The Smile Jamaica Concert is another symbol of peace and unity associated with the Singer. Organized in response to the chaotic violence that takes place in the lead-up to the 1976 election, the concert aims to unify Jamaicans through their love of the Singer’s music. While some dons, such as Papa-Lo, support the concert, others––notably Josey––view it as a threat. The concert purports to be politically neutral, but Josey is convinced that it is actually “PNP propaganda,” and others––such as the American CIA operatives––view it as paving the way for a Rastafarian party to emerge and disturb the existing political terrain. Josey’s attack on the Singer’s house deliberately takes place only days before the concert as a way of stopping it from taking place. However, after the Singer miraculously survives the shooting, he insists on performing anyway, which symbolizes the resilience of peace efforts even in the face of vicious opposition. The only character to witness the Smile Jamaica concert is Bam-Bam, who is in a delirium and believes the Singer is conveying a plan for revenge aimed directly at him. Through Bam-Bam’s narration, the concert ends up being framed as a rather frightening and surreal event, one that encapsulates the problems of Jamaica as much as it promotes a message of peace and love.
The Smile Jamaica Concert (a.k.a the Peace Concert) Symbol Timeline in A Brief History of Seven Killings
