5 Facts About Bob Marley’s “Zimbabwe” Performance at Independence

Bob Marley performed “Zimbabwe” at the country’s actual independence celebration in 1980. The concert took place just after the official declaration of Zimbabwe’s independence.

The song “Zimbabwe” was originally released on Marley’s 1979 album “Survival.” It was written as an anthem for the liberation struggle in Rhodesia, which became Zimbabwe.

Marley was invited to perform by the new Zimbabwean government. His music had been banned in Rhodesia during the white-minority rule.

The performance was held at Rufaro Stadium in Salisbury (now Harare) on April 18, 1980. It was the main event of the independence festivities.

Marley’s set included “Zimbabwe” as the closing song. The crowd of over 100,000 people sang along, making it a defining moment in the country’s history.