1. The Socio-Political Context of Bob Marley and The Black Brothers Songs
Emerging from racially, culturally, economically, and politically marginalized social conditions, Bob Marley and The Black Brothers used music or
song as a vehicle of critique. In other words, their songs are the evidence of a collective effort by the marginalized social groups to coerce the consensus of the
hegemony by the dominant power. As what is stated by Antonio Gramsci on his notion of the concept of hegemony, this form of coercion emerges from within the
life of the lower classes.
1
The concept of hegemony is closely related to the dialectical unity between leadership and domination which including moments of consensus and
coercion.
2
This concept is strongly influenced by Gramsci’s question of power.
3
When dealing with power, one would usually refer it to its explicit form that is, authority or expertise. Here the processes are visible and deliberately carried out.
To the writer’s consideration the examples are like: slavery, detention, kidnapping, torturing, impunity, exploitation, and corruption; while implicit power domination
takes place in a form of hegemony. Hegemonic power influences people’s behaviour as effectively as explicit force of power can do. This can be in a form of
government laws and policies which are accepted as a consensus in a society. The implementation of these two forms of power dominations are intended to
perpetuate or secure power control over the subordinate groups, and to repress the political rivals and the possibility of people’s revolts.
In understanding the general circumstances of explicit and implicit power
1
Fontana, Benedetto. Hegemony and Power. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1993, p. 14.
2
Fusaro, Lorenzo. Gramscis concept of hegemony at the national and international level, Kings College London, 2010, p. 1. Web. March 29. 2014. http:iippe.orgwikiimages009CONF_IPE_Fusaro.pdf.
3
Crehan, Kate. Gramsci, Culture and Anthropology. London: Pluto Press, 2002, p. 6.
domination and the coercion and specific objects of Bob Marley and The Black Brothers’ critiques a better understanding of social and political reality is
necessary. In order to understand why sounds and words of their lyrics have been arranged in a certain way, we must understand the context within which their
composition seemed meaningful and urgent. Following is the analysis of the Bob Marley and the Black Brothers lyrics to figure out the hidden transcript by also
seeing the context of socio-political background.
2. Bob Marley and The Black Brothers Music and Song as Counter-Dominant Power Alternative
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