Entertainment
Marcus Garvey: the speech that inspired Bob Marley’s ‘Redemption Song’
Marley’s music greatly impacted the punk and post-punk waves, influencing stalwarts like The Police, The Clash and The Beat. In a 2022 interview with Far Out, legendary punk bassist of Public Image Ltd, Jah Wobble, told us that hearing the Wailers’ basslines at Marley’s landmark Lyceum gig in 1975 was the moment he truly fell in love with music.
“[I] was watching Aston’ Family Man’ Barrett with the Wailers at the Lyceum in 1975,” Wobble said. “I didn’t come out of there thinking, ‘I’m gonna play bass,’ because the punk thing hadn’t really happened yet, but I was just fascinated with the bass players. It was this feeling, you know? It was incredible.”
Beyond instrumental influence, Marley profoundly impacted the punk wave with his politically charged lyrics. Although admittedly less aggressive than Johny Rotten, Marley inspired a generation to “get up, stand up,” stand up for their rights.
Sadly, Marley was diagnosed with cancer in 1977 after a malignant melanoma was found under the nail of his right big toe. The singer first realised something was wrong when he suffered a foot injury during a football game, which got progressively more painful.
The cancer was caught at a relatively early stage, but Marley declined when the doctors advised that he have his toe amputated. It is against the Rastafarian faith to have part of one’s body “temple” removed. While Marley did later opt for a skin graft, by 1980, the cancer had spread throughout his body, and he was diagnosed with a more advanced, terminal case.
Between January and April 1980, Marley recorded Uprising, the last Wailers album released during his lifetime. Most famously, the record housed the singles ‘Could You Be Loved’ and ‘Redemption Song’, the latter, arriving at the very end of the album as Marley’s poignant farewell, conveyed a message of unity and strength against adversity.
Marley based ‘Redemption Song’ on a speech by the esteemed civil-rights campaigner Marcus Garvey. In 1937, the inspiring orator famously said, “We are going to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery because whilst others might free the body, none but ourselves can free the mind.”
Marley echoes these words in his lyric: “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery / None but ourselves can free our minds”.
It is thought that the singer named the song after reading Garvey’s 1923 book The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, which is prefaced, “Dedicated to the true and loyal members of the Universal Negro Improvement Association in the cause of African redemption.”
Determined to give his fans one last show, Marley set off on a final world tour to support Uprising. Just before his tour stop in New York in the summer of 1980, he collapsed during a run in Central Park. After one final show in Pittsburgh, PA, in September, Marley cancelled the rest of the tour in favour of diet-based treatment in Germany.
After eight months with no improvement, Marley flew back to Jamaica to live out his final days. However, he sadly fell into a critical state during the flight, forcing an emergency landing in Miami, Florida. Marley was rushed to Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, Miami, where he died aged 36 on May 11th, 1981.
Redemption Song was Bob Marley’s final single.
The news of his passing was announced on Tuesday by a fellow actor, Tony Akposheri, in an Instagram post.
Akposheri expressed shock and sadness over the death of the actor, recalling their recent interactions.
He revealed that they had recently spent time together during the New Year, sharing memories and discussing future plans.
“Today, my heart is heavy. Davis Ofor, fondly known as Clarus from New Masquerade, is gone.
“We crossed into the New Year together, laughing, talking, sharing memories, and speaking hopefully about the days ahead,” he wrote.
“We spoke about life, about plans, about how far we had come. None of us knew that time was already counting differently for you.”
Describing the late actor as more than just a screen personality, Akposheri paid tribute to his character and impact.
“It is hard to believe that the voice I heard not long ago is now a memory. Hard to accept that someone so full of life can suddenly become a story we tell.”
He added, “Rest well, my friend. You came, you gave joy, you made your mark, and you will never be forgotten.”
Clarus gained prominence for his role in New Masquerade, one of Nigeria’s most popular television comedy shows, where his character became a household name.
Details surrounding the cause of his death were not immediately available.
Ofor rose to prominence for his role as Clarus in New Masquerade, a widely acclaimed Nigerian television comedy that aired on the Nigerian Television Authority and became a household favourite in the 1980s.
His portrayal of the comic character earned him national recognition and endeared him to audiences across the country, making Clarus one of the most memorable figures in Nigerian television history.
