Bob Inspired Historic Union in February
Marley Brothers First Ever Jamaican Performance at
Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite Concert
A reformulated Smile Jamaica partners with the first ever Caribbean staging of Africa Unite at the landmark James Bond Beach for a signature concert featuring Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian Marley performing together for the first time on a Jamaican stage.
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The Marley Brothers
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Kingston, Jamaica: -- The dreams of The Legend Bob Marley are realised in momentous staging of Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite at James Bond Beach on Saturday, February 23. To underscore the significance of this pairing, the Marley Brothers will assemble together for their first ever combined performance in Jamaica.
Never before on Jamaica soil, have Ziggy, Stephen, Julian, Ky-Mani and Damian Marley appeared together on a single stage, on a single night. The sheer magnitude of the combined concert event is further enhanced by their participation.
In the five years since his last stage appearance in Jamaica Ziggy has released two critically acclaimed albums. He shook the industry with a Target stores only album release (at the time an unprecedented distribution deal for an independent) and then supported the re-release of Love Is My Religion with a coast to coast US tour.
No stranger to the Grammys, Stephen was recently nominated for his first solo project, Mind Control. Arguably the longest anticipated album in reggae history, the indefinable roots reggae hip hop infused project catapulted Stephen into the limelight as an artiste.
Brother Stephen helped produce Julian’s sophomore set, A Time and Place. Echoing the voice of his father, Julian’s music is reminiscent of a reggae style not easily found on store shelves, but loved the world over.
Highly regarded as an actor, with a number of film projects under his belt, Ky-mani focused on his music in 2007. His first album in five years, Radio, and the lead single One Time, returned Ky-Mani to the Billboard charts.
A junior giant, Damian rocked the industry with back to back Grammy Award winning albums (Half Wyay Tree and Welcome to Jamrock) and a slew of hardcore hits. Honing his performance skill with frequent collaborator “Ragga”, Damian trod in the footsteps of his father, touring the world.
Initially founded by Ziggy and Stephen Marley along with the Melody Makers, Ghetto Youths has been expanded to incorporate brothers Julian, Ky-mani and Damian. Now headed by Stephen, Ghetto Youths International is driving force behind the re-emergence of Smile Jamaica.
Collaborating for the Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite stage is truly symbolic considering the significance of Smile Jamaica. In December 1976, Bob Marley, headlined the show at the National Heroes Park in Kingston. Despite being attacked the night before, he bravely and defiantly stepped out and said he would only do one song, but ended up working the stage for ninety minutes. Persons described the atmosphere of that show as “buoyant and positive”.
It was a similar atmosphere in Ethiopia at the first ever Africa Unite concert in 2005. Realising the vision of Bob for a united continent, the Africa Unite concert was the culmination of symposiums, exhibitions and activities before an audience of 300,000. The Rita Marley Foundation, directed by Bob’s widow, was instrumental in making this dream on Bob a reality.
A combination of two remarkable concert events, Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite is the magnificent result of Ghetto Youths International in collaboration with the Rita Marley Foundation.
Other performers sharing in the moment include: The Melody Makers (the Marley sisters Cedella and Sharon), the seminal The I Three (Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt), Black Uhuru, Rasta talents Capleton, Taurrus Riley, Richie Spice, Spragga Benz, Lutan Fyah, Coco Tea and Alborosie, African Queens Etana and Queen Ifrica, musicians Dean Fraser and Ernie Ranglin, new comer Javaughn and sound systems Stone Love and Gully Bank.
Adding diversity to programme are Mutabaruka, who can only be described as Mutabaruka, and the West Indian pop songstress, Rihanna.
Thanks to the strong support of sponsors; reggae radio IRIE FM, the national station Television Jamaica, the afro centric Peoples Telecom, the Jamaica Tourist Board and The Gleaner, the Smile Jamaica-Africa Unite concert is offered to the public at $1,500.00 per person.
Beyond the calendar, historians will record in their date book Saturday, February 23, James Bond Beach, Smile Jamaica - Africa Unite.
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