HONORABLE BOB MARLEY SIXTIETH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
by RAS AL TURNER
It has been sixty years since the birth of Bob Marley on February 6, 1945, and still Bob's star continues to rise higher, shine brighter and even eclipse his previous status as a reggae superstar . Hailed as a musical icon, a revolutionary soldier and charismatic spokesman for the oppressed peoples of the world, his enormous legacy is perpetuated by his immense collection of music, the principles exemplified by his Rastafari lifestyle and the works of the Marley family. Marley,s accomplishments and international achievements are quite impressive. In Jamaica he has the Order of Merit (OM), which is Jamaica's third highest honor, a medal of peace from the United Nations, Artiste of the Century by Billboard Magazine, Diamond Award for Legend album, Exodus album chosen as the best album of the century by Time Magazine, One Love chosen as Anthem of the Millennium by BBC, a Lifetime Achievement Award by National Academy of Recording Artistes, a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,! and an introduction in National Black Voice and Entertainment Hall of Fame Film and Museum. This year, Bob Marley Tributes take on even greater significance as official celebrations are planned here in the U.S., his native Jamaica and for the first time in his spiritual homeland, Ethiopia, Africa.
Despite being decorated with numerous awards in his lifetime. the one that has eluded Bob is perhaps the most prestigious of all-- The Grammy Award. This year, however, the Recording Academy has announced that his reggae classic, "NO WOMAN NO CRY" has been added to the Grammy Hall Of Fame, joining 659 titles that have been added since 1973.
A new initiative to accord national hero status to reggae icon Robert Nesta Marley was launched in Jamaica at a November press conference when journalists gathered at the Bob Marley Museum on Hope Road, in Kingston, to hear plans for Marley's 60th anniversary celebrations in Jamaica and Africa (Ethiopia). The festivities are being organized by The Bob Marley Foundation and the Rita Marley Foundation jointly.
Jacqueline Knight-Campbell, chief executive officer of Top Klass Event Management Consultancy, told the press launch that Dr Leachim Semaj had accepted the request to head an advisory board that will work towards the reggae superstar becoming a national hero. In addition, Semaj and his team will also be advocating for February 6, the birthday of the reggae superstar, to be declared a national holiday.
"Part of our objective for the 60th birthday celebrations is that we'll identify an advisory board that will champion the cause of brother Bob (Marley) becoming a national hero, as well as his birthday becoming a national holiday," Knight-Campbell said. "One of the visions that we want to achieve out of the 60th birthday celebrations is that the entire world recognize Bob (Marley) as the world's greatest music icon. Therefore the people of Jamaica must recognize that we need to move to another level of his achievements and of his recognition," she said to strong applause. The Foundation, also outlined plans for a massive block party on Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston to highlight the multi-faceted influences of Bob Marley on Jamaican culture. "The evolution of Bob is so powerful that as a part of our celebrations we'll culminate with a signature event, a massive block party on Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston, where the multi-faceted influenc! es of Bob on Jamaican and world culture will be rolled out. Fashion, food, art, music, upcoming artistes influenced by Bob Marley, international pop stars and the Rastafarian community will be all part of the celebrations," she said. Knight-Campbell said schools will be running competitions, as well as symposiums where international partners will share what Bob Marley influences meant to them.
In Jamaica the theme will be "One Love". Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) in association with the North Carolina based Robert Roskind family along with a number of Jamaicans describing themselves as a "Group of Healers", will put on a free "One Love" concert at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre. For the February 6, show, the organizers have invited a number of conscious artistes such as Abijah, Luciano, Junior Reid, Culture, Jimmy Cliff, Quincy Jones, Taj Mahal, Santana, Lionel Richie, Mackie Conscious, Mikey General, Cherry Natural among others. The local "Group of Healers" consists of Barry Chavannes, leader of the Maroons Frank Lumsden, Antoinette Haughton, Jean Lowrie Chin, Elaine Wint Leslie, Colin Leslie, Bobby Stephens, Trevor Munroe and Robert Russell.
Representatives of the Rita Marley Foundation are denying reports published in the international media stating that Rita Marley, wife of reggae legend, Bob Marley, plans to exhume her husband's remains in Jamaica and re-bury them in his 'spiritual home' of Ethiopia. According to reports from the Associated Press (AP) , Rita Marley said that the ceremony would take place in February, as part of the month-long celebrations. Also speaking at the media launch, was managing director of the Bob Marley Foundation, Dr Desta Meghoo-Peddie, who gave an overview of the celebrations (AFRICA UNITE) from the Ethiopian perspective. "What we're doing in Ethiopia is beyond the concert and it's very important that we grasp that this morning," said Dr Meghoo-Peddie said, quoting the lyrics of Bob Marley's song Africa Unite which is the theme of the celebrations. "In Ethiopia, we have a host of events that are going on...we have everything from photo exhibits to an all-African e! xhibit that features exhibits from every single country in the continent, as well as booths from the Caribbean, Brazil, United States and Europe," she said. "We got an opening ceremony with dignitaries from around the world; Mother Booker, Bob Marley's mom, will do a special presentation and we got football clinics going into the communities.
Songs of Freedom, brother Neville Garrick, our art director will be facilitator, we got a symposium panel discussion for three days with the assistance from our partners, UNICEF, Amnesty International, the World Bank, the City of Addis Ababa, Save the Children and more..." The symposium, Dr Meghoo-Peddie explained, will be discussing issues including HIV/AIDS; its impact on the community, education, and access to clean water. "What the Bob Marley Foundation along with its partners will do, is to present to these organizations what our desire is for change and what we're willing to do." She said there will also be a petition for peace, a film festival, book-reading, and launching of No Woman No Cry, the book written by Rita Marley about her relationship with her husband.
Dr Meghoo-Peddie said that the high-point of the celebrations in Ethiopia will be the concert, to be held at Mascoll Square in Addis Ababa on Bob Marley's birthday, sunday, February 6. Thousands are expected to attend this gala concert and millions more may be able to take advantage of a planned satellite hook-up. Included in the line-up are Harry Belafonte, Angelique Kidjo, Baba Maal, Yousour N'Dour, Teddy Afro, Quincy Jones, the Marley children, the I-Three, Cedella Marley (Bob Marley's mother) and artistes from different parts of Africa. Bob was extremely livicated to the cause of African Redemption and the unity of Africa was a driving force behind his music. Having this concert in Addis Ababa will not only strengthen Ethiopia but the whole of Africa as well as the Diaspora. Organizers and participants hope that this event will call attention to the huge disparity in health care, education and the general lack of services for Africa's women and children in particular.! It is crucial that Africans at home and abroad rally to support this endeavor. Proceeds from the month long event will go directly to the Bob Marley and Rita Marley Foundations, U.S. based not for profit organizations that support programs such as the Shashamane Basic School and the Mary's Child Home for pregnant teenagers in Ethiopia.
(o/)(o/)(o/)
Rhino's Blog is the responsibility of Gary Rhine.
Feedback & requests to be added or deleted from the list are encouraged.
(rhino@kifaru.com)
See The Latest Greatest Political Cartoons
While You Read Rhino's Blog AT : http://www.rhinosblog.info
Rhino's Other Web Sites:
http://www.dreamcatchers.org (Indigenous
Assistance & Intercultural Dialog)
http://www.kifaru.com (Native American
Relations Video Documentaries)
Articles are reprinted under Fair Use Doctrine of international copyright law.
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
All copyrights belong to original publisher.
9:29:32 AM 
|
|
