Roots & Culture 1972-1981

On 18th April, 1980, after decades of anti colonial struggle, the Zimbabweian flag was finally raised at midnight at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare. Not long after, the words "Ladies and Gentlemen, Bob Marley and The Wailers!" rang out, and Zimbabwe's independent future began. In the years that followed, Africa was to produce it's own reggae superstars, as the likes of Alpha Blondy, Majek Fashek and Lucky Dube swept across the continent and beyond, and there's no doubting Bob Marley's explosive impact on this particular narrative. Marley's unswerving commitment to liberation and unity ranged from the sweeping spiritual sentiments of iconic hits such One Love and Redemption Song to the galvanising, focused tone of 1979's 'Zimbabwe', and his status as global superstar ensured that his (self funded) part in the countries' epochal celebrations meant that the history of reggae in Africa would always be viewed through the prism of his influence ( Wiki/African Reggae : "In 1980, world-famous Jamaican reggae musician Bob Marley performed in Harare, Zimbabwe, and that concert is often credited as marking the beginning of reggae in Africa") Tracklist 01: The Mebusas - Good Bye Friends 02: Georges Happi - Hello Friends 03: Black Reggae - Darling I'm So Proud Of You 04: Christy Essien - I'll Be Your Man 05: The Lijadu Sisters - Bobby 06: Tala Andre Marie - Hop Sy Trong 07: Essama Bikoula - I'll Cry 08: Carlos And Miki - All This Nonsense 09: Pasteur Lappe - Babette D'O (Rastawoman)