Happy Birthday, Bob

As the nation gears up to celebrate what would have been the 74th birthday of reggae icon, Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley, two of the entertainers who have been named ambassadors for the annual celebrations have come out to send birthday greetings to the legend.

Singer Naomi Cowan told The Gleaner that she would have loved the opportunity to tell Marley just how much his music meant to the world. Although she knew that he would have come to recognise that if he were still alive, Cowan said she would still have taken great pride in relaying that information face to face to Marley.

“I would have loved to tell Bob Marley thanks,” she said. “Thanks for the works, the example that you’ve set. We’re happy that you lived, that you existed, that you came and gave the world the best you could give.”

Another ambassador, Unga Barunga of Notis Heavyweight Rockaz, also shared his birthday message withThe Gleaner. Like Cowan, he expressed gratitude to Marley for sharing his talent with the world and leaving a lasting impact on the music landscape worldwide.

“Blessed earthstrong to the King of Reggae. I wish you were here for us to see you and share with you in real life but your work lives on forever. Your legacy is strong in our heart and we give thanks for all of the blessings you left with us as a people and as a nation,” Barunga stated.

He added that he was happy to have been named an ambassador for the 74th birthday celebrations for Jamaica’s most celebrated singer. He explained that having been inspired by Marley as a youth, he was thrilled to be given the opportunity to share in a piece of his legacy.

Exciting feeling

“It’s an exciting feeling to be representing Bob Marley’s earthstrong. We’ve been inspired a lot by Marley’s work and his musicians because when you talk about Bob yuh affi talk about the Wailers too. It’s more than a joy to share what we’ve learnt from listening to him over the years and we consider this ambassador stint a privilege and an honour,” Barunga said.

Cowan shared similar sentiments. “My family was really close to the Marley family. My dad has a personal history with him (Bob Marley) and to know that my artistry has got me to the point where the organisation would ask me to be an ambassador shows that I’m on the right path and that his foundation played a role in me becoming the musician I am today. To be an ambassador means so much, I feel so much joy and I’m happy to share the platform with all the others named as ambassadors.”

This year’s celebrations, under the theme Catch A Fire, are being held in partnership with the Bob Marley Foundation, Digicel and Alacran Foundation.

According to a release sent to The STAR, the theme was inspired by UNESCO’s recognition of reggae as a genre of music worthy of protection and preservation. It is also to pay tribute to the 1973, critically acclaimed album of the same name. In the release, Marley’s daughter, Cedella, also noted that the theme stands as an encouragement to people globally to find their passion.

The day’s activities will begin at 7 a.m., with a ceremonial gathering of specially invited guests.

That ceremony will include the blowing of the Abeng, cultural drumming and the cutting of the birthday cake, accompanied by the traditional welcome from the Marley family and highlights of the Bob Marley Foundation’s 2018 projects.

The Reggae Jam session, slated to begin at 3 p.m., will showcase Bob Marley’s 74th ambassadors, including rising stars Koffee, Naomi Cowan, Vanessa Bongo, 5 Star, and Notis Heavyweight Rockaz. Other acts scheduled to perform at the mini concert include Bongo Herman, Agent Sasco, Vershon, Iba Mahr, Richie Spice, while surprise acts are set to pass through.