THE LIONESS OF REGGAE
THE LIONESS OF REGGAE
10 THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT RITA MARLEY
Rita Marley is much more than the woman who stood beside one of the most famous musicians in reggae history.
She has built a legacy of her own.
As the widow of reggae icon Bob Marley, Rita has spent decades helping preserve his music, his message and his cultural impact while also building her own career, charitable work and connection to Africa.
From Jamaica to Ghana, from music to nursing, Rita Marley’s story reaches far beyond the Marley family name.
Here are 10 things you may not have known about the Lioness of Reggae.
1. SHE BECAME A CITIZEN OF GHANA
Rita Marley moved to Ghana in the 1990s and eventually settled there.
She was given the Ghanaian name Nana Afua Addobea and has maintained a home in Accra, Ghana’s capital.
Her connection to Ghana became an important part of her life and the wider Marley family legacy.
2. SHE HELPED TURN BOB MARLEY’S HOME INTO A MUSEUM
Rita Marley was behind the vision to transform Bob Marley’s former home at 56 Hope Road in Kingston, Jamaica, into the Bob Marley Museum.
Today, the location stands as one of Jamaica’s most recognized places connected to reggae history and Bob Marley’s life.
3. ONE DRAW MADE HISTORY
Rita Marley was also a recording artist in her own right.
Her 1982 single One Draw became a major success in Europe.
The song also made history on the Billboard Disco chart, becoming the first reggae single to reach the top of that chart.
However, the song was considered unsuitable for airplay in Jamaica at the time.
4. SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE ETHIOPIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH
Rita Marley is a member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.
Her baptismal name is Ganette Mariam, a name associated with Paradise of St. Mary.
Her faith has been an important part of her life and spiritual journey.
5. SHE HAS BEEN CREDITED WITH INTRODUCING BOB MARLEY TO RASTAFARIANISM
Rita Marley has been reported as playing a role in introducing Bob Marley to Rastafarianism.
Bob would eventually become one of the most internationally recognized figures associated with Rastafari, helping bring Jamaican music, culture and spiritual ideas to audiences around the world.
6. THE MARLEY FAMILY IS HUGE
According to information associated with the Rita Marley Foundation, Rita Marley has 12 children, more than 60 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
The Marley family has grown into one of the most recognizable musical families in the world.
And the music continues through the generations.
7. HER ELDEST DAUGHTER WAS ADOPTED BY BOB MARLEY
Rita’s eldest daughter, Sharon, was adopted by Bob Marley.
Sharon later married Ghanaian Ekow Alabi Savage.
The Marley family’s connections between Jamaica and Ghana have become an important part of Rita’s life and legacy.
8. SHE FACED A LEGAL BATTLE OVER BOB MARLEY’S ESTATE
In the early 1990s, a federal jury found Rita Marley not guilty of allegations involving the improper handling of approximately US$20 million from Bob Marley’s estate.
An attorney and an accountant involved in the matter were found guilty of fraud and ordered to repay approximately US$2 million to the estate.
The case became one of the legal battles surrounding the enormous estate left behind by Bob Marley.
9. SHE SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDED A MAJOR LAWSUIT INVOLVING ASTON BARRETT
In 2006, a London court dismissed a £60 million lawsuit brought by former Wailers bassist Aston “Family Man” Barrett against Rita Marley.
Barrett had claimed that he had contributed bass lines and songwriting work to Bob Marley’s music without receiving proper compensation.
The court rejected the claim.
10. BEFORE MUSIC AND FAME, RITA WAS A NURSE
One fact that is sometimes overlooked is that Rita Marley was trained as a nurse.
Her life has taken her from healthcare to music, from Jamaica to Ghana, and from being Bob Marley’s wife to becoming an important figure in her own right.
AND THE MARLEY LEGACY CONTINUES
Rita Marley’s story did not end with Bob Marley.
The Marley family continues to produce musicians who carry the family name into new generations.
Her grandson, Skip Marley, is also a reggae musician.
From Bob Marley to Rita Marley and now to Skip Marley, the music continues to travel across generations and across borders.
That is part of what makes the Marley story so powerful.
It is no longer just the story of one Jamaican musician.
It has become a global family legacy.
BAHAMA DRAMA
From The Bahamas to Jamaica, Ghana and the rest of the world, we bring you the stories behind the names you know.
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