According to the unaudited financial statements of Nigerian Breweries Plc, International Breweries Plc, and Champion Breweries Plc for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the companies collectively recorded strong top-line performance driven largely by beer sales.
Nigerian Breweries Plc, the largest brewer in the country, recorded net revenue of N1.05tn for the period, up from N710.87bn in the corresponding period of 2024. Cost of sales stood at N631.23bn, resulting in a gross profit of N415.15bn.
After accounting for selling and distribution expenses of N193.85bn, administrative expenses of N59.58bn, finance costs of N39.15bn, and other charges, the company posted a profit after tax of N85.51bn, compared with a loss of N149.50bn in 2024. Basic earnings per share rose to 275 kobo from a loss of 1,455 kobo in the previous year.
In March, Nigerian Breweries Plc announced a return to profitability in the first quarter of 2025, reporting a 186 per cent increase in net profit compared to the same period in 2024. The unaudited financial results released on the Nigerian Exchange Limited showed that revenue for the period ended March 31, 2025, rose to N383.6bn, representing a 68.9 per cent increase from N227.1bn recorded in the first quarter of 2024.
International Breweries Plc, which operates in Nigeria and other West African markets, generated revenue of N472.57bn for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, up from N343.45bn in the same period of 2024.
The company reported a profit after tax of N57.83bn, reversing a loss of N112.81bn in 2024. Cost of sales increased to N311.64bn from N248.58bn, while administrative, marketing, and distribution expenses rose to N92.09bn from N72.68bn.
International Breweries Plc posted a profit of N11.9bn for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, marking a turnaround from a loss of N47.3bn in the same period last year. The company’s unaudited financial statements showed revenue increased to N167.4bn in Q2 2025 from N120bn in Q2 2024, while gross profit rose to N61.9bn from N33.8bn.
Overall, the combined revenue of the three companies amounted to N1.54tn, with Nigerian Breweries Plc accounting for the bulk of sales.
Analysts say the figures highlight the resilience of Nigeria’s beer market, which continues to benefit from strong brand loyalty and distribution networks despite rising production costs and broader macroeconomic pressures.
Commenting on consumer behaviour, the Head of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co., Ayokunle Olubunmi, said the market is experiencing a gradual shift in spending patterns, with some consumers reducing beer consumption, a trend influencing how breweries adjust their strategies.
“Following AB InBev’s acquisition of International Breweries, the company invested in new breweries and production facilities to expand capacity. This indicates that firms are prioritising scaling operations and improving efficiency to meet rising demand and strengthen their market position,” Olubunmi said.
On the broader economic impact, the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, Ayo Teriba, cautioned that strong sales figures do not necessarily translate into greater economic contribution.
“The point is that bigger isn’t necessarily better. Sales may be boosted by size, but if that size reflects purchases from other companies rather than actual value added, the contribution to the economy is limited. What really matters is net output, what value the company is actually creating. GDP, after all, is the sum of value created, not just total sales figures,” Teriba said.
Controversial singer Habeeb Okikiola, popularly known as Portable, has been remanded in custody following his arraignment on Monday over multiple criminal charges.
The singer was arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on assault, theft, causing bodily harm, and resisting arrest.
Confirming the development, Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the charges stemmed from a complaint filed by Portable’s estranged partner, Ashabi Simple.
The arraignment followed a viral video on Sunday showing the singer in police custody.
According to the prosecution, Portable allegedly assaulted Ashabi Simple, several police officers, and other individuals at his bar located in Iyana Ilogbo on New Year’s Day.
Other alleged victims listed in the charge include Ileyemi Damilola, Akinyanju Oluwabusayomi, Olowu Olumide, Demilade Ogunniyi, and Ebuka Odah.
Portable is also accused of stealing a Mercedes-Benz E300 valued at N12 million, belonging to Ileyemi Damilola and reportedly purchased from Wally Dex Auto.
It was gathered that two siblings of Ashabi Simple testified as witnesses in court, although Ashabi herself was absent during the proceedings.
The police further alleged that Portable obstructed and assaulted a female police inspector, Ogungbe Olayemi, while she was carrying out her official duties.
The presiding judge denied the singer bail, citing the absence of the allegedly assaulted police officer in court. The judge ruled that the officer must be present before bail could be considered.
Portable was consequently remanded in custody, with the bail hearing adjourned to January 19, 2026.
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