Rusty Greaves Posted March 5, 2021 Share Posted March 5, 2021 (edited) While putting on some reggae to celebrate the life of Bunny Wailer after his death on 21 March, 2021, I read through a few news stories and tributes to him and found he had been awarded the Jamaican Order of Merit (October, 2017) and the Order of Jamaica (August, 2012). Apparently, other well-known reggae artists such as Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff also were given this honor. Peter Tosh was given the award posthumously in 2012. Although there is a discussion of some Jamaican Military and other awards in the "Great Britain: Empire: Colonial Including South Africa and India: Awards, Military & History" section, I thought the "Colonial" tag seems inappropriate for the kind of, literally "grass", roots nationalism promoted by the Rastafarian movement. There is a mention of awards to other reggae musicians by JPL in his post of 17 and 18 October, 2011 on the "Jamaica-Order of Distinction" thread started by JPL on 17 October, 2011 in that "Great Britain: Empire: Colonial Including ..." section. So, for Jah B and all you reggae fans on GMIC: "And it's a cool runnings; I know a dancehall a go nice; Tell you it's a cool runnings; De riddem a go drip like sugar and spice; Say now, cool runnings; Jus' rock with your deeta all night long; I say now, cool runnings; While the disk jockey play your fav'rite song" (Cool Runnings, Bunny Wailer, Solomonic, 1981). Moderate-resolution image of the Jamaican Order of Merit, from the Jamaica Information Service (https://jis.gov.jm/information/awards/order-of-merit-om/). The Order of Merit (abbreviated as OM) is the 4th highest Jamaican order (some sources list it as the 3rd highest, prior to the institution of the Order of Excellence in 2003 as the current 3rd highest order) and this neck badge (suspended on a dark red ribbon) was instituted either in 1968 (https://www.medals.org.uk/jamaica/jamaica003.htm) or 1970 (http://wawards.org/en/component/content/category/129-jamaica.html). It can be held by only 15 living persons and is awarded to no more than 2 people in any single year. The ribbon for the Order of Merit is solid dark red. The Jamaica Information Service website provides the following description of this award: "The honour of the Order of Merit (OM) may be conferred upon any citizen of Jamaica or distinguished citizen of a country other than Jamaica (an honorary member) who has achieved eminent international distinction in the field of science, the arts, literature or any other endeavour. It is not conferred upon more than two persons in any one year. The motto of the Order is “He that does truth comes into the light”, and a member of the Order is styled “The Honourable”. The Insignia The insignia of the Order of Merit is also a collar badge suspended from a deep maroon silk riband. The six-armed white enameled star with twelve points has superimposed on it a lesser similarly shaped star in silver. Between each of the outer six points of the star is the blue Lignum Vitae flower of Jamaica. In the centre is the Arms of Jamaica in gold on a contrasting silver background, surrounded by the motto of the Order in gold lettering on red enamel. Members of the Order of Merit His Excellency Dr Fidel Castro Ruz,OJ President of the Republic of Cuba James (Jimmy Cliff) Chambers, OD Singer, Song-writer and Actor Professor Anthony Abraham Chen Dr Albert Belville Lockhart Consultant and Ophthalmologist, The University of the West Indies Sir Meredith Alister McIntyre, CD, OCC Former Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies Economist, Formerly Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) (Citizen of Grenada) Sir Shridath Surendranath Ramphal GCMG, OCC, QC Formerly Secretary-General, Commonwealth Secretariat, London Chairman, West Indian Commission (Citizen of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana) Professor Edward Robinson Professor Michael Garfield Smith Professor of Anthropology, University College, London Derek Alton Walcott, OCC Poet, Playwright, Journalist, Painter (Citizen of St. Lucia) Professor Manley Elisha West Professor of Pharmacology, University of the West Indies Willard Wentworth White Opera Singer and Actor Dr Cicely Delphine Williams, CMG Consultant in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine and Child Health, University of the West Indies Members of the Order of Merit – Deceased The Honourable Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley, OJ, MBE Folklorist and Writer Reverend William Knibb Baptist Minister, William Knibb Memorial Baptist Church, Falmouth, Trelawny (Citizen of the United Kingdom) Dr Thomas Phillip Lecky, OBE Geneticist and Director of Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Agriculture The Most Honourable Mrs Edna Manley Sculptor and Painter The Most Honourable Michael Norman Manley, ON Formerly Prime Minister of Jamaica, March 1972 – October 1980 and February 1989 – March 1992; Formerly