MONEY CAN'T BUY LIFE

 

In the early part of the 80’s, I was in my early 20s, living in Lagos Nigeria. Like many youths of my era, I was equally fascinated with Bob’s social conscious work, but particularly liberation of Rhodesia becoming Zimbabwe. He was a Messiah to the youth of my generation, our brother, we refer to him as Brother-Bob.

           Although, (unlike Jimmy Cliff), Bob did not perform in Nigeria, but I learnt that discussion to do so was in progress prior to his passage. Our admiration for him, was spiritually intense, while promoting peace and harmony globally, he did not refrain from communicating those conditions affecting our lives.   

          In Mid-April 1981, I secured a visa scheduled for arrival in the U.S. on June 14, 1981. But in May 1981, we got the news that our beloved Brother Bob has passed on. Initially, I did not believe the news, but when the same was confirm by individual from the Caribbean, then the reality sets in for me.

            According to what we learned from many impartial sources, (prior to his eternal transition), Mr. Marley was said to have told one of his sons that:

                                                  “Money C’yant Buy Life”.

        Since then, (as an enduring fan), I translate the sentence as a prophetic message which must be delivered to humanity at exactly 14,600 days after the Prophet’s eternal transition.

           I created the tune and lyric mentally since mid-80s, but not until May 11, 2016, when the lyric was put in fixed-form, and then, harmonic rendition was by (son) Festus Abiola as a part of his scholastic theater art project in August 2020. Apart from those applicable rights of lyric authorship, the presentation here (Video) is for lecture purpose only. It was presented here to honor a man who has given the world so much, and this work is no less, but a continuance of his enduring work.  

--- Moses O. Abiola ---  

          May 11, 2021 (Please follow the link below for preview.)   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyFwkNVnb1g 

  

 

A TRIBUTE TO BOB MARLEY

(76th birthday)  

 

Because you have given the World "So Much Things To Say", we shall never be lost for words.

When I said that you have given us so many things to say, 40 minutes of listening to your anthology less than an hour ago, produce so many things for me to say.

But just to say a few, this Earth-Strong tribute goes to you.

 

Once upon a time your work includes, ‘simmer down’, it was for us to stay focus, and not to be confused by petty things.

For those unbelievers, you lectured them that ‘your music is going to teach them a lesson’.

When you cite Get up! Stand up! You were giving us encouragement to be strong.

When you cite Exodus, it was your collateral vision of what could be achieved through unity.

When you said, ‘open your eyes and look within’, it was for us to look within for decision making.

And because there may be a time when there’s so much trouble in the world, you provided us with redemption songs.

[Brother Bob!] Because you have given us ‘so many things to say’, we shall never be lost for words.

 

A TRIBUTE TO BOB MARLEY

Because you have given the World "So Much Things To Say", we shall never be lost for words.

But just to say a few, this earth-strong tribute goes to you. 

 

 

This Era.

This year, or era I should say, we have amazing discoveries to share with humankind. You will discover the reason why we have gone for so long.

Continue to view this space.