Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas

From the first ska hits to the alliance with English rock, by way of the importance of France, which has become a host land for reggae, this book synthesises the information essential to understanding reggae. Invited at the end of 2003 to the Maison de France in Nigeria for a conference on Bob Marley, Bruno Blum devotes several chapters here to the biography of reggae's ambassador. Illustrated in colour, this 158-page book contains many unpublished documents and photos. It is, without question, the (new) bibliographical reference on reggae and the Rasta movement. Bruno Blum has so far devoted his life to music. Settled in London in 1976, he was a correspondent for Best until 1982. From there he immersed himself in the Jamaican community and culture. A complete artist, Bruno Blum is at once musician, performer (six albums to his name), illustrator, producer, photographer and journalist. A great reggae specialist, he is the most prolific French author on the subject. As a producer, his work restoring unreleased Bob Marley material and, most recently, Gainsbourg's reggae albums deserves a salute. Having had an intimate relationship with reggae and Jamaica for many years, Bruno Blum knows exactly what he is talking about. The author also looks at more worrying realities of the Rasta movement such as homophobia and other extremisms. His incessant activity in reggae gives him obvious credibility. At once very serious and easy to read, " Bob Marley, le reggae et les rastas " can be taken at its word and will be the subject of a more in-depth review…