Reggae music has long shaped local sounds in Fiji.
On June 29, 1996 a report in The Fiji Times captured the visit of legendary Jamaican musician Jimmy Cliff, one of the genre’s earliest global ambassadors, during his world tour through the Pacific.
Born James Chambers, Cliff arrived in Fiji as part of a marathon international tour spanning decades and continents.
Relaxed yet intensely focused, he reflected on a life shaped by music, struggle and purpose.
“I never liked authority, I had to rebel,” he said in a statement that appeared to capture the spirit behind much of his work.
That rebellious energy helped define his music, which ranged from social commentary on poverty and injustice to broader themes of resistance and survival in marginalised communities.
Over the years, Cliff’s career saw him collaborate with major international artists while developing a philosophy grounded in spirituality and lived experience.
“My life has been a search for truth. I consider myself an ambassador on a mission for the truth.”
Having left school at 17 to pursue music, Cliff described a journey shaped by influences ranging from church music to black consciousness movements and global spiritual ideas. He said his focus had always been on spreading messages of peace, love and justice.
During his Fiji performance, thousands attended, with some fans even breaching barricades at Prince Charles Park to catch a glimpse of the artist described by many as a living legend.
Cliff, however, downplayed celebrity status, saying his priority was audience connection.
“Legend? I don’t worry about what people think or say of me, that’s not important. I’m only concerned about making people happy. When I’m on stage, I look out at the people, and if I see they’re happy, then I’m happy.
And what about Jimmy Cliff the human?
“Oh, I eat, sleep, make love like a normal human being. I enjoy watching sports. I enjoy boxing.”
At the time of his Fiji visit, Cliff was continuing a global tour that included New Caledonia, Australia, Japan, Europe.
He was working on a script and he intended to spend more time in the movies at the end of the tour.
And when does the road end for Jimmy Cliff?
“I’ll keep on playing and touring and making music as long as I can,” he said.
His visit left a lasting impression cementing his place not just in reggae history, but in the country’s cultural memory.
Jimmy Cliff died at the age of 81 on November 24, 2025, in Kingston, Jamaica.
