Bob Marley and The People of Zimbabwe

On 18 April 1980, Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain, marked by a ceremony at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare where Prince Charles officially granted independence. To celebrate the momentous occasion, Bob Marley and The Wailers took to the stage, the only international artist invited to perform. As a global music superstar and pan-Africanist, Marley's presence was a validation of the Zimbabwean people's struggle for freedom.

The reggae icon co-wrote the song ‘Zimbabwe’ with Dr Gibson Mandishona in support of the independence movement. In this song Bob Marley hails the struggle of the Black liberators in Zimbabwe at that time. He paid his own way to the country, staying in a local hotel and bringing in a PA system from London. Despite the official Independence Day concert being inaccessible to many, Marley held a free concert the next day, attended by over 100,000 mostly black people. The performance was a symbol of the new nation's freedom and a testament to the power of music to bring people together.

Bob Marley will always be remembered for his commitment to the cause of Zimbabwean independence and his powerful performance at a pivotal moment in the country's history.

Many thanks to the Bob Marley Family & Foundation for granting me the privilege to pair my portraits with Bob Marley's iconic song "Zimbabwe." This achievement was made possible through the support of Chris Blackwell and Cathy Snipper at Blue Mountain Music, and Justin Dowling of Universal Music.