Reggae Elections

Michael Manley and Max Romeo:

A Political Alliance Rooted in Reggae and Rastafarianism

About Steve Talbot

Steve Talbot is an independent historian, radio show host, and professional researcher.

Historian: Steve has a Masters degree (History) from Carleton University. His Masters research was entitled Reggae & Rastas: The 1972 election in Jamaica.

This website was launched to showcase some of the key elements in his research.

Radio Host: Every Friday night between 10 pm and 2 am, Steve hosts an online radio program called, In the Scheme of Things, on RiddimWSM radio, based in Ottawa [Canada]. The program offers an engaging blend of information and entertainment to a world-wide audience.

A devout Garveyite, Pan-Africanist, and a student of history, he uses his platform to not only to provide a sample of his eclectic taste in music, but also to give a voice to those who are hardly ever heard or totally ignored. As a result, he brings a level of historical and political consciousness to his audience.

Professional researcher: Steve has spent the last 30 years working as a research archivist and consultant on First Nation issues in Canada.

During that time, in his effort to search and retrieve historical information relevant to land claims and genealogy, he has accessed several archival repositories such as Library and Archives

Canada, the Records Office at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, The Hudson Bay Archives (Manitoba), as well as the provincial archives of Ontario and Quebec.

His research efforts have contributed to the ongoing negotiation between the government of Canada and the signatories of the Robinson Huron Treaty of 1850. The results of this case could potentially set legal precedents across Canada, as it would formally recognize First Nations’ interpretations of historic treaties.

About This Project

Image of Max Romeo from La Sirene. https://la-sirene.fr/max-romeo/

This project examines the relationship between the Rastafarians, reggae music and Jamaican politics during the turbulent period of the 1970s. As leader of the socialist party, the People’s National Party (PNP), Michael Manley embarked on a political platform never before seen in the annals of Jamaican political activities. During this period, both political parties tried in earnest to appeal to certain section of the Rastafarian community, as well as some reggae musicians, in their respective attempts to reach the electorate. In so doing, they repeatedly adopted Rastafarian icons, lexicon, expressions and tenets, as part of their wider strategy in reaching the dissident and restive groups.

This website showcases the unique fusion of reggae and Rasta as indispensable components of political appropriation in Jamaica. It provides the historical context for Jamaica in the 1970s, highlights the ways in which reggae and Rastafarian symbols and expressions were appropriated, and decodes select reggae songs that speak to the political issues of the day.