Agence France Presse

Addis Ababa:

Celebrations to mark the 60th anniversary of the birth of the late reggae superstar Bob Marley moved into full swing on February 2 with the opening of art and photo exhibitions and a symposium on African history based on themes in the music legend’s songs.

With hundreds of thousands of reggae fans and dreadlocked followers of the Rastafarian movement that Marley championed expected to jam the Ethiopian capital ahead of a gala concert on Sunday, smaller events held sway. The African country is regarded by Rastafarians as their promised land. At the offices of the UN Economic Commission for Africa, a symposium bearing the same name as the month-long ‘Africa Unite’ celebrations, got under way to examine the historical perspectives of the African experience. A collection of rare photographs of Marley’s life and music was on display as well as a selection of artifacts from across Africa and an exhibition of the works of more than 30 sculptors, craft makers and jewelers.

The celebration kicked off late on February 1 at an opening ceremony attended by Marley’s widow Rita, the grandson of former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, the spiritual leader of the Rastafarians, and Hollywood star Danny Glover. Others included members of the Rastafarian community, local leaders of the Orthodox and Muslim religions and the mayor of Addis Ababa, Arkebe Oqubay, who granted Rita Marley honorary citizenship of the city.

“I am greatly honoured to receive this award and know that this is brother Bobs dream come true,” she said. “We are calling on all the children of Africa to unite and let it be one continent.” Ethiopia, home of the African Union and birthplace of Rastafarianism, was chosen by Marley’s family to host events marking what would have been his 60th birthday on February 6, the first time the annual celebration has taken place outside his native Jamaica.

Festivities this week include a concert by the I-three, the singers who backed Marley, and Angelique Kidjo, the west African singer from the state of Benin.

The highlight in Addis Ababa will be an open-air concert on Sunday in the city’s biggest square by members of Marley’s family, Senegalese singers Babaa Maal and Youssou N’Dour, as well as Kidjo and Ethiopia’s Teddy Afro.