Andrew
Andrew Moyo
“GREETINGS Zimbabwe, this is Marcia Griffiths. On behalf of I Three – Sister Rita, Sister Judy and myself – we would just like to say, happy 40th anniversary.
“Seems just like yesterday we were right there on stage with our brother Bob (Marley) celebrating your independence. Now, after 40 years, we are here and we are still saying much love and blessings. Happy anniversary.”
These were the words of Jamaican reggae artiste, Marcia Griffiths, who did not only shower the country with love at its 40th birthday, but also reminisced on the iconic day of the country’s birth.
As part of I Three, a group supporting Bob Marley and the Wailers, she, alongside Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt, was in the thick of things at Rufaro Stadium when the Union Jack was brought down with the Zimbabwean flag being hoisted to signal the birth of a new nation.
With the late Bob Marley being one of the biggest artistes during that time, his performance on Zimbabwe’s first day of independence added flames to an already explosive celebratory atmosphere, a moment which still remains significant to this day.
Over the years, many Jamaican artistes who have followed in Marley’s footsteps to come and perform have confessed to having a special connection with the country.
Had it not been for the Covid-19 pandemic which has brought the globe to a halt, another superstar, Turbulence, was supposed to have staged shows in Kwekwe, Victoria Falls and Harare last weekend.
Besides Griffiths, numerous other Jamaican artistes including Cutty Ranks, Wayne Wonder, Nyanda, Cedella Marley, Rohan Marley and Skip Marley, among others also dropped videos wishing Zimbabwe a happy 40th anniversary.
Local music promoter, Vijay Hundu, who has connections in Jamaica and received some of the videos directly from the above-mentioned artistes, said it came as no surprise that most of these musicians felt such a strong connection to Zimbabwe.
“Bob Marley was here with his entire band and at his own cost to play midwifery in the country’s birth. It is only normal that his former band, children and some Jamaicans who have played in Zimbabwe over the years would want to openly associate with the country and even wish us a happy birthday,” said Hundu.
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Online Reporter