President, National Workers Union Robert Nesta (Bob) Marley, Reggae Superstar The Honourable Herbert Henry (Herb) McKenley, OJ, CD Athlete and Olympian (1948 and 1952) Mrs. Mary Seacole, Jamaican Nurse Sir Phillip Manderson Sherlock, KBE, OCC Formerly Vice-Chancellor, University of the West Indies Carl Ebenezer McDougall Stone, CD Professor of Political Sociology, University of the West Indies Professor Ralston (Rex) Milton Nettleford, OCC Vice Chancellor Emeritus, University of the West Indies Professional Directorship for Extra Mural Studies Director of Studies Trade Union Education Institute, University of the West Indies, Founder and Artistic Director, Choreographer, National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica, Consultant on Cultural Development – UNESCO" (Verbatim from: https://jis.gov.jm/information/awards/order-of-merit-om/) Photo of Bunny Wailer (Neville O'Riley Livingston), or Jah B, receiving his Order of Merit from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at King's House on 16 October, 2017 (photo by Llewellyn Wynter). From LOOP, October 16, 2017 (https://www.loopnewsbarbados.com/content/jah-b-leads-pack-among-top-national-honours-1). Photo of Bunny Wailer receiving the award document for his Order of Merit from Governor General Sir Patrick Allen at King's House on on (photo by Llewellyn Wynter). From LOOP, 26 February, 2018 (https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/irie-fm-rewards-bunny-wailer-lifetime-achievement-award-0). Jah B after the awards ceremony with his Order of Merit at King's House on Jamaica's National Heroes Day Awards, 16 October, 2017 (JIS image). From: NewsAmericas (https://www.newsamericasnow.com/top-jamaican-actor-musician-among-2017-national-heroes-honorees/) Moderate-resolution image of the Order of Jamaica from the Jamaica Information Service Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/JISVoice/photos/the-honour-of-the-order-of-jamaica-oj-may-be-conferred-upon-any-jamaican-citizen/10155842254701457/). The Order of Jamaica, established in 1969, is the 5th highest award in Jamaica. Wikipedia states that the Order of Jamaica "is considered the equivalent of a knighthood in the British honors system" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Jamaica). The neck ribbon is solid green, and the ribbon is green with a narrow yellow-black-yellow central stripe (shown below, from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Jamaica#/media/File:Order_of_Jamaica.gif) The Jamaica Information Service (https://jis.gov.jm/information/awards/order-of-jamaica/), provides the following information in the Order of Jamaica: "The honour of the Order of Jamaica (OJ) may be conferred upon any Jamaican citizen of outstanding distinction or upon any distinguished citizen of a country other than Jamaica (honorary member). A member of the Order is styled “Honourable” and the motto of the Order is “For a covenant of the People”. The Insignia The insignia of the Order of Jamaica is made in solid gold and consists of a white enamel collar badge, the ends of which represent the ackee fruit and leaves, suspended from a deep green silk riband. The centre shows the heraldic Arms of Jamaica against a gold background and this is surrounded by the gold lettered motto of the Order on green enamel." Bunny Wailer (OM, OJ), Jah B (born Neville O'Riley Livingston), 10 April, 1947 - 2 March 2021. Photo from 1988 in Notting Hill (photo by David Corio/Redferns). From: http://sandrarose.com/2021/03/rip-reggae-legend-bunny-wailer-dead-at-73/photo-of-wailers-and-bunny-wailer/ Edited March 6, 2021 by Rusty Greaves correcting spellcheck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heusy68 Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 (edited) Hello Gentlemen, Hello Rusty, This is what looks like an Order of Jamaica. The badge of the Order is worn from a plain green neck ribbon, and a sash is worn over the shoulder, but unlike the european Order, there is no hook to hold the sash badge on the sash. As the Sash of the Order is just one of the accessory of the award ( It being the Badge, the Sash, the Neck Ribbon, the Miniature ). Only for "display purpose", I choosed to present a photo, with the badge of the Order, as it would be look, if hung from the sash. But NEVER in any Jamaica award ceremony you will see a badge of the Order hung from a Sash !!!!!!!! Reverse of mine is plain, because it's an un-issued one. Quality is very high, and they were made by Skinner of London. Regards to all. Emmanuel Edited March 9, 2021 by heusy68 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heusy68 Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Here you can see, how Order of Jamaica is worn (badge of the Order hung around the neck, from a plain green ribbon, with the Sash worn over the right shoulder ). On 1st photo : Charles DuFour Regards to all. Emmanuel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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