 A bronze statue of the great artist Bob Marley stands in the Celebrity Park outside the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica.  A generation later a group of political refugees from Sierra Leone living in Guinean concentration camps and traumatized by years of bloody warfare in their country, found through the music of Bob Marley, inspiration to form their own band and write and record their own songs. The Refugee All Stars won international acclaim for their 2006 debut "Living Like A Refugee" and their 2010 album "Rise and Shine", each utilizing a blend of reggae, Sierra Leone's Islamic rooted bubu music and West African goombay. Reggae legend Bob Marley first discovered that something was wrong in 1977 when he injured his foot while playing soccer with some friends. The wound seemed pretty extreme for a simple soccer injury, and when it got worse instead of healing, he decided to see a doctor. Marley was diagnosed with melanoma, and an amputation of the toe was recommended. As a devout Rastafarian, Bob Marley adhered strongly to the tenets of his religion, which include a belief that amputation is sinful. A Bible verse that Rastafarians hold as very important is Leviticus 21:5 - "They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh." The first part of this verse is the foundation of the belief in the wearing of dreadlocks, and the last part is the basis for a belief that amputation (as well as other types of body modification) is sinful. Other verses, including those which refer to the body as a holy temple, may also influence this belief. |
 Bob Marley died on May 11th in 1981 and received a Rastafarian funeral service at the Ethiopian Orthodox church in Jamaica on May 21st. He was laid to rest in a mausoleum in his birthplace of Nine Miles.  Bob Marley's universal appeal, impact on music history and role as a social and political prophet is both unique and unparalleled. MARLEY is the definitive life story of the musician, revolutionary, and legend, from his early days to his rise to international superstardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, the film features rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best. R.I.P Bob Marley Feb 6, 1945-May 11, 1981.  After traveling to Germany to be cared for by Josef Issels, a holistic physician, Bob Marley soon realized that his cancer was terminal. Intending to fly home to Jamaica, he became even sicker while in transit, and the plane stopped over in Miami, where he died on May 11, 1981. According to some reports, his final words were spoken to his son Ziggy Marley: "Money can't buy life." |
