Witness History: Black history - The Harder They Come

The Harder They Come

Download The Harder They Come

In 1972, a low-budget Jamaican film and its legendary soundtrack helped popularise reggae music in the world.

Ben Henderson speaks to one of the most famous reggae artists ever, Jimmy Cliff, who played the film's protagonist and wrote a number of the songs.

Jimmy explains why the film was so popular and how it reflected his own life.

'The Harder They Come' was produced by International Films Inc.

(Photo: Jimmy Cliff in 'The Harder They Come'. Credit: Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images)


Published on Thursday, 6th October 2022.

Available Podcasts from Witness History: Black history

Subscribe to Witness History: Black history

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Witness History: Black history webpage.