#Jamaica. Son of Bob Marley.

[k-i-l-l-e-r-b-e-e-6-9]

Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock

[readingforaneternity]

So I watched the Migration movie today and I was enjoying it up until I met this Jamaican bird named Delroy.

The issue isn’t that he’s Jamaican, bc I’m Jamaican American and I love to see representation of my culture. But it was the voice actor that completly ruined the rest of the movie for me.

His accent was off. And for those of you who don’t know Patois and the Jamaican accent in general, it may be hard even realize, but it sucked.

My issue is that they casted an American who did it. Not even a Jamaican American who was raised with Jamaican family. I’m sure there are so many Jamaican actors and actresses that could have embodied the role so much better.

I don’t only want to see proper POC representation in live actions. I want it in animation too. And that includes language, dialects, and accents.

[silvanio-rockers]

RAS MICHAEL & THE SONS OF NEGUS - None A Jah Jah Children [1975]

[sankofaspirit]

Bob Marley also known as Robert Nesta Marley, born on February 6, 1945, in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica, was a singer, songwriter, and global cultural ambassador who transformed reggae into a powerful platform for change. As the lead vocalist of The Wailers and later a solo artist, Marley’s music transcended boundaries, with timeless hits like "No Woman, No Cry," "Redemption Song," and "Buffalo Soldier." His lyrics championed themes of love, justice, spirituality, and resistance against oppression, making him a voice for the downtrodden and a symbol of hope worldwide.

Through his Rastafari faith, Marley fused his music with messages of peace, anti-colonialism, and African identity. Deeply inspired by figures like Marcus Garvey and Haile Selassie I, Marley advocated for Pan-Africanism—the unification and empowerment of African-descended peoples. His song "Africa Unite" remains a rallying cry for solidarity, while "Zimbabwe" became an anthem for the country’s independence. Marley’s connection to the global fight for liberation cemented his legacy as more than a musician; he was a revolutionary figure in the struggle for equality.

Tragically, Marley passed away on May 11, 1981, at just 36 years old. He succumbed to melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer that began under his toenail and spread to his brain and lungs. Despite his diagnosis, Marley continued performing until his health made it impossible. His final words to his son Ziggy were: “Money can’t buy life.”

Bob Marley’s influence extends far beyond music. His ability to articulate the struggles and hopes of the African diaspora, while inspiring millions to seek unity and freedom, makes him one of the most enduring cultural icons of all time. 🇯🇲

[saintmeghanmarkle]

SARAH VINE: Harry and Meghan are casting themselves as refugees from a repressive regime

Could this be the duplicitous duo’s new MO? So much snark but such a well-written article in the DM from Sarah Vine, who doesn’t mince words. Link and full article below:

DailyMail

When I saw the pictures of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at the premiere of the Bob Marley movie in Kingston, Jamaica, the first thing that sprang to mind was how thoroughly refreshed they both looked.

Indeed, I had to do a double-take to make sure it really was the duchess that Prince Harry was escorting and not some dewy, doe-eyed lookalike.

Perhaps it was just a trick of the light, but she certainly seems to have upped her skincare routine since we last saw her.

The prince, meanwhile, looked remarkably unfurrowed for a man who looks likely to have to pay three quarters of a million pounds in legal costs accrued by his failed libel action against the Mail on Sunday. I don’t know what they put in the water out there in Montecito, but it’s definitely working.

Still, all that gloss doesn’t hide the ugly fact that the pair - normally so vocal when it comes to informing the world of their heartfelt sentiments - have yet to say a single word in public on the subject of Harry’s father, the King, and his health issues.

Given how much the Prince likes to use his platform for good, you might have thought he would have seized this opportunity to remind other men of the importance of getting their prostate checked.

As for the duchess, normally such a strong advocate for women’s health, it does seem rather unsisterly not to wish the Princess of Wales a speedy recovery from her abdominal surgery.

