Inspiring Lives: Rita Marley

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Inspiring LivesRita Marley

• By Drew Lawson and
• Jesse Kay-Rugen

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Rita Marley A Basic Overview

• Rita Marley was born July 25, 1946, in Santiago
  de Cuba.
• She is Bob Marleys widow.
• Rita Marley was one of the original three members
  of Bobs backup group, the I Threes.
• She now spends her time on her vocal career and
  working to eradicate poverty all over the world.

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Marleys Early Life

• Early on in life, Rita moved to the Trenchtown
  area of Kingston, where she spent most of her
  early life.
• Trenchtown was built around the city dump and was
  intended for the Kingston citizens who had been
  displaced by the 1951 hurricane.
• The housing was comprised of solid concrete
  single-unit houses without plumbing.

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Marleys Musical Career

• Ritas musical career began in the 1960s with her
  role in the Soulettes, who recorded with numerous
  famous artists of the time.
• Rita met her future husband when the studio
  director gave Bob the task of mentoring the
  emerging young star.
• When the Wailers fell apart, Rita organized the I
  Threes, who would become Bobs next backup group.

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The Rastafari Movement

• The Rastafari Movement is a philosophy that looks
  at Haile Selassie as God incarnate.
• Movement arose in Jamaica in the mid-1930s.
• There are currently about one million Rastafaris
  in the world.

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The Rita Marley Foundationthe aged be
protected, the infants nourished and cared for.

• The stated goal of the foundation is as follows
• To eradicate poverty and hunger in specific,
  selected communities using as its tools,
  empowerment of the communities through the
  creation of economic investments, improvement of
  educational opportunities and developing the
  knowledge and proper practice in nutrition and
  healthcare.

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The Rita Marley Foundation

• The Foundations largest project has been the
  work done in the small West African town of
  Konkonoru.
• Along with other developments made to the town, a
  road has been paved leading from the surrounding
  areas into the town, a seemingly simple luxury
  that the town never had.

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The Rita Marley Foundation

• Along with the work done in Konkonoru, Rita
  Marley founded an annual concert-benefit called
  Africa Unite, which is now in its third year.

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The Bob Marley Foundation

• The aim of the Robert Marley Foundation Ltd.
  Jamaica is to support local, national and
  international communities where the need for
  charitable assistance is greatest. The
  Foundation, founded in 1986, has contributed
  financial, cultural and other important resources
  to many communities and organizations in Jamaica.
  Our intent and motivation is to fulfill the
  vision of the Honorable Robert Nesta Marley O.M.
  while reaching those in need through love and
  brotherhood.

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The Bob Marley Foundation

• The Bob Marley Foundation continues to assist and
  develop various food programs to assure children
  have a good breakfast in the morning before
  school.
• The Foundation supports the Student Adoption
  program offered to encourage academic and
  personal development.
• The Bob Marley Foundation works with the Rita
  Marley Foundation in organizing the annual Africa
  Unite event.

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Africa Unite
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Africa Unite

• Africa Unite is an annual benefit-concert which
  was founded in 2005.
• The goal is to heighten international awareness
  about the disparity in education, health care,
  and the suffering of women and children of
  African descent across the world.

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Africa Unite 2005

• The first Africa Unite took place in Addis Ababa,
  Ethiopia, highlighted by a concert attended by
  over 300,000 people.
• The site was chosen for its religious, cultural,
  and musical history in the African and Rastafari
  cultures.

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Africa Unite 2006

• Africa Unite 2006 took place in Accra, Ghana.
• The event was highlighted by appearances by
  various speakers from all over the world, along
  with another concert in memory of Bob Marley.

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Africa Unite 2007Africa Unite 07 will take
place in South Africa, and will encourage peace,
education and empowerment for youth in Africa
while reinforcing the significance of Bob
Marley's Songs of Freedom to manifest change
throughout the world.
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Rita Marley Today

• Rita currently resides in Accra, Ghana with her
  entire family, including her 32 grandchildren.
• She continues to run both the Bob and Rita Marley
  foundations, while also continuing her musical
  career.
• I see myself still as a Jamaican, but Africa is
  our roots, and I was always looking forward to
  this transition.

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Why Shes Inspiring

• Marley was one of the first to introduce politics
  into Rastafarianism.
• One Love Concert

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Why Shes Inspiring

• Dedication to the Cause
• Recently moved to Africa to be in close proximity
  to her projects.
• Spends nearly all of her time promoting her
  message.
• Risked her life to spread her message.

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Why Shes Inspiring

• Lyrical Message
• The message of Joy, loving together no
  fighting no war
• I'm not a star. I'm a mother, a sister and a
  woman. I think of myself as an example. I was a
  young girl who grew up in the ghetto. This can
  show other young people to work hard and, if they
  achieve success, how to deal with it. The glitter
  and the glamour can distract you from your roots".

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• "Reggae is the heartbeat of a person. It's the
  people's music. Everywhere you go, you get the
  same response from black and white alike".