Marley
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I JUST read an Associated Press dispatch stating that the wife of the late Jamaican Reggae superstar, Rita Marley, is planning to exhume his remains in Jamaica and rebury them in his 'spiritual resting place' Ethiopia. Has Rita lost her mind? Nothing will ever change the fact that Bob, Jamaica's foremost reggae superstar, was born in Jamaica! He died over two decades ago, and was buried in his homeland. Why disrupt his remains and soul now?
Rita has every right to live where she chooses to live, i.e., Africa. This does not give her the right to move the dead around, to please her own self-interests. I notice the plan scheduled for February will also be celebrated with a huge million-dollar concert. Is this all for profit? Can you imagine the cultural impact of such a decision? Removing 'Bob Marley' from Jamaica?
BOB LOVED JAMAICA
Rita said in the release, "Bob's whole life was about Africa ... how can you give up a continent for an island?" How sad, someone ought to remind Rita that Bob was very much all about Jamaica, Jamaica made him and despite the country's vast problems, Bob loved Jamaica. He wouldn't have made it his home, if it were otherwise. He sang about Jamaica and his life in Jamaica, and he rose to the top accordingly!
Anywhere in the world you go, people relate Jamaica to Bob Marley. While I agree that far more needs to be done to preserve and celebrate Marley's legacy, this is not the way to go about it. Jamaica should also be doing lots more to celebrate accomplishments of other great Jamaicans, cultural icons who have made a positive and lasting impact on the world Grace Jones, Madge Sinclair, Sheryl Lee Ralph come readily to mind.
I saw a beautiful documentary recently on Jamaica, the host described the outside of Marley's birthplace, now a tourist spot, as looking 'like a detention camp' with its huge, ugly fences, he was more than relieved to make his exit. We need far more depth and creativity when designing a public place with supposedly worldwide appeal; it should be embracing and positive, and definitely not repulsive.
Jamaica often seems to have no memory. Art is life, and it must be preserved and celebrated to its fullest.
Rita claims that Bob's mission was to return to Ethiopia, and hence her plans to remove his body on the next anniversary of his birthday. The Government of Jamaica should do everything in their power, however, to stop Rita from proceeding with this madness!
I am, etc.,
P. CHIN
chin_p@yahoo.com
Ontario, Canada
Via Go-Jamaica
