dissatisfaction with the government through song.

The Rastafarian movement is a religion that originated in Jamaica in the 1930s. It is based on the belief that Haile Selassie I, the Emperor of Ethiopia, is the reincarnation of God. Rastafarians believe that Selassie will one day lead them back to Africa, where they will be free from oppression.

Rastafarianism quickly gained popularity among Jamaicans, particularly among those who were living in poverty or who felt marginalized by society. The movement provided them with a sense of hope and pride, and many Rastafarians expressed their beliefs through music. Reggae emerged as a form of Rastafarian music, and it soon became popular both in Jamaica and around the world.

Reggae artists often sing about topics such as poverty, violence, and injustice. They also often use Jamaican patois, which is a form of English that is spoken by many Jamaicans. This makes reggae accessible to people who might not be able to understand standard English.

Reggae has been hugely influential over the years, and it has been adopted by many other cultures around the world. It is particularly popular in countries such as England, France, and Brazil.

The Golden Age of Reggae

Reggae music was born in the late 1960s in Jamaica. At the time, the country was undergoing a period of political and social turmoil. The golden age of reggae was a time when the music was used as a tool to protest against the government and to spread messages of peace and love.

The 1970s

The 1970s were a golden age for reggae music. This was a time when many political leaders were using the music to spread their message to the masses. The most famous of these leaders was Bob Marley, who used his music to spread a message of peace and love. Other political leaders who used reggae music to spread their message include:

-Peter Tosh: A political activist who was a member of Bob Marley’s band, The Wailers. He went on to have a successful solo career and was known for his militant lyrics.
-Jimmy Cliff: A Jamaican singer and actor who starred in the 1972 film, The Harder They Come. His film and its soundtrack helped to bring reggae music to a wider audience.
-Burning Spear: A reggae singer and musician who is best known for his album, Marcus Garvey. He is considered one of the most influential reggae artists of all time.

The internationalization of reggae

In the mid-1970s, reggae achieved a level of international recognition and popularity that it had not previously attained. This was due in part to the positive reception of the Wailers’ album Catch a Fire (1973) by rock critics, which helped to increase interest in reggae music outside of Jamaica. The film Rockers (1978), which featured several well-known reggae musicians, also contributed to the internationalization of reggae.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, reggae experienced another surge in popularity due in part to the success of Bob Marley & the Wailers. Marley’s music was particularly popular among white youth in England, who were drawn to its rebellious and anti-establishment themes. The popularity of Marley and other Jamaican musicians also helped to increase interest in Jamaican culture more broadly. This was evident in the growing popularity of Jamaican food, clothing, and language among UK youth in the 1980s.

The Political Impact of Reggae

Reggae music has been around for decades, and it has been used as a tool for political and social commentary. The lyrics of reggae songs often address issues such as poverty, Racism, and violence. Reggae music was also used to spread the message of Rastafarianism, which is a religion that promotes peace and love.

The 1980s

In the 1980s, several young Jamaican artists started to experiment with a new style of music that was influenced by hip hop, dancehall, and reggae. This new style, which came to be known as ragga, would have a profound impact on the course of reggae music. Artists like Shabba Ranks and Buju Banton helped to popularize ragga in Jamaica and abroad. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, ragga would come to dominate the Jamaican charts.

Reggae’s international popularity continued to grow in the 1980s. Bob Marley’s album “Legend” was released in 1984 and became the best-selling reggae album of all time. In 1988, Marley’s widow Rita founded the Bob Marley Foundation to promote his legacy and support various charitable causes. The foundation has since helped to finance a number of schools and community centers in Jamaica.

The 1980s was also a decade of political turmoil in Jamaica. In 1980, Michael Manley’s Socialist government was voted out of office after implementing a series of controversial economic reforms. Manley’s successor, Edward Seaga, pursued a more capitalist path and developed close ties with the United States government. This relationship would prove to be beneficial for Jamaica in the long run, but it caused some tension between Seaga and Jamaicans who were sympathetic to Marxist ideas.

The 1980s also saw an increase in violence between rival political gangs in Jamaica. The two most prominent gangs were the Jamaican Labor Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP). The JLP was aligned with Seaga’s government, while the PNP was aligned with Manley’s Socialist party. The violence between these gangs often spilled over into other areas of society, making life very difficult for ordinary Jamaicans.

Despite all these challenges, the Jamaican people continued to enjoy life and make great music during the 1980s. Reggae artists like Buju Banton and Shabba Ranks helped to keep spirits high with their infectious tunes and positive lyrics. These artists would lay the foundation for an even more successful decade for reggae music in the 1990s.

The 1990s and beyond

In the 1990s, the popularity of reggae continued to grow, with many new artists achieving international success. The music also became more politicized, with artists such as Buju Banton and Capleton becoming outspoken proponents of the Jamaican government’s proposed “anti-gay” law. In 1992, Capleton’s song “Who Dem?” caused controversy in the UK when it was banned by the BBC for its allegedly homophobic lyrics.

Although the ’80s and ’90s saw a resurgence in reggae’s popularity, the 2000s were a tough time for the genre. A number of well-known artists died, including Bob Marley (in 1981), Dennis Brown (in 1999), and Gregory Isaacs (in 2010). And although reggae still enjoyed some success, it was overshadowed by other genres, such as hip hop and dancehall.

In recent years, however, there has been a renewed interest in reggae, both in Jamaica and abroad. This has been driven in part by the success of Jamaican-born rapper Snoop Dogg (aka Snoop Lion), who has been a big advocate for reggae music. And in 2012, reggae made history when it was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.