By 1975 when Mr James “Jimmy Cliff” Chambers released Bongo Man (A Come) he was already a big star, having been propelled by his role as Ivanhoe “Ivan” Martin in Mr Perry Henzell’s Jamaican cult classic film The Harder They Come.

But Bongo Man’s haunting religious melody and lyrics gave us a deeper insight into Jimmy Cliff’s faith. The song, drenched in reverence and devotion, carries the weight of something sacred, stirring a quiet ache in the soul and signalling his readiness for his spiritual transition.

It can be argued that Bongo Man is easily one of the most spiritually enriched works of this son of Somerton, St James, who helped shaped the cultural identity of this nation.

No one can successfully challenge that Jimmy Cliff — singer, songwriter, actor, and ambassador of the Jamaican spirit — stands as a monument to the endurance of our music, particularly reggae. His achievements are not merely entries in a discography or scenes in a film; they are chapters in the story of a people whose rhythms and struggles became global through his voice.

We share the view of former Prime Minister P J Patterson who, in his tribute to Jimmy Cliff on Monday, the day the legendary artiste died at age 81, said: “Jimmy Cliff was more than a musician; he was a cultural architect who helped build the bridge that connected Jamaica’s soul to the consciousness of the world.”

Mr Patterson also stated that when his Government honoured Jimmy Cliff with the Order of Merit, Jamaica’s third-highest national honour, in 2003, it was in recognition of a fact long known by the global community — “that his contributions to music and film had achieved eminent international distinction and brought immeasurable pride to our nation”.

Added Mr Patterson, who had a long and close relationship with Jimmy Cliff: “The creative genius of this legend ensures the immortality of one who sought to inspire and uplift.”

From his early breakthrough with Hurricane Hattie in 1962, to the anthemic Many Rivers To Cross, Jimmy Cliff’s music carried an emotional honesty that made it timeless. He sang not only to entertain, but to remind listeners of their individual strength, collective humanity, and responsibility to uplift and improve the world around them. Songs like You Can Get It If You Really Want — which was on The Harder They Come soundtrack — were more than melodies, they were declarations of possibility. They travelled far beyond Jamaica’s shores, inspiring movements, comforting the marginalised, and echoing across generations.

That soundtrack played a massive role in introducing reggae to millions of people worldwide and, without doubt, secured Jimmy Cliff’s place in cultural history.

We think it fair to say that not many films have carried such musical and social weight, and even fewer artistes could command both screen and sound with such authenticity.

Most fittingly, Jimmy Cliff’s achievements have earned him global recognition, among them induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and two Grammy Awards. Yet, no accolade fully captures the scale of his contribution. For Jimmy Cliff, through his music, exported the conscience of a people, reminding the world that joy and struggle are intertwined, and that music can be both balm and beacon.

As new generations discover his work it is clear that his legacy will outlive us all. His songs remain fresh, relevant, and restorative because they speak truth, they uplift, and, most of all, because Jimmy Cliff created art that refuses to fade.

We will miss him, but we take comfort in our belief that legends do not vanish — they echo.