Bob Marleys birthday bash

Bob Marley was born on February 6, 1945 in the village of Nine Mile in St Anns Parish, Jamaica. Forming The Wailers after moving to Trenchtown in Kingston and meeting Peter Tosh and Neville “Bunny Wailer” Livingston, his music has inspired generations.

Ras Tina told Showbiz: “Marley had a difficult relationship with Jamaica. It took him about a decade to become a success in the music industry in the island. In 1976, Marley was nearly assassinated shortly before he was set to perform at a concert that was meant to bring peace and unity to the country. “Exodus,” arguably Marley’s greatest album, was recorded after a self-imposed exile from the land of his birth. But he remarked more than once that Jamaica – its people and its culture – were at the root of his music.”

Bob had his roots in the West Indies, but his branches have reached around the world. That was true in life, but is even more evident in death, with celebrations in far flung places such as Zimbabwe to mark the day the reggae legend was born.

At a strictly ragga dancehall joint in downtown Harare, Tube Nite Spot, a special commemoration of Bob Marley was held.

Marley’s impact was political, personal, spiritual, sexual, whimsical, mystical and more. He meant many things to many people and that’s demonstrated by the diverse array of tributes on his birthday, the so-called 21-gun salutes by reggae DJs, and the willows.

In the end, Marley’s death is a triumph of living. For every great man, there is a road not taken. What seems in the end to have been destiny is often the result of sheer will and great talent.

Marley, who had his own confrontations with Jamaican police as a young man, could have easily have succumbed to the obscurity of Nine Miles, to the poverty of Trench Town, to the hostility of the music industry, to any of the many slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Instead, he fought on.

“And so, in death, we celebrate his birthday,” said Ras Jabu. “Decades after his passing, we still pause to remember the genius who was born in Nine Miles so many years ago. We celebrate because he lived a life that was memorable and he made music that was unforgettable. Happy birthday, Bob.”