By Michelle Thompson-Taylor, Community Relations Manager
Rochester is not without cultural celebrations all year round. Not only is February Black History Month, it’s also the birthday of reggae legend Bob Marley.
The Hon. Robert Nesta Marley was born February 6, 1945, son of a young black Jamaican girl and an older white quartermaster who was attached to the British West Indian Regiment. Marley’s passion was his music, which was an outlet for his insight into humanity and for his religion, Rastafarianism. His life and music influenced people all over the world and brought international recognition to reggae as an art form.
He died May 11, 1981; he was 36 years old.
I have to admit that I do not know much about Bob Marley. And I’m not a musician, though I enjoy listening to music. But as a Jamaican, I figured that I should try to understand the impact that this one man, this Jamaican, had on the world. So I ventured out into the cold on Saturday, February 5, to the Bob Marley Earthday Celebration, in honor of his 66th birthday. The event was held at the Baobab Cultural Center in Rochester and was supported by a grant from the New York Council for the Humanities.
It was a great evening. Many Rochesterians came out to pay tribute to the King of Reggae, to listen to his music and learn a bit more about his life and legend. The organizers showed a documentary, Rebel Music: The Bob Marley Story, which is a comprehensive look at Bob’s life. His rise to stardom is traced from his roots as a poor, young man in Trench Town, Kingston, to the heights of international acclaim in the 1970s. Following the showing, there was an open discussion about lyrics from some of Bob’s songs and Rastafarianism. Food for the evening was provided by Peppapot, a new Jamaican restaurant. Featured items were rice and peas, escoveitched fish, steamed cabbage, ital stew, cornmeal porridge, and carrot juice with stout. No one left the Baobab unsatisfied. The biggest challenge for the organizers was space; a new location will have to be found for next year’s event.
Check out the official Bob Marley site for more information and to listen to some irie reggae music: http://www.bobmarley.com.