April 22, 1978 BOB MARLEY ONE LOVE PEACE CONCERT

The One Love Peace Concert was held on April 22, 1978 at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The concert was held during civil & political war in Jamaica between the 2 major political parties, the People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). The concert came to its climax during Bob Marley & The Wailers’ performance of “Jammin’”, when Marley joined the hands of political rivals Michael Manley (PNP) and Edward Seaga (JLP).

The concert brought together 16 of Reggae’s biggest acts, and was dubbed by the media as the “Third World Woodstock”, “Bob Marley plays for Peace” and simply, “Bob Marley Is Back.” The concert attracted over 32,000 spectators. The proceeds of the concert went towards “much needed sanitary facilities and housing for the sufferahs in West Kingston.”

Bob Marley said the following as he called Michael Manley (PNP) and Edward Seaga (JLP) onstage, and while he held their hands above his head:

“Just let me tell you something (yeah), to make everything come true, we gotta be together. (Yeah, yeah, yeah) and through the spirit of the Most High, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I, we’re inviting a few leading people of the slaves to shake hands…To show the people that you love them right, to show the people that you gonna unite, show the people that you’re over bright, show the people that everything is all right. Watch, watch, watch, what you’re doing, because I wanna send a message right out there. I mean, I’m not so good at talking but I hope you understand what I’m trying to say. Well, I’m trying to say, could we have, could we have, up here onstage here the presence of Mr. Michael Manley and Mr. Edward Seaga. I just want to shake hands and show the people that we’re gonna make it right, we’re gonna unite, we’re gonna make it right, we’ve got to unite. The moon is right over my head, and I give my love instead. The moon was right above my head, and I give my love instead.”