By Aaron Gono
Today the 30 of July 2025, in a social reggae group l quench my thirsty when boredom visits me.
One reggae fanatic sent a post of the Redemption song, sung by the late Robert Nesta Marley. It was saying the song was released when death was knocking on Marley’s door, succumbing to cancer.
And others said no it was released in his early years of Bob stardom. Some said it was on his Uprising album and others on Confrontation. Bob Marley’s music titles were always rebellious as per my own analysis. When he passed on in May 1980, l was doing grade 4 at Dapi-Tapi Primary School in Hippo Valley, Chiredzi.
We were some of those young and restless kids, who were exposed to random beatings by the pickaninny bosses at Chiredzi New Mill compound, reserved for whites only. Which meant we were radicalized at an early age, listening to the short wave radio Zimbabwe, broadcasting from Mozambique. I was 9 years, in 1979, but l had the guts to cross to Mozambique and be a freedom fighter. We were caught when we were young. Come 1980, when we had the chance to meet our heroes with their AK 47s.
We were bitter and jealous about them, because we had missed the bus. We all wished with my friends that we were supposed to be us holding those guns and not them. We finished our primary and secondary education, already we were Zanu PF, by nature. In year 2000, l was one of the youths who advocated for land reform, as l had a grasp of the Lancaster House Constitution signed in 1979. I was also one chief admirer of the late President R.G. Mugabe. In 2017, tribalism got the better part of me, as the former first lady had a penchant of decrying the Karanga tribe of Masvingo and Midlands.
Coincidentally l am of the shumba totem like our current President E.D Mnangagwa. I made it a point to “bleksem” anybody who dared oppose him. But l did this using my “medulla oblangata” not muscles. To be a disciplined cadre you need to understand your party’s manifesto and vision and articulate facts in a manner that satisfy your enemies.
The “Redemption Song” particularly notable is its message of freedom and empowerment, with lyrics inspired by a speech from Pan-Africanist Marcus Garvey. The writer will start from the first verse of the song, till the last; critiquing each as we move on.
1. ” Old Pirates, yes they rob l; sold l to the merchant ships….”
Here Bob Marley had an unfinished business with the transatlantic slave trade. Despite millions of Africans lying under the sea, after they failed to reach the shores of Liverpool, America etc. And working every day in their cotton, and sugar plantations for nothing at all. African Heads of States have failed to reach a consensus about reparations. In actual fact they became excited by their new begotten power and wealth. If a small nation like Israel got theirs, what stops the whole African continent to negotiate theirs. Instead they are given titles to divide them more. Some are labeled dictators and others democrats.
2. “Minutes after they took l from the bottomless pit…”
“This bottomless pit represents suffering, captivity and oppression- not just physical slavery.”
During the colonial regimes in Africa, Africans faced mental torture and humiliation by their oppressors. Even today Africans are not enjoying the endowments which the continent offers. It is now the former liberators who are more devious than the white men. Most African countries are failing apart and power retention is the order of the day coupled by primitive accumulation of wealth by the political elite
3. ” But my hand was made strong by the hand of the Almighty…”
“Despite the pain , Marley acknowledges divine strength and resilience…”
Africans have acknowledged divine strength. You can go back at how they were conquered, it was the Bible. Now Inter D, prophets are daily duping Zimbabweans who still believe in praying and fasting. Very soon or the other Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin if they continue with their blind brinkmanship, one of them gonna nuke this world to smithereens.
4. ” We forward in this generation triumphantly…”
“Now Marley shifts from the past to the present…”
This no longer about colonialism or neo- colonialism. It is about today struggle. Are Africans enjoying the benefits of the so-called independence. Or is life better now than before?
5. ” Won’t you help to sing this songs of freedom…”
“This is the direct invitation to the listener. He is asking you to join the chorus. These “songs of freedom” are not just music; they are truth, healing, and revolution. “
6. ” Cause all l ever have: Redemption songs…”
“Bob Marley is saying he owns nothing else- no wealth, no weapons. Just truth in music…”
His music was the only weapon he had against any signs of oppression and persecution. In Zimbabwe we have Thomas Mapfumo who supported the liberation struggle through his music. This also became his nemesis when he became critiquing the political elite’s largesse and sense of entitlement. Marley died early because of those philosophical insights.
“The most Powerful Verse”
7. ” Emancipate yourself from mental slavery; none but ourselves can free our minds…”
“This is the soul of the song. Marley is no longer just talking about historical slavery. He is talking about mental chains- fear, self- hate, dependency, ignorance…”
How can Zimbabwean youths set themselves free whilst dependency is stalking them. They are used to do all evil things by politicians, they maim and kill in the name of mis-stepping ( kusaiza bato, Mutape wee!). All ducks must be in a row. Ignorance of thinking that they are invincible and indomitable cause them to act rabidly. They must get rid of those mental chains to live normally. Self- hate is one other reason destroying Africa. All sharp brains prefer to live in the diaspora leaving Africa bleeding. Africa needs you.
8. ” Have no fear of atomic energy; because none of them can stop the time…”
“Marley is telling people not to be paralysed by the powers that be. Empires may rise and fall, but truth, love and time cannot be stopped…”
But African leaders have accepted this fate, again. They are all rushing to please the “Don” at the White House. Some pay courtesy calls to be humiliated there. They are a blend of self-hate, and still in mental chains.
9. ” How long shall they continue to kill our prophets, while we stand aside and look…” Another very powerful verse
“Here, Marley challenges silence and complacency. It’s a cry against injustice. The message is clear, we must stop standing by in silence…”
In Africa any critical voice is labelled “enemy of the state”. What they call democracy in the West is only the power and freedom to express yourself freely. Currently in Zimbabwe any medium which attempts to say “the Emperor has no clothes”, will rue its days in remand prisons or courts. Just bury your heads in the sand and pretend everything is fine.
10. ” Some say it’s just a part of it; we have got to fulfill the book…”
“Some accept suffering as fate or prophesy. He is saying even it is written, we still have a role to play in fulfilling truth and righteousness…”
Most Zimbabweans believe in “zvinoenda nepi, zvichapera hazvo.” Mr Thabo Mbeki called it “quiet diplomacy” when he was dealing with the late R. G . Mugabe in the 2000s. But Zimbabweans don’t deserve to suffer because we gotta all critical minerals to power the West. What is wrong with us. Misgoverance and lack of accountability with our resources. These days every Jack and Jill is a miner. Its empowerment l agree. Pilfering and laundering is what l might call it. Some guys at the Financial Intelligence Unit at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe call it “llicit Financial Flows.” Diamond came and go, Chrome came and go, Platinum came and go, Lithium is also coming and very soon it will go. And the losers will be us. Hanzi na sekuru Tuku” Takabvako, kare, kare, Ndakabvako musi uno, Kumhunga hakuna ipwa kanhi…..”
