Peter Tosh to be honoured by South Africa for ‘liberation’ music
Published:Friday | April 21, 2023 | 12:37 AMYasmine Peru/Senior Gleaner Writer
Militant reggae singer, Peter Tosh — a founding member of the iconic Wailers trio which was rounded out by Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer — will be honoured by President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa for his contribution to the country’s Independence and culture, at a ceremony on April 28.
The late Tosh, according to a report in apanews.net, is one of five non-South Africans who will be decorated with the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo. This honour was instituted in December 2002, and is granted by the president to foreign citizens who have promoted South African interests and aspirations through cooperation, solidarity, and support.
The report stated that director general in the presidency, Phindile Baleni, said in a statement that Tosh would be recognised for his contribution to South Africa’s liberation struggle “using his musical talent to advance the liberation cause worldwide through incisive and awareness-raising lyrics in his music”.
During the era of South Africa’s despised apartheid rule, Tosh, a renowned pan-Africanist, was vocal about his feeling towards the oppressive regime. In 1977, he recorded the song, Apartheid on his Equal Rights album and also released militant songs such as Fight On (1979), and Not Gonna Give It Up (1983).
In Apartheid, the Stepping Razor chants, “Inna me land, quite illegal/You inna me land, dig out me gold, yes/Inna me land, diggin’ out me pearl/Inna me land, dig out me diamond/We gonna fight against Apartheid.”
Tosh also participated in the international opposition by appearing at anti-apartheid concerts.
Christened Winston Hubert McIntosh, Tosh who had written many of the Wailers’ hit songs such as Get Up, Stand Up, 400 Years, and No Sympathy, left the group in 1974 after Island Records president Chris Blackwell refused to issue his solo album.
His Wikipedia bio states that “Tosh and Bunny Wailer left the Wailers, citing the unfair treatment they received from Blackwell. Tosh began recording and released his solo debut, Legalize It, in 1976 with CBS Records company, and Treasure Isle. The title track soon became popular among endorsers of cannabis legalisation, reggae music lovers and Rastafari all over the world, and was a favourite at Tosh’s concerts”.
Peter Tosh’s advocacy, even today, remains a talking point. On Sunday, May 7, he will be awarded a special posthumous honour for his work in the global legalisation of medical marijuana by IRAWMA (International Reggae and World Music Awards). This was announced by Dr Ephraim Martin, president of the entity, early this year. The event will be held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.
Tosh was killed on September 11, 1987, at his home in Jamaica. In October 2012, he was posthumously awarded Jamaica’s fourth highest honour, the Order of Merit.
Also among those being honoured by the South African government with the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo are American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman for “her contribution to the fight for freedom by participating in efforts to free Nelson Mandela and raising awareness of human rights violations globally”, as well as late New Zealand anti-apartheid activist and educater Thomas Oliver Newnham; Christabel Gurney of the United Kingdom; and German poet Ruth Weiss.
The late Oliver Reginald (OR) Tambo played a central role in the freedom struggle against apartheid, and dedicated his life to overthrowing the apartheid regime.
“His leadership of the struggle against apartheid, at an international level, galvanised world opinion against the apartheid regime. His benevolence and personal concern for the plight of freedom-fighters and their conditions in the field endeared him to thousands of liberation fighters,” the government noted.