February 1, 2005
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The celebrations will pay tribute to Marley’s advocacy of African liberation
Marley’s fans gather in Ethiopia
Thousands of Rastafarians and music fans are gathering in Ethiopia to begin a month of events to mark what have would been Bob Marley’s 60th birthday.
It is the first time the annual celebrations are being held outside the reggae legend’s native Jamaica.
Ethiopia was chosen because Rastafarians, such as the late singer, regard the late Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie as their spiritual leader.
Marley’s widow Rita Marley has said one day she wants him reburied in Ethiopia.
She has distanced herself from initial comments she made last month that Marley would be reburied as part of this year’s celebrations.
“It was a dream of Bob Marley and it is a dream of the family to bury him in Ethiopia. As we believe in what is to be, must be, it will happen in due course,” she told AFP news agency.
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Netsanet Asfaw, Ethiopia’s minister of state for information, said Ethiopia was pleased to be hosting the events.
A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots
Marcus Garvey
Jamaican black nationalist leader
“Bob Marley put Ethiopia on a pedestal and it is in his honour that this festival is going to take place here,” she said.
Under the banner Africa Unite, the month-long events will include concerts, a film festival, seminars and a gala fundraiser using the themes of Marley’s songs including War, Exodus and Get Up Stand Up.
They will kick off on Tuesday evening with a concert by the late singer’s 80-year-old mother, Cedella Marley Booker.
A highlight will be a concert in the capital, Addis Ababa, on 6 February – Marley’s birthday – featuring three of Marley’s children as well as Quincy Jones, Baaba Maal, Youssou N’Dour and Angelique Kidjo.
After that the celebrations will move to Shashemene, some 250km (155 miles) south of the capital, where a Rastafarian community has settled on land left to them by Haile Selassie.
Peace recognition
Marley became an icon of the 1970s with his music catching the imagination of millions.
Africa Unite is from his most political album, Survival.
On the cover is a quotation from black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey: “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots”.
Marley was a dedicated Rastafarian and a strong believer in one of its central beliefs, the importance of return to Mother Africa.
He received a United Nations Peace Award , in recognition of his attempts to calm the warring factions of Jamaican politics and played at Zimbabwe’s independence celebrations in 1980, where he discovered more Zimbabweans knew the lyrics of his song than knew the words of the national anthem.
Aged 36, he died of cancer in 1981 and was buried with his Gibson guitar and Bible beside him.
Should Bob Marley be reburied in Ethiopia? How would you feel if you were Jamaican? Do you think Ethiopians and other Africans should support the Marley family’s wish to rebury him in Ethiopia?
Let us know your views by using the form below.
A selection of your comments will be broadcast on the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme on Saturday 5 February.
