YESTERDAY, THE GLEANER and The STAR rehashed a story from the Daily Mirror, in which Rita Marley said Bob Marley had forced himself on her sexually while they were married.
There is no need for me to rehash the story, as it should be the most talked about news event for the day; I mean, who the hell really, really cares about the budget? However, it is indeed curious that in another forum I had written about men pressing ahead when a woman says no and, on Sunday, marital rape had been the topic on Man Talk.
There will be lots of rehashing of the subject and, in today's publications, there is sure to be a response from Mrs. Marley.
Effect on legacy
I am not here to talk about the 'did he, did he not' of the matter (although I put a fia pon all rapa man) but the effect that the story will have on Bob Marley's legacy.
Which is none.
As long as it is not homosexuality, sexual matters will not affect the respect that a male Jamaican entertainer gets. In fact, as cable TV dictates our tastes (literally and figuratively) more and more, even oral sex is sliding down the totem pole of taboos.
In our 'wuka man' culture, the more women a man 'has' the merrier - except for the woman who was there with him before 'tings start gwaan' and he became a target of the hottie women.
Y'know, those who come to reap, after the original woman did the planting.
Jesus complex
I have always maintained that Marley is not some sort of saint - and that he does not need to be. Don Taylor certainly outlined many of the faults and imperfections in Marley and Me, in which he also spoke of Marley's work ethic, but for me it does not take away from his lyrical genius.
We tend to have what I like to call the 'Jesus complex', where there is an attempt to make out someone to be without fault, without an ill thought much less deed. That is rubbish.
Bob Marley was a very good lyricist who was in touch with his social environment and aware of world events. It is not necessary to elevate him to the status of an untouchable demi-God in order to reinforce the importance of his work.
A man is just a man.
