HISTORIC ARTICLE

HISTORIC ARTICLE

Feb 6, 1945 CE: Happy Birthday, Bob Marley

Feb 6, 1945 CE: Happy Birthday, Bob Marley

On February 6, 1945, Bob Marley was born in Nine Mile, Jamaica.

Grades

5 - 8

Subjects

Arts and Music, Geography, Human Geography

















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On February 6, 1945, Nesta Robert “Bob” Marley was born in Nine Mile, Jamaica. Bob Marley emerged as the single most influential reggae musician of all time. He is closely associated with Jamaican national identity and Rastafarian spirituality. Marley’s hit songs made reggae popular around the world. Reggae is a slow, syncopated, rhythm-heavy music that developed in Jamaica in the 1960s. Reggae lyrics often focus on social and spiritual issues. It is sometimes identified with Jamaican independence, achieved in 1962, and Rastafarian spirituality, which traces its roots to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I and Jamaican political leader Marcus Garvey. Marley emphasized unity and peace in his music, often at great risk. Prior to a concert to unite contentious Jamaican political parties, Marley was shot and wounded. He performed as scheduled the following day, however, saying, “The people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off. How can I?”

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Writer
National Geographic Society
Producer
National Geographic Society
other
Last Updated

October 19, 2023

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