Sport & Entertainment
JAM | Feb 4, 2025

Bob Marley’s 80th birthday celebrations now in high gear

/ Our Today

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Pack loads of fun and entertainment activities planned

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Reggae legend Bob Marley’s 80th birthday celebrations is off to a bang with an exclusive preview of the digital tribute concert live on Tuff Gong Radio (channel 19 on SiriusXM).

On Bob Marley Day, this Thursday February 6, an exciting list of activities are prepared to impact audiences in Jamaica all day at Bob Marley Museum and fans worldwide via a livestream on Tuff Gong TV’s YouTube channel at 3:00pm ET. The celebratory activities are being held under the theme ‘Uprising,’ the title of one of his most famous albums.

The highlight of the livestream celebration on Tuff Gong TV YouTube channel is the UPRISING 80 digital concert featuring a slew of popular and new Jamaican entertainers, including: Mortimer, Bugle, Kumar Fyah, Naomi Cowan, Quan Dajai, Kelly Shane, and Alexx A-Game. Several of whom were featured in the Bob Marley: One Love movie.

Liverpool’s captain Taylor Hinds posted a picture of Jamaican Reggae icon Bob Marley on her Instagram page. (Photo: Instagram: taylorhinds_)

Highlights of other activities

Other features included in the livestream will be: a teaser of a NEW Bob Marley music video, a countdown of the best performances from past birthdays, selected new animations about Bob Marley, school choirs from around the globe and stand alone performances paying tribute, and a showcase of the ongoing impact of his charitable organization, Bob Marley Foundation.

This Thursday at Bob Marley Museum will be a day full of festivities. Come 12 noon, “LIVE AT BOB’S” will give attendees a series of intimate acoustic performances on the deck of the new Marley Natural Dispensary at the back of the Bob Marley Museum. Performers will showcase Bob Marley’s grandchildren Yohan Marley and Mystic Marley, and highlight performances from Ras I, Hezron, Christopher Ellis, Janeel Mills, Lymie Murray, Runkus, Amanyea, Hailie Celestial, Black Am I, Shandre Music, Jay Summa, and the Wake up Jamaica choir.

Bob Marley

The day will open at 7am at the Bob Marley Museum with the traditional blowing of the Abeng and Nyabinghi drummers, and even a marching band leading into the opening ceremony. This presentation will include tribute performances from schools across the island. Usually a private event, this year the public is invited to participate.

Family-friendly Kid’s Village

Immediately following the opening ceremony, the entire front of the Museum will be transformed into a family-friendly Kid’s Village with fun activities for all ages, from 10am-5pm. It will offer engaging, hands-on experiences for young fans, including the Virtual Reality and Robotics booths, a Recording Studio that will allow children to explore Marley’s legacy, and Sip & Paint as well as Ceramic Art & Jewelry-Making Stations to foster artistic expression and cultural education.

The event will also feature a Bubble Art Zone, festive Balloon Art, a Ball Pit, Face Painting, and a Petting Zoo in partnership with Hope Zoo, for a day of joyful play and celebration. Additionally, there will be Story Telling by Amina Blackwood Meeks and the Rox in Sox Festival with Aaron Nigel Smith, who was Grammy-nominated for his recent children’s album will round out the vibrant and immersive experience for the children.

Visitors to the Bob Marley Museum on February 6 will even get to indulge in new digital features. In an unprecedented fusion of Bob Marley’s timeless legacy and cutting-edge innovation, the Museum will unveil a revolutionary experience of exhibits and murals that ‘come to life’ and bring fans closer to the Legend than ever before.

There will also be a Bob Marley Experience exhibition, featuring the talents of internationally celebrated artist, Mr. Brainwash (who has mounted similar exhibitions in honour of Marvel comics legend the late Stan Lee as well as in the city of Los Angeles) and Movie Nights every Thursday in February, the latter of course to include the NAACP Image Award-nominated Bob Marley: One Love.

Throughout the celebration at the Bob Marley Museum, there will be items on sale by selected local artisans and partners, giveaways, and live TV and radio broadcasts. The general public is invited to attend and participate.

Concert in Emancipation Park

To wrap up the day of celebrations, the Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, will present a Bob Marley tribute concert, live from Kingston’s Emancipation Park, beginning at 7pm on February 6. This will also be broadcast LIVE on Tuff Gong TV’s YouTube channel.

Cedella Marley, CEO of the Bob Marley Group of Companies says, “Celebrating Daddy’s 80th birthday under the theme ‘Uprising’ is a special moment for our family and fans worldwide. This album represents so much of his spirit, with powerful songs like “Forever Loving Jah,” “Coming In From The Cold,” “Could You Be Loved,” and “Redemption Song” which continue to inspire generations. Each year, we honour his legacy in a way that unites our extended family, friends, and fans from all corners of the globe. This 80th milestone is a reminder of his timeless call for love, resilience, and freedom.”

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