A song from the past
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It shows Bob Marley, singing for freedom for Zimbabweans in 1978. Bob Marley later performed this song at Zimbabwe’s Independence Celebration in 1980, just after the official declaration of Zimbabwe’s independence.
(Uploaded to YouTube by rediris)
Zimbabwe
Every man gotta right to decide his own destiny,
And in this judgement there is no partiality.
So arm in arms, with arms, we’ll fight this little struggle,
‘Cause that’s the only way we can overcome our little trouble.Brother, you’re right, you’re right,
You’re right, you’re right, you’re so right!
We gon’ fight (we gon’ fight), we’ll have to fight (we gon’ fight),
We gonna fight (we gon’ fight), fight for our rights!Natty Dread it in-a (Zimbabwe);
Set it up in (Zimbabwe);
Mash it up-a in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate (Zimbabwe), yeah.No more internal power struggle;
We come together to overcome the little trouble.
Soon we’ll find out who is the real revolutionary,
‘Cause I don’t want my people to be contrary.And, brother, you’re right, you’re right,
You’re right, you’re right, you’re so right!
We’ll ‘ave to fight (we gon’ fight), we gonna fight (we gon’ fight)
We’ll ‘ave to fight (we gon’ fight), fighting for our rights!Mash it up in-a (Zimbabwe);
Natty trash it in-a (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
I’n'I a-liberate Zimbabwe.(Brother, you’re right,) you’re right,
You’re right, you’re right, you’re so right!
We gon’ fight (we gon’ fight), we’ll ‘ave to fight (we gon’ fight),
We gonna fight (we gon’ fight), fighting for our rights!To divide and rule could only tear us apart;
In everyman chest, mm - there beats a heart.
So soon we’ll find out who is the real revolutionaries;
And I don’t want my people to be tricked by mercenaries.Brother, you’re right, you’re right,
You’re right, you’re right, you’re so right!
We’ll ‘ave to fight (we gon’ fight), we gonna fight (we gon’ fight),
We’ll ‘ave to fight (we gon’ fight), fighting for our rights!Natty trash it in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Mash it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Set it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Natty dub it in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe).Set it up in-a Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Africans a-liberate Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe);
Every man got a right to decide his own destiny.(Lyrics from here)
Update: This is in response to a question emailed by a supporter asking us whether Sokwanele supported the violence in the lyrics of the song.
Sokwanele is completely committed to non-violent peaceful action. It is important to remember that these lyrics were written at a time when Zimbabwe was Rhodesia and there was civil war going on, so they are historically and contextually relevant to that moment in time. Whether Bob Marley would have written the same lyrics now is debatable, but it seems unlikely: in an interview in 1978 he was asked directly whether he believed in violence and his answer was unequivocal:
Neville: Am I right in assuming that Rastas don’t believe in violence, at all?
Bob: Rasta don’t believe in violence man!
The Bob Marley Foundation message for the world today is as follow:
“The Marley family is committed to progressing Bob’s legacy as a champion for human rights,” Meghoo-Peddie said.
“We invite the world to celebrate with us in refueling the spirit that will unify Africa, her sons and daughters in the diaspora and work toward ending violence, poverty, injustice and discrimination,” she said.
In 1978 Bob Marley was awarded the United Nations Medal of Peace for his “One Love Peace Concert” in Jamaica.
It certainly would be interesting, in the context of Marley’s belief in human rights for all, to be able to ask Marley what he thought of the situation in Zimbabwe now. In particular, have the Zimbabwean people been ‘tricked’ by Mugabe and his government?
So soon we’ll find out who is the real revolutionaries;
And I don’t want my people to be tricked by mercenaries.
Zimbabwe, Bob Marley, music, video, protest, freedom
