Avellon Williams
LONDON — Bob Marley’s legacy will be remembered for decades to come as his music will continue to be heard for generations.
A new exhibition in London that tells the story of reggae singer Bob Marley’s life was visited by his daughter and grandson on Wednesday.
The “One Love Experience” at London’s Saatchi Gallery, which will be on display for the next 10 weeks before it goes on a multi-city tour, showcases memorabilia, photographs, and personal items.
Among the various items are the handwritten lyrics to “Turn Your Lights Down Low” to the authentic shoes that Bob Marley wore in the 1970s.
Born in 1945, in the rural Jamaican town of Nine Mile, Marley became a global superstar with hits such as “No Woman, No Cry” and “One Love.”
Marley was an iconic figure in reggae music and is one of the most influential musicians of all time. He was also a revolutionary for Rastafarianism and his beliefs were reflected throughout his career both through his actions and through his lyrics.
His lyrics touched on themes such as racial inequality, poverty, and political awareness, “until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes, we got to say War!”
Sadly, Bob Marley passed away from melanoma cancer in 1981, at the age of 36.
“The hope is to take the feeling of Bob Marley and the spirit of One Love,” said curator Jonathan Shank.
Cedella, Marley’s daughter who assisted in curating the exhibition, said she was pleased with the level of interactivity, particularly in the room dedicated to Marley’s sports interests.
“Really beautiful pictures of daddy playing football,” she said. “It’s very sensory. That was the aim and I think we have done it.”
While she was in London, Cedella went to the home of her father at nearby Oakley Street in Chelsea, where he resided while recording music in the 1970s.
“I have never been there before, so it was my first time,” she said. “Daddy used to live in that place… And I can see why, because the park is just across the street, so he could play football and just go back to jamming.”
Saiyan, Marley’s 18-year-old grandson, said London must have meant a lot to him as he decided to flee there after an attempted assassination.
“I feel like every year I just learn something new about him,” Saiyan told Reuters. “I just want to carry his legacy, and hold it down for gramps, you know.”
In his short life of 36 years, Bob Marley single-handedly changed the course of music history. His legacy will live on as a beacon for peace and love.
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