Monday 7th February 2005

Addis the centre of Marley celebrations

Tens of thousands of people congregated in Addis Ababa’s Meskel Square yesterday to attend the celebrations for the 60^th anniversary of the birth of Jamaican reggae star, Bob Marley. At the centre of the celebrations was a free concert with Marley's five sons, widow and former backup singers on the line-up alongside top African acts Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal and Youssou N'Dour. It is the first time Marley’s birthday has been celebrated outside Jamaica.

Ethiopia was chosen by the Marley family as the host for the official event, which has been organised by the Bob Marley Foundation, the UN children’s agency and the African Union amongst others, as part of a month-long series of events which have been dubbed 'Africa Unite'.

Attendees of the concert came from around the world to Ethiopia, from Israel, Spain, South America and the UK, to mingle with locals and enjoy the commemoration of the life and ideals of the reggae superstar. Many of those who gathered for the concert wore t-shirts emblazoned with portraits of Marley or hand-bands and jewellery decorated with the Ethiopian national flag and Rastafarian colours of green, yellow and red. Organisers estimate more than 100,000 people attended the event.

Marley, who was behind songs such as Exodus and One Love, helped popularise the Rastafarian religion, which venerates the late Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie, and regarded the country as his spiritual home because of his religious beliefs.

Rita Marley, Bob’s widow, said at the event “with the African Union, Addis Ababa is the capital of Africa and therefore a very symbolic place.”

Marley’s son, Ziggy, said Ethiopia was of ‘huge importance’ to his father as the cradle of civilisation. “This is where all of us come from. That’s science, not religious rhetoric.”

“The message today is that Africa should unite. This is what we’re focusing on. We know Africa’s history is great and its future is even greater.”

Earlier in the day, Addis Ababa City Mayor Arkebe Equbay and Rita Marley attended a dedication ceremony during which the site in front of the Imperial Hotel was named Bob Marley Square, and a tree was planted on African Diaspora Street.

“Bob Marley loved Ethiopia. He used the struggle of the Ethiopian people from freedom as a great inspiration for his work. He loved Ethiopia’s culture. He weaved it into his lyrics and music. He used Ethiopia to inspire so many as they fought for freedom. Bob Marley and Ethiopia, Ethiopia and Bob Marley are bound by infinite ties that will live forever,” said the Mayor.

Other events that have taken place as part of Africa Unite, include the opening of an 25 day long art exhibition on 2^nd February at Alem Gallery, depicting the work of Marley, the history of Ethiopia and various inspirations and visions of Africa, and a fund raising singing event held on 4^th February at the Sheraton Addis, with proceeds going to support an orphanage project in Axum, as well as health and educational projects in Shashemane.

ENDS