Contributed
Ziggy Marley (left) performs with brothers Stephen (centre) and Damian, in Meskel Square, in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, on February 6, 2005.
Krista Henry, Staff Reporter
"De unity mus start now. How long we mus suffer fi just learn dese tings that we mus be united. I woulda like see mankind live together - united."
Bob Marley
The yet-to-be-released Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley's Vision captures Marley's dream of African unity and the efforts to make it a reality.
The documentary focuses on the 'Africa Unite' concert, held in 2005 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the other activities that took place then to celebrate the mission of reuniting Africa.
Directed by Stephanie Black, who is also known for the documentary Life and Debt, the film is a coherent flow of events past and present. It brings together the lives of the Marley family, national figures in Africa, members of UNICEF, devout Rastafarians and the youth who are trying to make a change in their world.
The film begins with clips from the 'Africa Unite' concert as Marley's sons Ziggy, Stephen, Ky-Mani, Julian and Damian take the stage, all dressed in white, African-style tops.
The focus is on the fervent response from the massive crowd as Ziggy quickly goes into the Bob Marley song, Africa Unite. The concert is used as a means of showing not only the family and Bob's music, but also to present the different messages in the music that are touched on throughout the documentary.
Although the film is centred around Bob Marley and the concert, it explores many themes and shows the impact of the dream of unity on the lives of others. It shows the significance of Marley in people's lives as different persons attest to his influence, some even citing him as a father figure and someone to always look up to.
Persons travelled from across Africa, Japan and Jamaica to the 'Africa Unite' 2005 concert, at which clips of Bob Marley talking about why unity was so important to him and his world view were shown.
Vital role by young people
Young people play a vital role throughout the film as they give their reasons for being involved in the 'Africa Unite' movement. Whether they want to be musicians, doctors or economists, they all have one goal - unity among all Africans. Juxtaposed to this are stories from the older generation through Jamaican politician Dudley Thompson, actor and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover, and various lecturers on what it means to be truly free, not worshipping a colonial flag. Thompson captures it best when he says, "Now you don't need to look at the Western world for knowledge, but to Africa."
Probably the most touching part of the film is the journey of Ras 'Bongo' Tawney. Tawney is a devout Rastafarian who highlights the persecution of Rastas in the beginning as he emphasised "the system tried to wipe us out".
touching scene
He talks about the discrimination Rastas faced in the early days, which is supported by video and newspaper clips of the crimes against Rastafarians in the early '70s. Tawney sees the accomplishment of a lifelong dream - to enter Ethiopia. In a touching scene outside of the Cathedral of Haile Selassie, Tawney almost breaks down in tears as he describes how he has dreamed of coming home to Africa for almost all his life.
The sections on the Marley family are narrated in large part by Ziggy Marley, who tells of how happy he and his brothers are to be in Ethiopia for their father. Giving brief looks at the various functions attended by the brothers, it gives rare insight into the interaction of the Marley sons.
Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley's Vision is more than a documentary on Bob Marley as it looks on his impact, his dream and its realisation. Filled with historical facts and data, Stephanie Black brings it all together for a masterful film. Ending with the concert itself, one of the many messages is that there is a need for more Bob Marleys in the world to help in making a difference.
Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley's Vision premieres worldwide on the Tuff Gong's birthday, February 6, at the Carib 5 Cinema, Cross Roads.
Culture Yard sounds the 'Gong'
File
The young and the old got involved in the Nyabinghi at Culture Yard, Trench Town, on Bob Marley's birthday last year.
Tanya C. Ellis, Gleaner Writer
Inside Trench Town, Kingston, the legacy of Bob Marley is being sustained through Culture Yard and the annual staging of a festival in Marley's honour, which highlights the heritage of the inner city and embodies a key element in tourism. "The Culture Yard embraces all interests, be it local or international," co-founder Abbott Green told The Sunday Gleaner.
Culture Yard Music Festival seeks to unite the community through conscious music and this, according to Abbott, is possible "because of a multitude of support, mainly from local entertainment artistes."
The three-day event usually kicks off with a Nyabinghi Salute to Robert Nesta Marley on February 6. "In the past, this would be an event staged over the Christmas holiday, but since the death of Bob, the honourable decision was made to incorporate the festival with the birth of the master," says Abbott.
Javan Scott, a community member, says the respect given to the music in Trench Town ensures that the musical legacy of Bob Marley remains alive.
The soulful essence of what used to be the home of the reggae legend exudes such history that the overwhelming presence of the man himself is felt. What gives the yard such an aura of Bob's presence, says Benjamin Cole, another co-founder of Culture Yard, who also doubles as the chief tour guide, "is the nostalgia of having so many original items for Bob still sitting around on the compound." From Bob's first guitar to the single bed he once shared with Rita Marley and his beat-up Volkswagen camper mini-van, the presence of Bob is still very much alive in Trench Town.
Significant following
Not only does the festival have a significant following, but it also provides a platform where up-and-coming artistes get the opportunity to showcase their talent. It is the event where the likes of Queen Ifrica, Lutan Fyah, I-Wayne and Gyptian performed early in their careers.
This, however, is the first year that four of Bob's sons are expected to perform. "It is always a bit difficult to get everyone together at the same time," says Abbott, who is also one of the main organisers of the event. "Ziggy, especially, has not really made an appearance for a while, so his performance on the live stage show at the Vin Lawrence Park on the eighth is something special to look forward to."
