Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley honored reggae legend Bob Marley in a heartfelt address at the Jamaica Music Museum’s (JaMM) Grounation gathering, held at the Institute of Jamaica’s Lecture Hall last Sunday.
Speaking at JaMM’s 13th annual cultural symposium, themed “Bob Marley at Eighty: His Music, Legend, and Legacy,” Mottley reflected on how Marley’s music shaped her views and advocacy from an early age. In a pre-recorded message, she recalled growing up listening to his songs and becoming a “disciple of his vision.” She fondly remembered the first time she heard the powerful words, “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind,” initially unaware that they were rooted in the teachings of Marcus Garvey.
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During her 15-minute speech, Mottley wove together Marley’s lyrics and the challenges facing today’s world. She spoke of the “so much trouble” in the world, referencing the deep inequalities made even more evident by the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlighted how the most vulnerable in society continue to suffer the most, stressing that the region must confront these disparities before they become insurmountable.
Mottley also warned against the forces of division threatening democracies, cautioning against the influence of propaganda, social media misinformation, and conspiracy theories. She invoked Marley’s words—“Don’t let them fool you, or even try to school you”—urging people to resist manipulation and hold on to shared values and facts.
Drawing on Marley’s revolutionary call to action, “Get up, stand up, stand up for your right,” Mottley emphasized the importance of advocating for Caribbean nations and their people. She also echoed his chilling reminder that, “Until the philosophy which holds one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned, everywhere is war!”—stressing that the region risks losing a generation to a “war of the mind, a war of the soul, a war of hopelessness.”
As a two-term leader, Mottley urged Caribbean nations to take decisive action in tackling these issues, emphasizing that Marley’s messages remain as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.
Following Mottley’s remarks, the session continued with a panel discussion featuring Professor Clinton Hutton, a retired lecturer from the University of the West Indies, and Dr. Michael Barnett, a senior lecturer in sociology at UWI. Moderated by attorney and journalist Dionne Jackson-Miller, the discussion delved deeper into Marley’s legacy and its ongoing impact on Caribbean society.
JaMM’s Grounation series, held every Sunday in February, continues to bring together music and culture enthusiasts for spirited discussions that bridge the past with present-day realities. Through these gatherings, Bob Marley’s enduring influence remains a guiding force in shaping Caribbean consciousness and activism.