That they should have chosen this particular occasion to break cover is also intriguing. Jamaica is not exactly a friend of the British monarchy - indeed, the country’s prime minister, Andrew Holness, who joined the Sussexes at the premiere with his wife Juliet, has expressed his hope that his people will cut ties with Britain when they vote in a referendum on the question later this year.

Anti-monarchist sentiment has been building ever since the death of Elizabeth II, who enjoyed the affection and respect of many Jamaicans. Sadly, those sentiments don’t seem to have been transferred to King Charles, with one ardent anti-monarchist, Hugh Small QC, telling the Guardian newspaper last year that he ‘can’t stand’ the thought of the King being head of state of Jamaica.

But there is something else driving Jamaica’s disdain for the Crown: the perceived notion that the British Royal Family is inherently racist and the Duchess of Sussex was a victim of prejudice during her time at the Palace.

This idea was, of course, vehemently denied while the Queen was still alive but recently resurrected by the Sussexes’ mouthpiece, Omid Scobie, in his most recent hagiography Endgame, in which he ‘accidentally’ named the alleged ‘royal racists’ as King Charles and the Princess of Wales.

These allegations will no doubt have caused a great deal of distress to both the King and the Princess.

Effectively being cancelled by your own son must take its toll on a man, and I can only imagine how stressful it must be for the Princess of Wales to not only have to pick up the slack left behind by the Duchess of Sussex’s departure but to have to do so with a smile on her face while being kicked repeatedly in the teeth by the latter’s cheerleaders.

I doubt whether that notion will have occurred to the Duke and Duchess, who have - in the past - shown themselves to be entirely immune to any suffering their pronouncements might cause.

Indeed, they did not hold back while Prince Philip was dying, nor when the Queen was in her final months. The idea that they should give two hoots about what the folks back home are going through is, very sadly, for the birds.

By choosing to break cover in such vehemently anti-monarchist company, the Duke and Duchess appear to be sending a very clear signal to the Palace. It appears to me that they intend to use their royal connection to undermine both the individual reputations of members of the Royal Family and that of the institution as a whole. I hope that I am wrong.

By casting themselves as refugees from a regressive and repressive regime, they are tapping into the divisive culture wars that dominate so much of our public debate these days and helping to fuel anti-royalist sentiment throughout the Commonwealth and elsewhere.

The late Queen, who loved the Commonwealth and used her position to foster forgiveness and understanding, would be heartbroken. As for King Charles, I can see only one course of action: he should give them what they claim to want and set them free of their royal shackles by stripping them, finally, of all titles.

post link

author: u/ducklingdynasty

submitted: January 25, 2024 at 05:15PM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

[burningthrucelluloid]

Christmas Carol-cember, Day 24

A very Merry Christmas to you all as we finally reach the last day of this Christmas Carol challenge.

Throughout this month, I’ve covered many various takes on the Charles Dickens novel and the adaptations that came with them. From the classic films with Alistair Sim to musical adaptations with the Muppets to ponies to Ryan Reynolds to Mega Man, this is a story that finds footings with everyone in every genre or media.

So to end this properly, I wanted to dip into the historical with what might perhaps might signal the new form of storytelling that harkens back to old school practice: the podcast.

After Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol,” he began to go on tours where he would read the book aloud to listeners as well as discuss his book to eager listeners. With the advent of radio, it became a tradition of radio broadcasting to perform the tale much in the vein of radio dramas, with the most beloved and iconic being CBS’ “The Campbell Playhouse” which was directed and starred Orson Welles in multiple roles, but produced two different versions of Dickens’ story, one of them starring Lionel Barrymore in the lead role in the 1940 broadcast.

While film and television overtook the radio, radioplays never exactly went away as they evolved into the modern variety of audiobooks that would be recorded and allow for people to listen to them on vinyls them cassette tapes then to CDs before becoming digital. In that sense, the tradition of radio performers using the voice to play the characters in the story has evolved to the point you can go online and find fans recording their own performances to share to the world.

