Bob Marley was one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. The Jamaican singer-songwriter helped bring reggae music to a global audience and promoted Rastafarian culture through his lyrics advocating unity and opposing oppression. After Marley’s untimely death from cancer at age 36 in 1981, several strange artifacts were discovered in his dreadlocked hair, sparking curiosity and conspiracy theories that continue to swirl around his iconic mane to this day.
Who was Bob Marley?
Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley on February 6, 1945 in Nine Mile, Jamaica. Marley grew up in a rural mountainous region of Jamaica and was raised primarily by his mother after his white father abandoned the family when Marley was just 10 years old. This experience shaped Marley’s worldview and music that would come to emphasize themes of African diaspora, spirituality, poverty, injustice, black empowerment, and unity.
As a teenager in the 1960s, Marley became engrossed in the growing Rastafarian movement and began growing dreadlocks according to Rastafarian customs. He formed his first band The Wailers in 1963 which evolved into the influential group Bob Marley and the Wailers by the early 1970s. Marley achieved international fame with hits like “No Woman, No Cry,” “Could You Be Loved,” “Buffalo Soldier,” and “One Love.” He infused his lyrics with Rastafarian messages and became one of the most visible proponents of the religion and jamaican culture worldwide. By the time of his death from melanoma cancer in 1981 at age 36, Bob Marley had become a global superstar and tragic icon of reggae music.
The Significance of His Dreadlocks
In accordance with his Rastafarian faith, Bob Marley wore long dreadlocks for most of his adult life. For Rastafarians, dreadlocks represent a spiritual journey and connection with God, known as Jah. Allowing one’s hair to knot up into long ropelike strands is seen as natural and spiritual, a rejection of Babylon’s obsession with physical appearances. Marley considered his own dreadlocks sacred and was very particular about how they were treated.
Marley’s flowing locks became iconic as he reached global fame in the 1970s. For many fans, Marley’s dreadlocked mane came to symbolize his music, beliefs, and Jamaican identity. His refusal to cut it also became a symbol of his rebel spirit and unwillingness to conform. Even after being diagnosed with cancer, Marley refused to cut off his dreadlocks which had become matted with dirt and debris over the years. To his fans, Marley’s dreadlocks represented his authenticity and spiritual strength in the face of hardship.
Posthumous Things Found in Marley’s Hair
After Bob Marley’s death, his wife Rita Marley decided to preserve some of his iconic dreadlocks for posterity and museum exhibitions. When biographers and researchers later examined the preserved locks of hair, they made some surprising discoveries that spawned many theories and urban legends about the contents of Marley’s hair. Some of the strange items allegedly found include:
Marijuana
Unsurprisingly to those familiar with Marley and Rastafarian culture, traces of marijuana were found entwined in the musician’s hair. As a devout Rastafarian, Marley regularly smoked cannabis for religious reasons and saw it as a natural, beneficial plant. Rastas call cannabis by the name “ganja” and use it to enhance feelings of unity and spirituality. Finding remnants of marijuana in Marley’s hair simply confirmed his Rastafarian identity and ritual use of the herb.
Cocaine
More controversial were traces of cocaine allegedly found in Marley’s famous locks. While Marley sang about the dangers of “the white man’s powder” and urged unity, a few strands of his hair tested positive for cocaine after his death. However, biographers have argued this does not mean Marley was a regular cocaine user, since he was opposed to hard drugs. Skeptics believe the traces likely came from contaminated sources during his international travels. Marley also lived in a religious commune, so hair contamination from other residents is possible.
Bits of Metal
Bits of metal wire and copper strands were interwoven into parts of Marley’s hair. This debris was likely accumulated over years as the singer twisted and locked his hair into dense, matted dreadlocks. Bits of metal picked up from hair products, hats, and his environment naturally became stuck in the coiled strands over time. While not as scandalous as rumors of recreational drugs, it does show the density and deterioration of Marley’s iconic last hairstyle.
Ringworm and Nits
Marley’s refusal to ever undo his dreadlocks came at a hygienic price, as examinations found his hair suffered from ringworm and was riddled with lice nits. Not washing or combing his hair for years allowed the singer’s head to become a breeding ground for skin fungi and parasites. But while such findings may seem unflattering, they also underscore Marley’s uncompromising spiritual convictions and humble earthly existence.
High Lead Levels
Hair analysis also showed Marley’s locks contained high levels of lead. This could have come from lead-adulterated marijuana, contaminated soil, or hair products he used. Lead enters hair follicles from the bloodstream after being ingested. The high lead levels are concerning since lead poisoning can cause health problems, but there is no evidence Marley suffered any ill effects while alive. The finding does add an intriguing layer of mystery around what toxins and substances Marley was exposed to during his brief but influential career.
Theories and Conspiracy Speculation
The odd substances found in Marley’s hair have spawned many theories about how they got there, if they contributed to his death, and what secrets might still lie hidden in the iconic dreadlocks. Some speculate that jealousy, enemies, or even the CIA could have poisoned Marley with toxic metals and contributed to his early demise from cancer. Other theories suggest drug use was rampant in Marley’s inner circle and contaminated his hair. While highly speculative, these conspiracies speak to the aura of intrigue and mystery that still surrounds Bob Marley decades after his passing.
Impact on His Legacy
Despite the odd findings in his hair, Bob Marley remains an iconic figure and one of the most beloved musicians worldwide. Most fans and experts dismiss conspiracies about poisoning and believe the hair analyses simply reflect Marley’s unconventional lifestyle, not any nefarious plots. If anything, the hair discoveries burnish Marley’s legend as a rebel and make his locks even more iconic as symbols of his values. Just as Marley sang, “don’t care where you come from, as long as you’re a black man, you’re an African.” To the end, his hair remained a powerful representation of his identity and the universality of the human experience that so animated his music.
Conclusion
While the substances found in Bob Marley’s hair may seem strange, they ultimately paint a picture of a unique icon who stayed true to his spiritual beliefs and cultural identity. To the very end, Marley’s dreadlocks reflected his life journey – from the joys of marijuana to the pain of illness, from his humble humanity to his global reach, from his roots in Jamaica to his place as one of history’s most transcendent musical figures. So in his iconic mane remains not just the echoes of mystery and controversy, but the enduring resonance of a remarkable life that transformed culture forever after.