On the night of April 22, 1978, at the National Stadium in Kingston, 32,000 people gathered to witness the One Love Peace Concert, an event that was of extraordinary significance to Robert Nesta Marley, a concert, which has been voted the World's sixth 'Rock Concert' of all time.
Bob had left the island of his birth in 1976, after an attempt was made to assassinate him.

The concert was held at a time when both political parties - the People's National Party and the Jamaica Labour Party - were engaged in a bitter political civil war. But the reality of what was happening to our beloved country at that time remains embedded in my mind, as well as in the minds of many others who were around during those terrible years.

Jamaica was struggling economically, urban unrest and political rivalry were claiming the lives of many Jamaicans on a daily basis as the situation seemed to get worse. No one was spared. One had to be careful which colour beer bottle he drank from, which colour Lada motor car he drove, and I was really concerned about students of St Hugh's High School in Kingston who were dressed in full green uniforms, as they were literally attacked by political illiterate thugs. Things grew ridiculous as the situation in Jamaica worsened.

The idea for a peace concert was brought up by 'Bucky' Marshall of the PNP, and 'Claudie' Massop of the JLP, both of whom were political henchmen - spokespersons between the poor people in the garrison communities and the political leaders. The concert was to serve a dual purpose: raising money for a housing project in Kingston and saving the country from a looming civil war, and Reggae seemed to be the best medium to reunite the people.

Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer had put Jamaica on the world map with the pulsating sound of Reggae music. In order to convince Bob Marley to play at the concert, Massop flew to London to meet with the legend himself. Reluctantly, Bob agreed to return from self-exile. Marley also released his album Kaya with songs about love and peace to coincide with the One Love Peace Concert, which is today marking its 30th Anniversary. In 1978, the concert marked the 12th anniversary of HIM Emperor Haile Selassie's visit to Jamaica.

All Jamaica was anxious to see the return of Bob Marley. Preparations for the show were in full swing, a peace committee was formed, and Tommy Cowan was appointed the producer of the concert. Also appearing on stage would be Peter Tosh with his own band, (Bunny Wailer had boycotted the concert), Dennis Brown, Jacob 'Killer' Miller and the Inner Circle Band, Big Youth, Lloyd Parkes and the We The People Bank, Ras Michael and the Sons of Negus, Little Junior Tucker and others, all of whom donated their talents and time free of cost.

I was given the job to design all the promotional material, including posters, advertisements, banners, etc to advertise the One Love Peace Concert, all on a limited budget.
I knew before hand that I would be at the front of that giant stage in the centre of the football field at the National Stadium that night, and I would not miss that once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity for anything. I decided to take my camera along with one lens and one roll of film, no flash!

I must have been crazy not to have taken along dozens of rolls of film, but God knows best. After photographing several of the artistes in performance, along came the other Wailer, Peter Tosh, who put on a great performance, when suddenly, the militant one removed his beret, flashed his locks, and lit up a joint in front of the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, the police commissioner and the chief of staff of the Jamaica Defence Force. No one moved! Every policeman stood his ground!

The stage was being set for the musical prophet himself accompanied by the "I-Three" - Rita Marley, Judy Mowatt and Marcia Griffiths. As the king of Reggae entered the stage, a roar from that massive crowd echoed across Wareika Hills, along the mountain range down Mountain View and up to Jacks Hill and Barbican, from Morant Bay to Negril, live on radio and television.

Dressed in a burlap coat of Red, Green and Gold designed by Syd Massop, wife of 'Claudie' Massop, the entire stadium rose to its feet to welcome the one and only Bob Marley.
He seemed to be in a trance as he sang and danced his heart out. I took a few individual pictures as he went into the performance of a lifetime, when suddenly I heard a voice speaking to me "Howard! stop shooting now, because something important is about to take place that isn't planned, and you must capture it on film." I obeyed, took the camera from my face and held it by my side without saying a word. Only then did I realise that only 14 frames of colour film were left on my roll inside my camera.

Bob continued performing, when suddenly, he personally invited Prime Minister Michael Manley and Opposition Leader Edward Seaga to join him on stage as he proceeded to speak over the microphone to the music of Jamming... "His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, run lightning, leading the people of the slaves to shake hands... to show the people that everything is all right. Watch, watch, watch what you're doing, because I'm not so good at talking, but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say, could we have, could we have, up here on stage 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 unite... we're gonna unite... we've got to unite! The moon is high over my head, and I give my love instead. The moon is high over my head, and I give my love instead."

I focused through my lens saw the reluctance on both faces, as Bob drew them together with his arms over their shoulders as he danced between Manley and Seaga. They both shook hands and Bob raised their hands together holding them over his head.

It was a rare, spontaneous moment in the life of our nation, and everyone realised the significance of it. Could this be the turning point for Jamaica's troubles? Well, the rest is now history. I eventually finished my roll of film, rewound it into the canister, took it out of my camera and put it in my socks under my jeans.

The next morning I drove down to Stanley Motta at Geffrard Place, asked for the photo lab manager, and handed the roll of film personally to Phil Kong, telling him "Phil, this is probably the most important roll of film I will ever take in my entire life, as soon as it's processed, please call me as soon as it's finished."

I prayed that the frequent power cuts we were having would not damage that roll and that the same voice that spoke to me would take care of it. The results of that one roll were remarkably outstanding, perfect and beautiful, considering that no flash was used.

Images of Bob from that roll allowed me to capture the Silver Medal for colour portraiture at the 1979 Commonwealth Photography Exhibition in Edmonton and two Gold Medals in the 1982 Jamaica Festival Photography competition. The entire collection now hangs permanently in the Bob Marley Museum for the world to see.

Yes, the only person to have brought both leaders of this country together, repeated it again when Seaga, who by then had become prime minister, and Opposition Leader Manley shook hands for the second time at the funeral of Bob Marley inside the National Arena in 1981.
One Love!

Rootz Underground launch reggae rock debut

Up close with Lady Saw

Half Pint delivers a stress free ride