Bob Marley’s 77th birthday highlights Reggae Month 2022
The late Jamaican Reggae singer Bob Marley performing
on stage during a concert in Bourget, Paris, on July 3, 1980.
Associated Press / Str, File
Caribbean Life, February 11-17, 2022 11
It never gets old, not since
May 11, 1981 anyway, following
the death of Robert Nesta
Marley, has his family, friends
and fans neglected commemorating
the legacy he imprinted
as the king of reggae, the irrefutable
world’s first Third World
superstar and a global icon.
This year is no different, on
the 77th anniversary of his
birth in Jamaica, the city council
of Toronto, Canada issued a
proclamation declaring Feb. 6
his date for honor.
Following a reading of the
official document by Mayor
John Tory last Sunday, eight
community leaders were presented
Bob Marley Humanitarian
Awards.
It’s the 31st year the North
American city has acknowledged
the Rastafarian ambassador
who promoted “one love”
unification in songs.
“Each year we take time
to honor the best of the best,
people — acting in the diversity
spirit of Bob Marley’s One
Love,—who have worked hard
to make our country a better
place for all,” organizing committee
member Courtney Betty
said.
The Canadian Marley advocate
further stated; “As the
diverse population continues its
tremendous growth, it becomes
even more critical that the
doors of opportunities are open
to all.”
In California, Cali Vibes
launched a two-day reggae
event which started on Feb. 4
billing the Marley brothers in a
tribute concert livestreamed on
the TuffGongTV channel marking
“Bob Marley Birthday Celebration.”
Featuring Marley’s sons —
Stephen, Ziggy, Damian, Julian
and Ky-Mani — the songs of
their famous father highlighted
the west coast gathering in
Long Beach.
Added to performances
from the inheritors, an eclectic
lineup of benefactors sampled
hip-hop and other music
genres with Jamaican dancehall
Grammy-winning artists
Sean Paul, Shaggy and Koffee
showcasing the evolution of the
drum and bass driven sound.
Celebrations of the legend
continues with the Feb, 9 opening
of an eight-month exhibition
at the Grammy Museum in
Los Angeles.
Slated to end on Oct. 16,
reports are that visitors to the
music archive will be able to
see Marley family artifacts from
the “Marley: A Family Legacy”
exhibit.
Reportedly, included are
items belonging to Sharon, custom
made Catch a Fire clothing
outfits from Cedella, Ziggy’s
Ovation guitar, a dashiki
top worn on Julian’s “As I Am”
album cover, Ky-Mani’s Ovation
guitar, album proofs from
Damian’s “Distant Relatives”
recording, Rita Marley’s dress
and wrap and a special tribute
edition Bob Marley Gibson
guitar.
“The Grammy Museum has
a long-standing relationship
with the Marley family,” Nicholas
Vega, curator and director
of exhibitions said in a statement.
“These exhibits continue
to honor and recognize the
lasting legacies of the groundbreaking
artist.”
Renowned as the greatest
reggae artist of all time,
Marley’s passing on May 11,
1981 spawned the International
Reggae Music Awards, the first
awards dedicated to the genre.
Expanded later to include
ignored music forms, the
IRAWMA now hails African
world music, Caribbean calypso,
Haitian kreyole and other
Third World creations.
Three years following
Ephraim Martin’s brainchild,
the Grammy added a category
honoring the music Marley promoted
throughout his lifetime.
Catch You On the Inside!
Inside Life
By Vinette K. Pryce
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This project was supported, in part by grant number 90SAPG0033, from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201.
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