By Rex Mphisa
Today, February 6, is Bob Marley’s birthday.
Reggae legend Bob Marley , the main musical act at Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, was posthumously honoured by his Jamaican country of birth since 1991, many years after his death on May 11, 1981.
He was just 36, but had seen it all.
From Nine Miles outside Kingston town Jamaica to Mutoko outside Harare, Zimbabwe is a long story.
It started 75 years ago this day, February 6, 1945.
This day is celebrated worldwide.
And Zimbabwe is no exception.
At the dawn of our independence, Marley set alight Rufaro Stadium with his reggae and popular song Zimbabwe.
The song that was almost a national anthem was written with the help of a Zimbabwean Gibson Mandishona.
The two, a scientist and musician working for the UN in Ethiopia, helped Bob Marley write the hit song “Zimbabwe”.
They met around 1977-1978 in Addis Ababa, where Mandishona provided insight into the liberation struggle, helping to shape the lyrics and infuse African musical elements into the 1979 track.
For Marley, the show was the greatest highlight of his life as a freedom fighter and a supreme warrior for equal rights.
He erformed a historic, free concert for over 100,000 people at Rufaro Stadium .
Invited by the government, ( Edgar Tekere in particular) he paid for his own sound equipment to be shipped to Zimbabwe, symbolizing support for the nation’s liberation struggle.
The concert was the highlight of Zimbabwe’s official Independence Day ceremony, where Bob Marley & The Wailers played for the newly liberated nation.
Bored ex-Rhodesian police threw tear gas spoiling the show, which proceeded after all air was cleared.
Due to immense demand and chaos, a second free concert was arranged for the following day to allow more people to witness the performance.
Marley sang his song “Zimbabwe” (released in 1979), which had become an anthem for the liberation movement.
During the performance, police used tear gas to manage crowds outside the stadium, forcing a temporary halt to the show, but Marley returned to finish his set.
Bob Marley’s 1980 visit is remembered as a defining, revolutionary moment that connected his music with the African liberation struggle.
A Beitbridge resident who shook hands with the great reggae icon was Notious Tarisai, then based at Harare International Airport as an Immigration officer.
“He was a humble man. He is one of the may reggae artists I have had personal contact with,” Tarisai said in a recent interview.
Marley travelled to Mutoko where he had “herb” with freedom fighters at an Assembly Point.
Happy Birthday Bob, where ever you are, Jah guide.