If radios are the spiritual successor to speaking tours then perhaps podcasts are just as vital to that evolution, for good and for bad. Luckily today we turn to a podcast that has no Rogans or hate speech but is a format to educate and entertain in a way that does not diminish or dismiss education. The award-winning history podcast, “The Rest Is History” by historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.

This podcast episode, recorded in December 2021, takes a unique approach where the two historians are not sitting down in a coffee shop or a studio but taking to the Covid-19 lockdown streets of London where they seek to track down the actual locations Charles Dickens used for his 1843 novella.

They begin in Newman’s Court just off of Cornhill Street to try and guess where Scrooge’s counting house might have been situated as the two establish the history behind this street for London’s financial history as well as establish how much of the original London was lost in the Great Fire of London. They also take the time to explore Charles Dickens’ early life having to work in dangerous jobs as a child before making a living as a writer for his publishers, often using elements of the times around him to inspire his novels, much like “Oliver Twist.” They also point out the same time Dickens published this book was the same year Christmas Cards were established during this era.

The duo comment on how far Bob Cratchit must live as they detail Bob lived on Camden Town (which, according to Google, is not anything to laugh at as the walking distance between Camden and Cornell is over 3 miles) before they move on to Bengal Court where they go about looking at several historic inns (all closed because of the Pandemic) where they consider taverns like Simpsons and the Old Jamaica as possible locations before they land on the George and Vulture Inn as a bust of Dickens resides outside and it being used by Dickens’ descendants as a meeting spot every year.

As the two arrive at White Lion Court, admiring the historic homes around while discussing the parallels between Dickens’ novel and the Bible. 

Scrooge is met by the ghostly Jacob Marley to herald the arrival of 3 ghosts, Mary is met by the archangel Gabriel to herald the coming of her Son which will result in 3 Wise Men to come. A parallel I had never truly considered before listening to this which shows these two have done their homework, even when it’s clear from their podcast they are pretty skeptical of the Bible but are not mean spirited or hard on any Christian listeners. They just take issue with how the word of Jesus has been misappropriated for untold cruelties across history, but that’s for their other podcast episodes.

After discussing the Ghost of Christmas Past, Dominic makes a joke about Tom being alone on Christmas as well as debating the emotional connection people have with Scrooge’s past of feeling alone on Christmas. They then discuss the Ghost of Christmas Present, recognize that A Christmas Carol is kind of a horror story before they move onto the Ghost of Christmas Future. After a commercial break, they arrive at St Peter upon Cornhill and to the Cemetery behind it to discuss Scrooge’s discovery of his gravestone, they reveal Dickens got the name of his character from a gravestone in Edinburgh from a party animal of a man named “Ebenezer Scrogugie” to the best I can spell out.

The duo then to Leadenhall Market, which was, again, mostly empty during recording, as the location where Scrooge got the Prize Turkey he sends to Bob Crotchet’s house. Dominic pokes fun at Tom for the year he bought a goose and left it in his car where someone broke in and stole it until the two finally get the main reason I wanted to spotlight this podcast as well as the episode.

After having spent the past hour sharing historical knowledge, making goofy jokes that show off that British wit and using references to current day events to are not difficult to understand, they get to the heart of the episode by asking just who is this story for?

As Dominic points out, “A Christmas Carol is a conservative book. The argument is there are tremendous inequalities in the world that affect the lower class but the answer to these is individual philanthropy. It’s intended for a middle class literate audience. It’s not a politically radical book, just give a little bit more at Christmas.” 

They even acknowledge that Vladimir Lenin saw a production of A Christmas Carol and took such offense to the bourgeois undertones he straight up walked out. 

That middle class appeal truly gets to the heart of why it remains the most adapted of Dickens work.

Dominic and Tom acknowledge the Muppet version, the Scrooge McDuck version, the Bill Murray version. A testament to the story being infinitely malleable and parodied as, from Dickens’ time to the present day, it’s a Victorian Era tradition that has remained as everyone goes out of their ways to uphold these ideals without truly considering where they come from and from the social cues they derive from.

