The reggae world
last Wednesday, celebrated the 68th birthday of King of Reggae, Bob Marley
whose real names were Nesta Robert Marley. Born February 6, 1945, in a
small village in St Ann called Nine Mile, in Jamaica.
last Wednesday, celebrated the 68th birthday of King of Reggae, Bob Marley
whose real names were Nesta Robert Marley. Born February 6, 1945, in a
small village in St Ann called Nine Mile, in Jamaica.
Across the globe,
Marley’s birthday resonate with his music being played in radio and television
stations. The global media was not left out. Many of the leading papers and
websites had stories on the late Marley who continue to influence the world in
many ways.
Marley’s birthday resonate with his music being played in radio and television
stations. The global media was not left out. Many of the leading papers and
websites had stories on the late Marley who continue to influence the world in
many ways.
His Wealth
Thirty six years
after his death, Forbes ranks the reggae icon number five on its list of top
earning dead celebrities. He raked in US$17 million over the past 12 months
from record sales, a new line of eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products, and
the recently added Marley Mellow Mood “Relaxation Drink.”
after his death, Forbes ranks the reggae icon number five on its list of top
earning dead celebrities. He raked in US$17 million over the past 12 months
from record sales, a new line of eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products, and
the recently added Marley Mellow Mood “Relaxation Drink.”
Since his death
from cancer on May 11, 1981 at 36, Marley has become more than Jamaica’s most
famous musical export. The trailblazing reggae songwriter’s message of unity
and respect for human rights remains a beacon of hope for some in his Caribbean
nation chronically struggling with a sputtering economy and high rates of
violence.
from cancer on May 11, 1981 at 36, Marley has become more than Jamaica’s most
famous musical export. The trailblazing reggae songwriter’s message of unity
and respect for human rights remains a beacon of hope for some in his Caribbean
nation chronically struggling with a sputtering economy and high rates of
violence.
Last Wednesday in
Kingston, Jamaica, hundreds of tourists joined dreadlocked Rastafarian priests,
leading reggae musicians and some of Bob Marley’s relatives at Marley’s old
house to mark the 68th anniversary of his birth Wednesday.
Kingston, Jamaica, hundreds of tourists joined dreadlocked Rastafarian priests,
leading reggae musicians and some of Bob Marley’s relatives at Marley’s old
house to mark the 68th anniversary of his birth Wednesday.
Some of Marley’s
foreign fans journeyed to the Kingston museum to take part in Wednesday’s
festivities. A dreadlocked Japanese man who goes by the name of Bongho
Jatusy smoked a long wooden pipe stuffed with marijuana and nodded his head to
the music.
foreign fans journeyed to the Kingston museum to take part in Wednesday’s
festivities. A dreadlocked Japanese man who goes by the name of Bongho
Jatusy smoked a long wooden pipe stuffed with marijuana and nodded his head to
the music.
“Bob Marley, he’s
universal,” Jatusy said, watching his dreadlocked children playing nearby.
universal,” Jatusy said, watching his dreadlocked children playing nearby.
Roots reggae became
very popular in Europe in the 1970s, especially among left-wing white youths in
Western Europe. There are reggae festivals in Asia. In Kampala
Uganda, the Rastafarian fraternity organized a jam session at the Laftaz
Lounge, Centenary park to celebrate their fallen brother’s birthday.
very popular in Europe in the 1970s, especially among left-wing white youths in
Western Europe. There are reggae festivals in Asia. In Kampala
Uganda, the Rastafarian fraternity organized a jam session at the Laftaz
Lounge, Centenary park to celebrate their fallen brother’s birthday.
The jam session
paid tribute to Marley’s life, music and his impact on the Rastafarian
fraternity. In Mexico, the Jamaican soccer team marked Bob Marley’s
birthday, and held Mexico to historic draw in Europe, Asia, USA and the
Americas. In Africa, the man described as the spirit of reggae was celebrated
with tributes, music, tourism and others. The social media was ablaze with
tweets, Facebook comments, you tube videos etc, on the icon.
paid tribute to Marley’s life, music and his impact on the Rastafarian
fraternity. In Mexico, the Jamaican soccer team marked Bob Marley’s
birthday, and held Mexico to historic draw in Europe, Asia, USA and the
Americas. In Africa, the man described as the spirit of reggae was celebrated
with tributes, music, tourism and others. The social media was ablaze with
tweets, Facebook comments, you tube videos etc, on the icon.
In the early
morning light, some of Marley’s relations and old friends danced and chanted to
the pounding of Rastafarian drums in the yard of his Kingston home, which is
now a family-run museum displaying his guitar, clothing and other memorabilia.
Later in the day, Marley’s songs were blasted from big speakers as people
danced and chatted amid clouds of marijuana smoke.
morning light, some of Marley’s relations and old friends danced and chanted to
the pounding of Rastafarian drums in the yard of his Kingston home, which is
now a family-run museum displaying his guitar, clothing and other memorabilia.
Later in the day, Marley’s songs were blasted from big speakers as people
danced and chatted amid clouds of marijuana smoke.
Donisha
Prendergast, a documentary filmmaker and artist who is Marley’s eldest
granddaughter, said her grandfather’s message of “one love” and social
revolution remains alive and well. But she said more Jamaicans need to heed it.
Prendergast, a documentary filmmaker and artist who is Marley’s eldest
granddaughter, said her grandfather’s message of “one love” and social
revolution remains alive and well. But she said more Jamaicans need to heed it.
“I don’t think most
people here are really hearing it, you know? They know that his music is around
and they are proud of it, but they don’t live it. Because if they did, then we
would be a stronger people, we would be stronger characters,” Prendergast said.
people here are really hearing it, you know? They know that his music is around
and they are proud of it, but they don’t live it. Because if they did, then we
would be a stronger people, we would be stronger characters,” Prendergast said.
Marley is widely
credited for bringing reggae music and the Rastafarian movement to a worldwide
audience. His “Legend” album, released in 1984, is reggae’s biggest selling
album to date, with more than 10 million copies sold in the United States and
an estimated 25 million worldwide.
credited for bringing reggae music and the Rastafarian movement to a worldwide
audience. His “Legend” album, released in 1984, is reggae’s biggest selling
album to date, with more than 10 million copies sold in the United States and
an estimated 25 million worldwide.
Three months before
his death on May 11, 1981, Bob Marley received the Jamaican Order of
Merit, the nation’s third highest honour. But after that, he received several
accolades including BBC’s song of the millenium (One Love), induction into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Time Magazine Album of the Century (Exodus).
his death on May 11, 1981, Bob Marley received the Jamaican Order of
Merit, the nation’s third highest honour. But after that, he received several
accolades including BBC’s song of the millenium (One Love), induction into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Time Magazine Album of the Century (Exodus).
The late reggae
King is sitting comfortably at the top of the iTune charts with his 1984
compilation album Legend which has the number one spot in 17 of 22
international markets.
King is sitting comfortably at the top of the iTune charts with his 1984
compilation album Legend which has the number one spot in 17 of 22
international markets.
Marley topped the
digital chart in the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Austria, United
Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and
Spain 2011.
digital chart in the United States, France, Germany, Australia, Austria, United
Kingdom, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and
Spain 2011.
