By Augustine Hwata
Robert Nesta Marley — widely touted as one of the greatest ever reggae musicians the world has ever seen -bought land in Zimbabwe and could have settled in the Southern African country had he lived longer.
Marley was a Jamaican reggae artist and leader of The Wailers outfit. With his conscious music, Marley was the first international artist and arguably one of the biggest ever to play in independent Zimbabwe even to this day.
The dreadlocked icon played at Zimbabwe’s Independence Day celebrations in Harare on April 18, 1980 before nearly 100 000 fans at Rufaro Stadium.
Marley died on May 11, 1981 and had in 1979 composed a song titled “Zimbabwe” off his album Survival.
The sensational revelations that Marley was probably ready to set up a base in new independent Zimbabwe were made recently by renowned Pan Africanist and reggae elder Trevor Hall.
Hall, known in music circles as Ras Jabu, have been living in Zimbabwe for over three decades and is regarded as one of elders in the local Rastafarian movement.
Just like Marley, Hall who hails from Jamaica, made the revelations during an interview with music producer and instrumentalist Clive Mono Mukundu on his podcast show Artist to Artist Mono Cast.
“A lot of people are not really aware that, during Zimbabwe’s war of liberation, the Second Chimurenga, we as reggae artists were supporting the liberation movement across the continent by raising funds and awareness towards the emancipation of our people on the continent,” said Hall.
“Certain of us as artists, were what we called “the Frontline Artists”, like Bob. What a lot of people are not aware of is that Bob Marley is the only artist that I am aware of right now, I am not only talking about reggae artist but any artist, that focused on freeing of Africa and the African people.
“He had to put his own money to charter two airplanes. A cargo airplane for the PA system and everything that is needed for the stage and a passenger plane for the crew.,” Hall said.
According to media reports the 21 – tonne equipment with a full 35 000 watts’ public address system plus backline equipment was chartered by a Boeing 707 from London to then Salisbury, now Harare.
Marley forked out £100 000 to hire a plane from London to transport his musical equipment.
“He put that money together to come to Africa for the liberation celebrations.
“The intention for Bob was not just to come and go. But Bob actually bought land here in Zimbabwe,” said Hall.
Hall and even Mukundu collaborated, during the interview that Marley left some of his music equipment behind.
“A lot of people are not aware of this. He left half of the PA system here in Zimbabwe. He bought land but I do not want to disclose things like the whereabouts of the place.
During his visit to Zimbabwe, Marley was in Harare but also toured Victoria Falls, Mazowe, Mutoko and Mt Hampden.
Hall said he is not sure if the land is still in Marley’s estate or it could have fallen victim to some land barons.
“Marley was looking at repatriation to Africa with investment,” said Hall.
Marley’s widow Rita, who was also in Zimbabwe in 1980 is now has been staying in Ghana.
She changed her name from Rita Marley to Nana Afua Adobe in 2013. She owns a house in Aburi in the Eastern Region of Ghana and is the developmental queen of Konkonuru, a suburb of Aburi.
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