Above: Bob Marley in concert at Convocation Hall in Toronto,
Canada. Photo by Erin Combs for Toronto Star / Zuma Press.
Tadias Magazine
Events News
Apr 10, 2007
New York – On Saturday night, the New York African Film Festival hosted an evening of Ethiopian films at Lincoln Center. There was a series of short films to close the night, but the evening opened with the star-studded premiere of Africa Unite, Stephanie Black’s new documentary about the 2005 concert in Addis Ababa. Black previously directed the celebrated anti globalization film Life and Debt.
Highlighting the vision for African unity to which Bob Marley was devoted, the Africa Unite concert was performed for over 350,000 people gathered in the historic Meskel Square of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to celebrate what would have been his sixtieth birthday. The twelve hour concert, featuring internationally acclaimed artists, is interwoven throughout this film, illuminating the global influence of a man who defined his own aim as “spreading the message of unity and equality, to end the needless suffering of mankind.”
Click here to read more about the event.
Related:
Addis Gessesse: The Man Behind the Africa Unite Concert (Tadias)
Photos from the the 2005 concert in Addis Ababa (Tadias)
Above: Some came by road from at least as far as Kampala to
attend the Africa Unite Concert in Addis Ababa in 2005. (Tadias)
Above: Japanese Rastas were among those enjoying the
festivities. Photo from Tadias Archives.
Above: Cedellia Marley Booker, Bob Marley’s mom,
flew in from Florida to perform at the opening night
of Africa Unite. Photo from Tadias Archives.
Above: The beats of the Stone Love Sound System inspire
dancing. Photo from Tadias Archives.
Above: Members of the Rastafarian community came from Sheshemene,
about 250km south of Addis Ababa, to attend the concert. Photo/Tadias.
Above: Angelique Kidjo performs at the event. Photo/Tadias.
Above: Two Rastafarian brothers pose for the camera. (Tadias)
It is an absolute madness! This movement, I ask its benefit to our children to us as a society, I can’t think of a single contribution it has made…
Bob Marley was a bad Model for a husband/father –
conjit! de problem s in you! how bout some RESPECT!!! mon!!
Dont bad mouth something you dont know conjit Bob was a wonderful person. From -USA.
BOB WAS GREATEST PERSON,WHY PEOPLE THINK HE WAS BAD HUSBAND AND FATHER?YOU GUYS SHOULD BUY A BOOK WRITTEN BY HIS MOTHER WHY BOB END UP WITH HIS WIFE RITA,LOTS OF MEN OUT THEIR ARE HAVING AFFAIRS,WHY NOT HIM?HE HELPED TOO MANY POOR PEOPLE IN JAMAICA AND CONTRIBUTE LOTS OF MONEY IN AFRICA. HE WAS FREEDOM ACTIVIST AND ATHLETIC PERSON. WHO EVER COMPLAIN ABOUT HIM ARE NEED TO SEE PSYCHIATRIST.YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY DON’T KNOW HIM AND YOU KIND OF PEOPLE SHOULD INHALE GANJA AND CORRECT YOUR NEGATIVE IMPAIRED BRAIN!!
STOP TALKING BAD ABOUT HIM OTHERWISE I WILL CURSE YOU BY VOODOO MAGIC!!
conjit ,
Do not confuse a cultural event with economic one.
The clear benefit is of course to the Ethiopian tourism sector which will profit from a large number of tourists coming to spend their money during the celebrations.
Zak
conjit think of the movement that contributed you to society and see how much sense that makes. Understand the importance of an education which is not only from a class room but having accurate knowledge of another culture before you condem it. Your ignorance is not the issue right now because I can,t help but feel sorry for you but rather your myopic, one dimentional views of the real world…
I am an artist and have an exhibition on Jamaican artists running at Harmony Hall, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. I am currently working on an art book telling the history of Jamaica and need one image to complete it. The image is of Bob Marley holding up the hands of Bustamante and Marley at the Unity concert. I know it exists but I am having real difficulty finding it. Any help would be welcome. Regards Deanna
NOW dig this. There is nothing on that ever wal the earth like bob. when u can bring the two worst man on the earth to shake hands u great. The bredda man conjit, i understand what u saying, ull always say that until u open ur eyes n see what the man have done. apart from tourism the man build the vibes world wide. his songs touch every part of life n talk about every prob we facing these days. Im not gonna lie not cuz he is jamaican but BOB MARLEY is the oly artist to captivate the minds of world leaders. not micheal jackson r elvis but bob. the woman thing lol, i cant explin but if he didnt do that, there wouldnt be a junior gong n them to continue his work. honestly rita alone couldnt bring all of them come, she needed help. the other good thing about bob u can wake up n listen to his songs every morning they never get stale. unlike everybody else after 1 month max u dont wanna hear them again.look at it 3 little birds is the best song to wake up n listen to as it makes people smile n feel good within themself.
“there is so much trouble in the world”
my mysti marley rastaman & RASTAFARI MY LOVE MY FRTHER BOB MARLEY YEAH
Respect and honor for a great Man! Bob Marley lives 4ever in my hearth and soul!
Jah, Rastrafari!
from Europe, Hungary
pen15
“WHY PEOPLE THINK HE WAS BAD HUSBAND AND FATHER?YOU GUYS SHOULD BUY A BOOK WRITTEN BY HIS MOTHER”
I don’t have an opinion on Mr. Marley one way or another but I wonder how impartial a book by his Mum would be?
; )