I bring this up because every time I hear people complain about some “culture war against Christmas,” it shows a failure to understand that it’s not about trying to deny the significance of the holiday, but to recognize it’s commercialized traditions and give space to people who may not welcome Christmas into their homes but care enough about you to still extend in the same themes of compassion and generosity.

You can have your cake and eat it too.

It’s because of that insight and ability to connect it to the past to reveal our present and future is why this podcast episode of “The Rest Is History" feels like the perfect way to end this challenge of spotlighting A Christmas Carol for the past 24 days. We began looking over the various performances of Ebenezer Scrooge to see what different performers bring to the table, how the musical genre can be used to explore the themes of Dickens and how it can show the characters in a new light, a week focusing on the meta-narrative of people who know the story and still find ways to make it relevant and ended this challenge by exploring what will be the media of the future that will keep this story going for all the years ahead of us. If they are as informative, fun and engaging as how Dominic and Tom presented it, I’m certainly optimistic there’s a place for this story that will still appeal to us all.

“The Rest Is History: A Christmas Carol” is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, Overcast, Pocket Casts, iTunes, and Podcast Addict.

And with that, my Christmas Carol-cember challenge finally comes to an end.

I hope I educated and inspired everyone who followed these goofy little reviews to check them out and give them a chance to go outside your comfort zones to find these tales. If there’s a favorite version you have that I didn’t describe, share it below. Who knows, perhaps you might inspire someone else to find their next favorite Christmas special to watch next year.

Merry Christmas to you all and God bless us, everyone!

[madamlaydebug]

Bob Marley Assassination Attempt

Michael Manley, son of former Prime Minister Norman Manley, was elected Prime Minister of Jamaica in 1972. To address growing inequality in Jamaican society, Manley embarked on several democratic socialist reforms of the state, including land ownership reform, free education from primary to university, and nationalization of certain industries. Such policies had massive popularity among many people in Jamaica, but there were others who either saw the reforms as contrary to their businesses or as a high precursor to a Cuban-style communist government. Beginning in 1974, he was also opposed by the more conservative Edward Seaga of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). The JLP used the threat of socialism to build support among property owners and churchgoers, attracting more middle-class support. By 1976 the two politicians hired local gangsters to help them increase their hold on power.

The 1976 elections marked the beginning of a period of political violence in Jamaica. A State of Emergency was declared by Manley's party the PNP in June and 500 people, including some prominent members of the JLP, were accused of trying to overthrow the government and were detained, without charges, in the South Camp Prison at the Up-Park Camp military headquarters.

Reggae musician Bob Marley announced plans to hold a concert in an attempt to quell the violence. Politicians from both parties were hoping to capitalize on Marley's support. While Marley remained neutral, many viewed him as tacitly supporting Manley and the PNP.

At 8:30 pm, on December 3, 1976, two days before the Smile Jamaica concert, seven men with guns raided Marley's house at 56 Hope Road. Marley and his band were on break from rehearsal. Marley's wife, Rita, was shot in the head in her car in the driveway. The gunmen shot Marley in the chest and arm. His manager, Don Taylor, was shot in the legs and torso. Band employee, Louis Griffiths took a bullet to his torso as well. Astonishingly, there were no fatalities. [Wiki].

[lboogie1906]

Aston Francis Barrett, CD (November 22, 1946 – February 3, 2024) often called “Family Man” or “Fams” for short, was a musician and Rastafarian. He was known as the bandleader of Bob Marley’s backing band, as well as co-producer of the albums, and the man in charge of the overall song arrangements.

He was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He was the fourth of five children, and first son, of Wilfred and Violet Barrett.

He sang along to soul music as a child, learned the bass, building his first bass guitar from scratch. As and his younger brother Carlton earned a meager income as welders while doing session work on the side.

He foresaw his role as a band leader and started to call himself “Family Man”. He fathered 41 children: 23 daughters and 18 sons. He claimed to have 23 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[venusintheblindspots-blog]

Ziggy Marley, the son of Bob Marley signed a letter in support of Israel.

And before y’all ask, yes the same Bob Marley who is renowned worldwide as a pioneer in the reggae genre.

