“Him give me the guidance and brought me through the channels from Jah to life right here on Earth. SO much teachings, so much blessings, we can’t even name how much things he has done for us,” he told hosts Miss Kitty and Dennis Brooks.
He said Jamaicans should listen to the heroes because he believes the country can be elevated if the people are guided by the forefathers.
“All the legends, all the heroes, Marcus Garvey, Nanny, Paul Bogle and them great ones there…Listen to the heroes, and learn from the heroes and follow through what the heroes put together for all of us,” he added
Julian’s message “to listen”, he says is based on Jamaica’s week cultural status in the world right now, versus a time before when the country was revered for its culture and music.
“Jamaica, from what I see Jamaica was at the top of the world and it look like we lose the way. We not listening to the elders, we not listening to the elders, not listening to the heroes so we lose the way and right now like we deh on the bottom,” he said.
“The message of the day is to listen to the heroes because they know best, they fought so hard to carry us that we can even come cross innah the world and go anywhere Inna the creation. Without them we couldn’t go nowhere. So listen to the heroes and try to fulfill what the heroes wanted to do,” the Colors Of Royal singer ended.
Meanwhile music Sean Paul took to instagram to wish Jamaicansahappy Heroes Day and tell the world who inspires him. He posted a picture of himself in front of a mirror wearing his new “Dutty” line T-Shirt with the caption, “BLESSED #HEROESDAY 2 ALL MY YARD PEOPLE!!! TELL ME WHOS COURAGE INSPIRES U!? ILL START WITH MY FAVE #NationalHero … MARCUS GARVEY!”
Sean was awarded the Order of Distinction (OD), Jamaica’s sixth highest honor on 21 October 2019, “for contribution to the global popularity and promotion of reggae music. On the second slide of his posts is a picture of Jamaica’s first National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey who incidentally inspired Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song.”
Marley has long been considered a National hero by the Jamaican people for his selfless world in putting reggae on the map and advocating for the rights of people all over the world.
Several official calls have been made to make the “Get Up Stand Up” singer a National Hero, Jamaica’s highest state honor but until now it is yet to be done.
Last year April Member of Parliament Lisa Hanna of St Ann South Eastern, moved a motion in Parliament calling for Bob Marley to be designated National Hero. She also wrote in the Jamaica Observer that in her international travels as Miss World 1993 she saw that Bob Marley’s music was a universal symbol of Jamaica, transcending race, language, and culture. Hannah emphasizes how Marley’s music influenced generations, including her own, and inspired social and political activism.
“In my household, I grew up on the music of Bob Marley and The Wailers. My mother was a lover of all forms of Jamaican music, but reggae was her favourite. I remember being in awe of the Catch A Fire album sleeve the first time I saw it because it opened like a lighter. She still has that album along with all the others to this day,” she wrote.
Hanna discusses the historical context of British colonialism in Jamaica and how Marley’s music played a significant role in addressing social injustices and poverty. She highlights his global impact, including receiving the Peace Medal of the Third World from the United Nations. The article argues that Bob Marley’s contributions to Jamaica’s development and international progress span various areas, making him a global hero.
“Marley called on the world’s powers to focus on policy decisions to free people from race oppression, poverty, and war. As a result, in 1978, the United Nations presented him with The Peace Medal of the Third World on behalf of 500 million Africans for his courageous work appealing for justice and peace during political unrest in Jamaica and his efforts to empower disenfranchised blacks around the world,” she stated.
She suggests that acknowledging Marley’s influence and legacy is a significant step toward Jamaica becoming a republic and reaffirming the nation’s humanity.
Jamaica has give National Hero designation to Marcus Garvey, Norman Manley, Paul Bogle, George William Gordon, Nanny of the Maroons, Sam Sharpe and Sir Alexander Bustamante.
In 2021 Rihanna was honored as an official National Hero Of Barbados, on the same day the country dropped the Queen of England and replaced her with their own Head of State. She stepped out in another formal look on Wednesday, when she was formally given the new title, wearing a white mini dress coupled with a blazer and strappy heels.
