"Reggae is more freeform than the blues. But more important, reggae is for everyone – and we hope we can help everyone with our music." On Catch a Fire, Marley and Tosh are courageous with their language and delivery, whether lamenting the oppression of Black people, calling for uprising from poverty or singing love songs.

A special concert celebrating Birmingham's reggae history is to take place on what would have been Bob Marley's 80th birthday. The Reggae Origins concert will see Basil Gabbidon and musicians from Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) join forces on Thursday evening at the city's Town Hall.

From the streets of Cairo and Tripoli to Morocco’s Sahel and Sudan's Nubian desert communities, Bob Marley’s musical legacy remains both profound and far-reaching. The vibrant sound and inclusive message of his songs spread across the region through imported cassettes and bootleg recordings – as well as international stations like Radio Monte