The same reggae music that has been used to speak out against the injustices that black people across the African diaspora have been facing.

Ziggy Marley signed a letter in support of colonist state, created by the UK, while carrying on as if he is a Rasta.

Rastafarians in Jamaica were massacred for fighting against English colonialism. Even in current times they are still facing prejudice in Jamaica’s justice systems.

With all of this being said, Ziggy, and most of these reggae icons/rastas are disappointments to every one who came before them.

[netflixandnudez]

One of my coworkers is from Jamaica and I was so happy hearing another West Indian accent on my first day of work. Soon as I heard ah you Bob Marley son or ya ziggy 😭

[gurutrends]

Born on October 17: In the Marley family, I ask for Ziggy

David Nesta, his real name, was born in 1968 in the Trenchtown neighborhood of Kingston (Jamaica). He is the son of Bob Marley and Rita, who together had no less than eleven children! Two years before the death of his father in 1981, Ziggy Marley was busy with the band the Melody Makers, accompanied by his two sisters Cedelia and Sharon as well as his brother Stephen. As a natural heir, the…

[radioeuroextasis]

Simple Plan - Tony Mangra

Tony Mangra nació en Albouystown, Guyana, pero creció en el pueblo de Port Mourant en el Courentyne. Aprendió a tocar la guitarra en la iglesia de San Francisco Javier. Más tarde se mudó a No. 64 Village para vivir con sus abuelos. Salió de Guyana en 1982 y emigró a Estados Unidos. Tony creció en el campo de Guyana escuchando música de la India, rock steady (lo que ahora ha evolucionado a lo que el mundo conoce como reggae), calipso y música folclórica guyanesa. Algunas de sus influencias son Bob Marley, Third World, Jacob Miller, The Tradewinds y The Mighty Sparrow, por nombrar algunos. Debido a sus primeras influencias, su música es melódica con un rico sabor isleño. Simple Plan tiene más un sabor a reggae. Fue grabado y mezclado en el Mixing Lab en Kingston, Jamaica. No es ajeno a la escena musical independiente. Su canción Bamboo Fire fue #1 en la lista europea de música indie y #2 en la lista mundial de música indie. "Shut Yo' Mouth" fue #1 en la lista de música independiente europea y mundial. Read the full article

[one-lovemovie]

Ziggy Marley: Continuing His Father's Legacy Beyond Music

Introduction

In the realm of reggae, the Marley name is synonymous with revolutionary music and cultural impact. While the indelible mark left by Bob Marley is unparalleled, his son, Ziggy Marley, has taken up the mantle, carving his own path and continuing his father's legacy in ways that extend far beyond the realm of music. This article explores the multifaceted contributions of Ziggy Marley and how he is shaping the cultural landscape.

Ziggy Marley: A Musical Heir

Early Influences and Artistic Journey

Ziggy Marley, born David Nesta Marley in 1968, grew up immersed in the vibrant world of reggae, under the tutelage of his legendary father. From an early age, Ziggy displayed a natural affinity for music, and it wasn't long before he, alongside his siblings, formed the Melody Makers. The group's early success laid the foundation for Ziggy's musical journey.

Grammy Awards and Musical Evolution

Ziggy Marley's musical prowess has earned him acclaim, including multiple Grammy Awards. From the Grammy-winning "Conscious Party" to the socially conscious "Dragonfly," Ziggy's discography reflects a commitment to using music as a vehicle for positive change, mirroring the principles instilled by his father.

Beyond the Stage: Ziggy's Diverse Impact

Environmental Activism

While Ziggy Marley's musical achievements are noteworthy, his commitment to environmental activism has garnered equal attention. Following in his father's footsteps, Ziggy advocates for sustainable living and environmental conservation. Through initiatives like URGE (Unlimited Resources Giving Enlightenment), he strives to raise awareness about pressing ecological issues.

