The efforts of the Bob Marley and Rita Marley Foundations are giving life to the words of Bob Marley: "Africa Unite!" Sponsoring a series of events each year in a different country, the goal of uniting Africa is becoming a reality.
The Bob Marley Foundation and Rita Marley Foundation extend special thanks to UNESCO for their continued support of the Africa Unite Youth Symposium. We also thank our other sponsors Mother's and Heart Institute of the Caribbean.
Thanks to all our presenters for giving freely of their time and talents:
Dr. Donna Hope, Dr. Leachim Semaj, Mr. Horrace Levy, Mr. Courtney Brown, Mr. Marlon Campbell and Mr. David "Ziggy" Marley.
The Foundations also thank the staff who assisted in making the event a success:
Dr. Eleanor Wint (RMF Director), management and staff of the Bob Marley Museum and Bob Marley Foundation, Mr. Tony Anderson (Webmaster), Mr. Fitzroy Gordon (driver), Legend Cafe', Ms. Rosemary Duncan (Youth Symposium Coordinator) and most of all our Founder and President Mrs. Rita Marley OD for her continued vision and leadership.
May Jah continue to bless us all. Wherever we are Jah is present.
February 6, 2010 marks the 65th earth-day of the Honourable Robert Nesta Marley OM (Bob Marley). As part of the annual celebrations the Bob Marley Foundation and Rita Marley Foundation will host a three (3) day Youth Symposium. Similar Youth Symposiums have been held in Ethiopia, Ghana and Jamaica in prior years.
In 2010 the Symposium will be held on Thursday, February 4–Saturday, February 6 at the Bob Marley Museum. We look forward to having fifty (50) youth between the ages of 14–19 participate in this event. This activity would commence at 9 AM and end at 3 PM on February 4 and February 5; on February 6 the youth will be taken to Nine Miles for a visit to the Bob Marley mausoleum and to attend the Smile Jamaica concert.
The event seeks to bring together youth from various socio-economic, cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds for the following reasons:
Strengthen the work and the will of our people to secure a peaceful future.
Explore solutions to the devastating commercialization of our culture and history.
Discuss and provide realistic solutions to negative events and challenges that impact the youth, their environment, countries and the world.
Demonstrate the universality of Bob Marley’s lyrics.
Empower the youth through increased knowledge and experience.
Since there has been an increase in anti-social behaviour among the youth, we have decided upon the theme “Crime Don’t Pay—Unity Brings Prosperity” for the Symposium. The Social Development Commission (SDC) has assured us that it will select 50 youth to attend the event. UNESCO will identify and select youth delegates from each of the following countries to attend: Antiqua & Barbuda, Grenada, Jamaica, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis and Trinidad & Tobago.
Key note speakers include : Ziggy Marley, Dr. Donna Hope, Dr. Leahcim Semaj.
Carried out with the technical and financial support of the UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office for the Caribbean.
For output from the recently held 2010 International Youth Symposium please see the link: Africa Unite: Jamaica 2010
ZIGGY MARLEY RELEASES NEW SONG “AFRICA LAND” TO CELEBRATE THE WORLD CUP’S HISTORIC AFRICA LOCATION
SINGLE TO BE OFFERED AS FREE DOWNLOAD THROUGHOUT CONTINENT STARTING JUNE 2nd TO COMMEMORATE UNPRECENDENTED EVENT
Los Angeles, CA (June 1, 2010),
Five-time Grammy winning artist and reggae icon Ziggy Marley, motivated by the historic occurrence of the World Cup being played in Africa for the first time, took the opportunity to write his current single “Africa Land.” The song is an anthem to unity, freedom and new beginnings; well known principles championed by the legendary Marley family. “Africa Land” falls on the heels of Marley’s 2009 Grammy-winning Children’s album, “Family Time.”
For this song, Marley recruited Grammy winning artists, brother Stephen Marley and African mega star Angelique Kidjo. Together they created a catchy, danceable song, which incorporates Dancehall Reggae, as well as African elements. Free Downloads will be available beginning June 1st at www.ziggymarley.com and www.tuffgongworldwide.com.
“The bible says ‘the first shall be last and the last shall be first.’ How fitting that South Africa—the last nation on the homeland to be free – is the launch pad for a global event that will showcase the rise of the African continent,” said Ziggy Marley. “Africa Land is the song which celebrates that dream becoming true.”
Marley plans to release “Africa Land” as an exclusive to African radio, to be followed worldwide as a free download shortly thereafter. “Africa Land” will be the first single from an upcoming collection of free singles entitled The Wild and Free Singles Marley is to release later this year.
Ziggy Marley's early immersion in music came at age ten when he sat in on recording sessions with his father. Then, as front man to Ziggy Marley and The Melody Makers, Marley released eight best-selling albums, generating three Grammys, with such chart-topping hits as “Tomorrow People” and “Tumbling Down.” Marley’s solo debut, Dragonfly, was released in 2003. His second solo release, Love Is My Religion, won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album to much critical acclaim in 2006. His third solo release, Family Time, scored him a Grammy in a new category: Best Musical Album For Children.
For more information on Ziggy Marley, please contact Michelle Rodriquez at Tuff Gong Worldwide, 310-274-2440,
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Studio 1 Destroyed by Fire
On May 22, 2010, Studio 1 was completely destroyed by a terrible fire. The multi-million dollar structure located in the rustic Aburi mountains in Ghana, was owned by Mrs. Rita Marley. The studio also housed several of Bob Marley’s original tapes. Artistes and producers on the African continent eagerly looked forward to utilizing the impressive facility. It was scheduled for grand opening in June 2010. Studio 1 was the only solar operated studio in West Africa.
Mrs. Rita Marley looks forward to rebuilding Studio 1 and would be grateful for whatever contribution you can make towards making that goal a reality.
Financial contributions should be sent through Paypal.
