RITA MARLEY- CELEBRATING AN ICON

Ghana, the fountainhead of Pan- Africanism, must be commended for the honor bestowed on Bob Marley's First Lady, Rita Marley, who was recently conferred with honorary citizenship in the country she has made home for a long time. The honor came at an auspicious time in Ghana's history of renaissance and also served as a seal of approval for the great daughter of Africa, who has contributed much in terms of ideals and resources, to better the lot of her host community and country. I am sure the forefathers of Pan Africanism would turn in their graves in joy to celebrate this honorary award given to the iconic Rita Marley.

Rita Marley, whom I call Mama Africa, 67 years old, is a woman of substance extra ordinaire. Married to the legendary Bob Marley at the age of 20 years, when she was a member of the soulettes called 'I Threes', who performed as backup singers for the Wailers Band; she was part of the group that gave reggae music an international acceptance and allure it still enjoys today. After the death of her husband in 1981, she has kept the flame of his ideals alive by continuing his legacies of humanitarian services offered to the poor through Bob Marley Foundation which she established. In Ghana, where she later made home, through her foundations and initiatives she has transformed the lives of many children in distress through sponsorship and has also contributed positively to the development of art and culture to elevate the minds of young Africans. Indeed, Ghana did well to honor and adopt the great daughter of the soil who has a true love and passion for Africa.

As an extension of her goodwill, through Rita Marley Foundation, she has reformed hundreds of children from African countries and as a further gesture of unconditional love adopted over 30 of these children as her own. A strong and influential mother of iconic sons and daughters of Zion and a model of motherhood that inspires the new generation of African mothers to excellence, I join the rest of the black world to celebrate this black Amazon and to congratulate her families on the success. I wish her many more years to celebrate success and excellence in Ghana, in Africa and all over the world.

Cheers!!

Aluta continua,

Wale Owoeye Esq.