Children's Books and Educational Endeavors

Expanding his reach, Ziggy Marley has delved into children's literature, authoring books that impart essential life lessons with a reggae-infused flair. These literary creations not only entertain but also serve as educational tools, embodying Ziggy's dedication to shaping young minds in a positive and impactful way.

Ziggy Marley's Entrepreneurial Ventures

Organic Products and Conscious Living

Ziggy's commitment to conscious living extends to his entrepreneurial ventures. Embracing a holistic approach, he has launched a line of organic products, including Ziggy Marley Organics. From coffee to coconut oils, these products embody his dedication to promoting a lifestyle that harmonizes with nature.

Cannabis Advocacy

In an era witnessing a shift in attitudes toward cannabis, Ziggy Marley has emerged as an advocate for responsible cannabis use and its potential benefits. His involvement in the cannabis industry reflects a commitment to breaking stigmas and fostering informed conversations around the plant's medicinal and cultural significance.

Family, Philanthropy, and Cultural Preservation

Preserving the Marley Legacy

As a father and a torchbearer of the Marley legacy, Ziggy places great importance on preserving his family's cultural heritage. Through philanthropic efforts and the Bob Marley Foundation, Ziggy works towards cultural preservation, ensuring that the rich legacy of reggae and the Marley name continues to inspire generations.

Philanthropic Initiatives

Ziggy Marley's philanthropic endeavors extend beyond cultural preservation. Whether supporting education in Jamaica or contributing to global humanitarian causes, he actively engages in initiatives that align with the principles of love, unity, and social justice ingrained in the Marley legacy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ziggy Marley stands as more than a musical heir; he is a cultural force, seamlessly blending artistry, activism, and entrepreneurship. By continuing his father's legacy with a modern twist, Ziggy exemplifies the enduring impact of the Marley name. As he navigates the intersections of music, environmentalism, literature, and more, Ziggy Marley remains a beacon of inspiration for those seeking to make a positive impact on the world.

[saintmeghanmarkle]

Not one photo of H&M with Ziggy Marley, whose wife (Bob Marley: One Love Executive Producer) Orly Agai Marley happens to be a former WME Vice President.

I don't think there could be a stronger statement that no one in Jamaica cared that Harold and Rachel were even there. Ziggy Marley, Bob's eldest son, stayed away even though he was seen there (far right, from this article). If the presence of the Harkles was supposedly such a big deal, you would think a photo op would be great publicity for the film.

It turns out that Ziggy's wife Orly Marley was a major player at William Morris, working her way up to Director of Talent Sponsorships and Vice President. She left WME in 2006 to manage Ziggy's career.

Orly Marley is the EXECUTIVE PRODUCER of the film, along with Brad Pitt and two other major HW producers. I have zero doubt, based on this article, that she keeps in contact with all her old associates, including those at WME and within the Hollywood gossip machine.

Did someone at WME call in a favor to her? Was their trip to Jamaica a PR move directed by WME (hence Harry's comment that he "had to be there")?

I don't know, but it sure adds to the intrigue, especially if both the Executive Producer of the movie as well as Bob's son Ziggy (also a producer) couldn't be arsed to be seen with them.

I'm certain Rachel would kill for a meeting with Orly, whose accomplishments include:

Brokering both endorsement and sponsorship deals for musical artists as well as actors: Cover Girl & Queen Latifah, Curvation & Queen Latifah / Anheuser Busch & Juanes, Mervyn's & Holly Robinson Peete / Avon & Salma Hayek / Corona & Luis Miguel / Dr Pepper & Mark McGrath / Dr Pepper & Black Eyed Peas / XM Satellite Radio & Snoop Dogg / H & R Block & Willie Neson / Got Milk? & Ray Charles / Lane Bryan & Aretha Franklin / Dwight Yoakam & Lincoln Mercury.

post link

author: ClementineCoda

submitted: January 26, 2024 at 08:15AM via SaintMeghanMarkle on Reddit

[prnanayarquah]

BOB MARLEY MOVIE ONE LOVE HITS THEATRES FEBRUARY 14TH

New Post has been published on https://plugzafrica.com/bob-marley-movie-one-love-hits-theatres-february-14th/

BOB MARLEY MOVIE ONE LOVE HITS THEATRES FEBRUARY 14TH

Bob Marley’s One Love tells the story of how reggae icon Bob Marley overcame adversity, and the journey behind his revolutionary music. The movie celebrates the life and music of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. On the big screen for the first time, Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity and the journey behind his revolutionary music is shared.

