Bob Marley Commemorations in Zimbabwe

This year's edition of "Bob Marley Commemorations", a three-day festival in Zimbabwe held from May 13 to 15 and promises to be bigger and better than the previous years.More than 30 reggae groups from Jamaica, England, South Africa and Zimbabwe are expected to appear at the festival.


Via The Herald


Preparations for this year's edition of the "Bob Marley Commemorations" have started with organisers expecting over 30 reggae groups from Jamaica, England, South Africa and Zimbabwe to grace the three-day festival.
Trevor Hall popularly known as Ras Jabu and organiser of the event, said this year's edition of the festivities to be held from May 13-15 at Mazowe Sailing Club along Lake Chivero will be bigger and better than the previous years.
"This year we want to change the actual vibe and make the festival a little bit more family friendly. We are also expecting many reggae groups from Jamaica, England, South Africa as well as our own local acts to play at the festival.
"Friday night will be for dancehall, while Saturday afternoon is lovers' rock and Sunday a platform for female reggae musicians," said Ras Jabu.
The festival will also see various other activities like boat rides, guided tours up the spillway, mountain climbing, nature walks, fishing, swimming and children games.
"Since it is a three-day festival it will have non-stop music and other activities that are more in line with what happens in Jamaica and the Caribbean," he said.
Ras Jabu said the festival was aimed at promoting upcoming reggae musicians in line with what the late reggae legend Marley and his contemporaries like Peter Tosh did.
"I knew him personally (Marley) and he was into assisting other artistes, that is why together with his fellow musicians he set up Tuff Gong Records and it is in that same spirit that we are also trying to promote local artistes," he said.
There will also be arts and crafts exhibition and a flea market at the festival.
The Bob Marley Commemorations have been held in Zimbabwe since 1987 with the traditional venue being the Harare Gardens. The event seeks to celebrate the life and times of the legendary Jamaican musician who put the genre on the world map and also popularised the Rastafarian Movement.
Marley was born on February 6, 1945 in Nine Miles, St Ann, Jamaica and died on May 11 1981.
Marley was awarded the International Peace Medal by the African delegation to the United Nations in 1978. He was also an official guest at Zimbabwe's Independence celebrations in 1980, an honour Marley was quoted as saying was the highest he'd ever received.