Bob Marley’s popularity has outlived his reggae music, his tour dates, and even his life. Some people think that a musician’s career ends when they stop recording, or perhaps when they pass from this world, but Robert Nesta Marley, the great Jamaican reggae singer, has proven them wrong, even though his death was a tremendous loss to the roots reggae music world, which he largely defined with his songs.

Even today, most people think of Bob Marley when they think of reggae music. His Legends album, recorded with The Wailers, has surpassed 10 million sales. Sure, more contemporary artists such as UB40 may have sold more albums, but Bob Marley’s reggae songs tell an uplifting love story that’s accessible to all listeners, and his blend of reggae and rock results in melodies that are popular even amongst listeners who aren’t otherwise interested in Caribbean music. As a practicing Rastafarian, Marley tried to promote a message and lifestyle of “One World, One Love” across the globe. Another part of Bob Marley’s popularity stems from the political message within his reggae music, which spoke out against racism, failed justice systems, and oppressive governments.

Today, Bob Marley’s legacy is celebrated not only with his music but with his images. Many people own Bob Marley posters, and they’re especially popular among American college students, particularly male students. It’s not just the tokers who will hang a Bob Marley poster in their room but many other students who are interested in enjoying life, exploring liberty, and celebrating diversity. Reggae music fans are also sure to have a poster of Bob Marley on their wall.

In addition to the messages of artistic achievement and political activism, Bob Marley posters also inspire viewers to become someone larger, more popular: a celebrity. Even though Bob Marley dropped out of school when he was 14, he grew to become the king of reggae, making it popular beyond Jamaica for the first time, eventually building a superstar career with the Wailers. Bob Marley’s celebrity brings an additional benefit to his posters – many talented artists and photographers have tried to capture Bob’s big personality in still images. Some posters also include famous Bob Marley quotes and lyrics from his songs. All of these combinations have generated a wide variety of attractive, colorful images from which the Bob Marley posters are created.

Bob Marley’s legacy continues in a variety of living forms: recently, the I and I Bob Marley book has described his life with colorful images that would be appropriate for any poster. Additionally, his children are active in the music scene, with Julian, Stephen, Ziggy, Ky-Mani, and Damian “Junior Gong” Marley all creating successful musical careers in their own rights.

So even though Bob Marley isn’t with us today as a person, he is certainly present as a cultural icon, persisted as a memory for a few, as a melody for others, and for still others as an image that hangs on their wall as a poster, reminding us of his contributions to reggae music and the world at large.

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