One of the preview’s most intense moments comes during a scene chronicling December 1976, when a crew of men attempted to assassinate Marley inside his home with his wife and children. “No guns can stop this message,” Ben-Adir’s Marley says in the trailer, accompanied by a version of “Three Little Birds.”

Along with chronicling Marley’s rise to fame, One Love also highlights his historic performance at the One Love Peace Concert in Kingston, Jamaica in April 1978, which aimed to heal the rupture between the country’s two major political parties, Jamaica Labour Party and People’s National Party.

Outside of Ben-Adir, other actors in the cast include Lashana Lynch, who plays Bob Marley’s wife, Rita, James Norton as Chris Blackwell, Anna-Sharé Blake (aka Sevana) as Judy Mowatt, Naomi Cowan as Marcia Griffiths, Umi Myers as Cindy Breakspeare, Aston Barrett Jr. as Family Man Barrett, Gawaine “J-Summa” Campbell as Antonio ‘Gillie’ Gilbert, David Kerr (aka Davo) as Junior Marvin, Hector Roots Lewis as Carlton Carly Barrett, Sheldon Shepherd (Yardie) as Neville Garrick, and Stefan A.D Wade as Seeco Patterson.

Before Ziggy Marley approached Kingsley Ben-Adir to play his late father in the film, the actor had already portrayed larger-than-life historical figures like Malcolm X (in One Night In Miami) and Barack Obama (in the miniseries The Comey Rule). But Ben-Adir had no musical experience or capabilities. “I was completely convinced that there’s no point in auditioning for this,” he told Entertainment Weekly. “I can’t sing. I can’t dance.”

However, the director was looking to cast an actor rather than a musician to play the reggae icon. “I was more interested in his acting,” Green told The Observer.  “The same way that I approached King Richard, the two young actresses that play Venus and Serena [Saniyya Sidney and Demi Singleton] had no sports capabilities whatsoever. It’s about being great actors – and then training.”

Ben-Adir learned to sing and play guitar for the role, performing all the songs with his own voice during filming, while the final film combines his voice with Marley’s archival recordings. “Bob’s not someone you can choreograph or copy,” he told EW. “His singing and dancing are from an internal experience, so you really have to find your own version of that for yourself.”

The actor went to work studying Bob and listening to over 50 rare archival Marley interviews to learn his Jamaican Patois and way of speaking.  “The more I dug into Bob,” he shared, “the more I realized that music was really everything to him. It really saved him, and he separated himself from other artists around that time.”

The film was directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, who made his studio directorial debut with King Richard, which featured Will Smith as Richard Williams, who coached his daughters Venus and Serena into becoming tennis superstars. It received six Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, with a best actor win for Smith.

The film was written by screenwriters Zach Baylin, who also worked on King Richard, The Wolf of Wall Street’s Terence Winter, and Shooting Stars’ Frank E. Flowers. The film was produced in partnership with members of the Marley family, including his wife Rita Marley, son Ziggy Marley, and daughter Cedella Marley produced.

Green also spoke on the family’s concern that Marley is portrayed “in a way that feels authentic and meaningful,” he told The Guardian.

Ziggy Marley shared a statement reflecting on the monumental biopic. He said: “Nothing happens before its time, and now is the time for the story of our father Bob Marley to be represented in a biopic theatrical release coming in 2024. You’ve heard the music, and you think you know the man but do you really understand what he went through and what moments shaped him into the person he became…this film will bring you to witness for the first time what it was like to be around the legend, to see his pain his sorrows his joys and his redemption.” He adds that “the cast and crew represent one of the most unique creations to ever come out of a Hollywood studio.”