This is the first in the Reggae Movement Exhibition series that I'll post here with some accompanying songs. The artwork was first produced by Freestylee aka Michael Thompson out of Jamaica and Mau Mau from the UK. Text is mine. This exhibition is about the influence of soundsystem culture from Jamaica, how it spread to the UK in the 1950s and 1960s, and its deep influence on popular music and culture in the UK all the way through roots, dancehall, and on to the distinctly UK styles emerging out of Bristol - like Massive Attack - and drum'n'bass, jungle and into grime etc. I often reflect that the 'back to Africa' movement was really, in Rasta style, forward to Africa, not only in a physical dimension but in terms of humanity and culture.
This is the mighty Wailers with Bob Marley and "Knotty Dread", 21,000 miles away from home...