In a candid interview on the “In We Blood” podcast with Canadian host Keyanna, Donisha Predergast, granddaughter of Bob Marley, minced no words in highlighting the hypocrisy she perceives among Jamaican political figures who oversee the undervalued contributions of Rastafarian culture to the island. “It isn’t just Bob Marley that is making all this money for Jamaica through tourism,” she remarked, “that is Rastafari’s culture that has been appropriated and exploited to this day by these same political players who are taking pictures and embracing.”
The 39 year old Film Maker takes issue with politicians showing up for photo opportunities at the launch of the “Bob Marley: One Love” movie at Carib 5 in Jamaica. After watching the film, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said he was inspired, posting on Twitter, “Witnessing the premiere of the Bob Marley: One Love Movie right here in Jamaica was truly inspiring. Bob Marley’s legacy continues to resonate deeply with our nation. #OneLove #BobMarleyOneLoveMovie #Jamaica.”
Opposition Member of Parliament Lisa Hannah, and Culture Minister Olivia Babsy Grange along with other politicians were also in attendance to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who flew from California to attend the film’s premiere.
Predergast, although not singling out any politician, insists that the leaders are finding the time celebrate, while the Rastafarian community is being neglected.
“See the ‘Bob Marley: One Love’ movie come out the other day in Jamaica, all of the politicians in their glory, in their best-dressed suits out there to take pictures with the Marleys,” she observed. “That’s great, that’s great, but what about the work that needs to be done for Rastafari?”
She further questions the sincerity behind the politicians’ gestures. “Like what about doing the right thing?” she challenged. “You’re out there taking pictures about ‘One Love,’ come on, man, the birthplace of the Rastafari movement has been destroyed on your watch. How dare you? The hypocrisy of it all is just mind-blowing to me. Rastafari helped to define Jamaica; look how much money, Rastafari, not just Bob Marley, has brought in.”
Predergast’s scathing rebuke of Jamaican politicians echoes the wisdom imparted by her grandfather’s 1974 song ‘Revolution’, where he famously cautioned against placing undue trust in politicians. “Bob Marley told you, ‘Never let a politician grant you a favor,'” she reminded listeners. “So, they have a whole heap of work to do when it comes to the Rastafari movement.”
Migrated to Canada has not stopped Predergast, daughter of Melody Makers group member Sharon Marley from being actively involved in advocacy for displaced Rastafarians with the Occupied Pinnacle project for over ten years.
In May 2022, she posted a video on her Instagram with the caption, “The legacy of colonialism is still very present and active. Today marks 68 years since the unjust destruction of Pinnacle, the first self-sufficient community in Jamaica under the leadership of Leonard Howell, ‘The First Rasta’. Thousands of families were left homeless and helpless, generations never recovered, a legacy buried with time. Now, Jamaica as a brand and tourist destination benefits from the exploitation of the same things we were demonized for while they knowingly neglect their duty to preserving the heritage and legacy of the root, Pinnacle. As the stains of past injustices continue to present themselves it calls into question the safety of our history if we don’t actively right it.”
The filmmaker’s whose latest project is “Humanity Over Vanity” said working on the Occupied Pinnacle project was her first insight into how the political class deals with the issues affecting Rastafarians in Jamaica.
“Occupied Pinnacle was my first real insight and taste into the bitter pill that the Jamaican government feels when they think about Rastafari standing up for what we deserve,” she reflected.
Fellow Rastafari Radio Host and Dub Poet Mutabaruka has also voiced his opinions on the inextricable link between the story of Rastafari and that of Bob Marley.
In a thought-provoking monologue on the I Never Knew TV on the essence of Bob Marley’s iconic legacy, Muta, a candid radio host, delves into the profound influence of the Rastafari community on the renowned reggae artist. “We a seh, if there was no Rasta, there wouldn’t be no Bob Marley, and the philosophies and opinions of Bob Marley were shaped by the Rasta community,” Muta asserted.
Muta emphasized the pivotal role of Rastafari in shaping not only Bob Marley’s music but also his ethos. “Bob Marley become an icon, not only because of the music but the militancy of the music and that militancy comes from Rastafari,” he elaborated. “The militancy of Bob comes from Rastafari, we haffi understand that and we can’t lose sight and focus on that because if we start lose sight and focus of it we aguh feel seh all a Bob Marley song them a sing bout ‘One Love One Heart, let’s get tougher and feel alright.'”
Acknowledging the commercialization of Bob Marley’s image and message, the 71 year old cautioned against losing sight of the deeper cultural and spiritual roots embedded in Rastafari teachings. “We know and we understand that them woulda pick out one song to soften the movement and the potency of what Rastafari is all about,” Muta remarked. “That is why a whole heap ones turn out because them see monetary aspect of Bob Marley get big, and inna fi them world money is power, but the livity, the cultural manifestation of Rastafari that Bob spread all over the world that a whole heap a people can even relate to Rastafari in a different way.”
