“E Pāpā” (“Oh Uncle”): The Remarkable Cultural Legacy of Herbs in Aotearoa New Zealand

Abstract

ABSTRACT The band Herbs have been celebrated in Aotearoa New Zealand for their seminal fusion of Pacific musical traditions, the influences of Bob Marley, and of roots reggae to produce the distinctive sound and messages of Pacific reggae. This article explores the cultural, political, and material legacy of Herbs’ musicians over the past 45 years. In doing so, it seeks to advance understandings of Herbs’ music as a significant repository of cultural memories and of the band’s continuing presence and legacy as part of the soundtrack of people’s lives in Aotearoa New Zealand.