Foul! Jamaica's National Colours VS Reggae's Cultural Colours
- suzettecampbell
- 23 hours ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 22 hours ago
Decades after his passing, Bob Marley lives on as a global icon representing Jamaica’s vibrant culture through Reggae music. His name is perhaps as popular as the country’s name. On a trip overseas when one identifies as a Jamaican, you are likely to get a lively response which includes “Bob Marley” [and in recent years, “Usain Bolt”]. So, there is no denying the massive contribution that this icon has made to the country’s global recognition and overall powerful brand. In fact, many Jamaicans agree that Marley be accorded the nation’s highest honour – National Hero.
However, Jamaica’s global popularity transcends music. And whether Bob made Jamaica popular or Jamaica made Bob popular is a point for consideration. Arguably, the country’s strong international presence may also be attributed to our sporting prowess, accent, food, natural beauty, people, and yes – our national colours. Jamaica's is the only flag of a sovereign country without the colours of white, red, or blue. According to the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), “The sun shineth, the land is green and the people are strong and creative” is the symbolism of the colours of the flag. Black depicts the strength and creativity of the people; Gold, the natural beauty of the sunlight and the wealth of the country; and Green signifies hope and agricultural resources.
For Jamaicans, the colours carry deep historical significance, reflecting the struggle against colonisation and slavery. Particularly in the diaspora, wearing these colours is a way to connect with one's Jamaican roots. Modern designers are incorporating these colours to evoke a sense of freedom, creativity, and cultural pride, moving beyond just souvenir-style apparel.
The country’s national colours, which are immediately recognisable without its name, have become much of a fashion symbol over the years.
But a country with as rich a cultural legacy as Jamaica’s will manifest on several layers; one of which is our deep connection with Rastafari. The Rastafarian palette, derived from the Ethiopian flag, is frequently seen in street fashion, beanies, and mesh marina jerseys, these colours represent African roots, spirituality, and resistance. Within that context, it is said that red symbolises the blood of ancestors, gold represents wealth, and green signifies the land/hope. Black is occasionally added and signifies the strength of the African people.
Beyond Bob, several famous foundation Jamaican singers who were Rastafarians made the colours a wardrobe staple. Reggae music was [is] the primary cultural vehicle through which the Rastafari movement's beliefs, African heritage, and political messages were spread globally.
Jamaica's Cultural Influence on International Fashion
Jamaican style heavily influences international fashion through the lens of reggae and dancehall, sometimes leading to controversy when designers misinterpret the colours. In early 2021, Louis Vuitton faced significant backlash for a luxury sweater from its Spring-Summer 2021 menswear collection that was marketed as being inspired by Jamaica but featured the wrong colours. The incident drew widespread criticism on social media for a lack of cultural research and sensitivity. What was the design error? The item was a "Jamaican striped jumper" featuring horizontal stripes of red, yellow, and green—the colours of the Ethiopian flag and the Rastafarian movement—rather than the official black, green, and gold of the Jamaican flag. Following the outcry, which included criticism from Cedella Marley (daughter of Bob Marley), who wrote in an Instagram post: "Bob says that's the Ethiopian flag @louisvuitton", the product was removed from the website. Louis Vuitton issued an apology, admitting to an "error in the description".
Flash forward to 2026, a Bob Marley-inspired Jamaica football jersey designed for the national team has drawn the ire of some Jamaicans who have taken to social media once again to defend the Black, Gold & Green. The jersey, which forms part of a collaboration between Adidas, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) and the Bob Marley Foundation, was unveiled last week Friday as Jamaica prepares for the next international football cycle, including World Cup qualifying. The problem? It includes red!
One could understand the symbolism from a marketing standpoint, as Jamaica’s national football team is in fact nicknamed Reggae Boyz, and the colours which represent reggae are red, gold & green. We get it! However, it appears that semantics got the better of the decision-makers to the extent that the symbolism of our national football team representing our country, was apparently conflated with the symbolism of a segment of our culture.
POV: Nobody is heading to the National Stadium wearing ‘reggae colours’ to watch the Reggae Boyz play a game of international football in which they are representing the country. ‘Match days’ are among the finest displays of Brand Jamaica colours when a sea of Jamaicans flocks the National Stadium. Wearing these colours is pride of place. We often see online users post photos of themselves captioned, “How did you know I am a Jamaican?”, and so on.
Idol or Icon?
As the old saying goes, “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander”. It borders on hypocrisy to chide an international designer for presenting Reggae, Ethiopian or Rastafari colours as Jamaican and then turn around five years later to commit the same fatal error under the guise of outfitting the Reggae Boyz in a tribute to the Reggae icon, Bob Marley.
We love Bob, and his family's methodology of keeping his name alive ought to be studied, but we are not about to idolise an icon by swapping a sovereign country’s national colours for those which represent a cultural symbol or religion.
Imagine outfitting the Sunshine Girls for an international netball tournament in red/white bandana (albeit an unofficial national fabric) as a tribute to our language icon, Miss Lou. Let’s get back to the more reasonable national tribute of making Marley the hero that he is. His music is a must inside the National Stadium. When spectators hear Bob's music, it should continue to illicit the same roaring response going forward.
In Primary School Language Arts, analogies were used to develop critical thinking, vocabulary, and understanding of relationships between concepts. In today’s lesson: Black, Green & Gold is to Jamaica as Red, Gold & Green is to Reggae.
The concept that "two things can be true at once" highlights that complex, contradictory, or nuanced situations often coexist simultaneously without one negating the other. A multifaceted culture and brand like Jamaica can be so, but depending on the situation. However, when it comes to formally representing the country, there is hardly a debate.
Someone suggested making this a fan jersey instead. I agree.
I Am Suzette Campbell.
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