Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer
FILE - Marley ... "Spoke of love, he sang of human rights, he taught us
history," says Andrea Davis..
WESTERN BUREAU: TUESDAY AFTERNOON'S gathering at Tuff Gong on Marcus Garvey Drive in St. Andrew had a longer-term purpose than launching the 17th annual
'Dem A Go Tiad Fi See Mi Face' concert.
As Stephanie Marley of the Bob Marley Foundation said, it was the beginning of a year of celebrations of Bob Marley's life and promoting peace, centred around his 60th birthday on Sunday, February 6.
This year, 'Dem A Go Tiad Fi See Me Face' takes place in two parts, the first being on Friday, February 11, in the hills at Bob Marley's Nine Miles, St. Ann, birthplace and the second on the following day at the White River Reggae Park in Ocho Rios,
St. Ann.
CONCERT ACTS
The first concert is headlined by Culture (featuring Joseph Hill), Carl Dawkins, Charlie Chaplin, Jimmy Riley, Bongo Herman, Fantan Mojah, Turbulance, I-Wayne, History Man, Chezedeck, Natural Black, the poet Marsha and Bascom X, among others, the Pocket Band from the United States (U.S.) and First Born from Guyana bringing the international flavour.
That overseas input on the
second concert comes from Fat Joe and the Terror Squad, Farena and Joseph Israel, all from the U.S., Toni Norville from Barbados, and Lady Melody from the United Kingdom (U.K.).
Capleton, Luciano, Coco Tea, Ninja Man, Junior Kelly, George Nooks, Mackie Conscious, Queen Ifrica, Natty King, Mr. Perfect and DYCR make the bill, while Fantan Mojah and Turbulance are the only repeats from the previous night.
Christopher Bailey outlined the security arrangements, noting that there will be no bottles in the venue, as everything will be served in cups. In addition, policemen on motorcycles will be riding back and forth on the Nine Miles road.
Although the concerts are the focal point, there are several other events planned. Today, there will be a 'Customer
Appreciation Day' at Tuff
Gong, and a 'Creative Expression Day' tomorrow,
at the Bob Marley Museum
on Hope Road, St. Andrew, where students will explore
the theme 'The Natural
Mystic Lives On'. The
Ethiopian Orthodox
Church will host a church
service on Marley's birthday,
and for the first time ever, the museum will be open on a Sunday for a craft market
and karaoke.
REASON TO SMILE
"As bad as things are, we can find something to get together and smile about," Stephanie Marley said, quoting from Smile Jamaica. "It is a year of
celebrating Daddy's life," she said.
It is an inclusive celebration, as persons who have ideas and products in keeping with the year's theme are invited to come in to the Foundation at 56 Hope Road, St. Andrew, to discuss utlising Bob Marley's image for the purpose.
The corporate sector is also getting involved, as Digicel is doing a calling card series and Stephanie Marley said talks
are going on with Air Jamaica
about doing a 'Spirit of Bob'
aeroplane.
She addressed the matter of moving Bob Marley's body,
saying there were no such plans and "our family is a spiritual family and we are sure that Daddy has been to Ethiopia
many times and back."
Guest speaker Andrea
Davis of Jamaica Arts Holdings said Marley "spoke of love, he sang of human rights, he taught us history," terming him as 'Jamaica's most globally-
recognised export', even as "his musical legacy exceeds his appeal in tourism manyfold."
She noted that his success was "as much a testament to the
brilliance that surrounded him,
as to his own brilliance,"
mentioning persons such as
Peter Tosh, Lee Perry,
Clement Dodd, the I-Threes
and the Wailers Band.
