• "Bob Marley Week 2004: Listing of Special Events and Reasonings in Jamaica
• BOB MARLEY: BEHIND THE MUSIC.
  VH-1's acclaimed music documentary series takes a look at Bob Marley in a special 90 minute episode. Premiering Sun., June 30, visit VH1.com for show times and video clip outtakes.
• Bob Marley Week 2002 and Black History Month


• Bob Marley Group of Companies Celebrate Bob Marley Museum Celebrates Ethiopian New Year
  
• ZIGGY MARLEY & THE MELODY MAKERS INCORPORATE URGE
  
• GHANA & JAMAICA UNITE at THE RITA MARLEY FOUNDATION
• GHANAIAN MUSEUM LINKS WITH THE BOB MARLEY MUSEUM
  
• BOB MARLEY MUSEUM
  CHANTING FOR AFRICAN LIBERATION
  
• FIRE at TUFF GONG STUDIO, Kingston, Jamaica
  

PRESS RELEASE: September 11, 1998

The Bob Marley Museum will be ringing in the Ethiopian New Year, Friday, September 11, with traditional Ethiopian fare for visitors and staff at the Museum. Ethiopia is now in the year 1990 and will be celebrating the beginning of the year 1991. ie. September 11, 1998, will be Meskerem 1, 1991, in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia uses the Julian Calendar which is divided into 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of 5 or 6 days at the end of the year. The Ethiopian Calendar is 7 years and 8 months behind the Gregorian Calendar (which is commonly used in the western world).

There will be a cutting of the New Year Cake which will be served to all in attendance along with a refreshing traditional Ethiopian drink. Welcome One and All!

Happy New Year Ethiopia!

Melkam Addis Amet!

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PRESS RELEASE: September 2, 1998

'ONE ONE COCOA FULL BASKET'

URGE MAKES FIRST SHIPMENT TO JAMAICA!!!

Earlier this year, Ziggy Marley & The Melody Makers incorporated their non-profit charity organization, URGE. UNLIMITED RESOURCES GIVING ENLIGHTENMENT (URGE) seeks to benefit the less fortunate of the world.

The group has always done charitable works in Jamaica, giving well needed funds to Food For The Poor, Bustamante Children's Hospital, Kingston Public Hospital, among others. Cedella, Sharon, Ziggy, and Stephen have always given cash and kind to needy Jamaicans on a personal level, but now via URGE they can make their resources abroad available for the many worthwhile causes in Jamaica.

With UNLIMITED RESOURCES GIVING ENLIGHTENMENT (URGE) shipping over Forty (40) Computers, Athletic Equipment, and over One Hundred Pounds (100 Lbs.) of Baby Clothes into Kingston this week, The Melody Makers have kicked off their organization's work.

Jamaican Charities are slated to benefit through URGE's coordination with HEART TRUST who will effectively distribute donations to charities and organizations throughout the island. Shipments will be made as many times as possible and Jamaicans are also URGED to contribute.

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PRESS RELEASE: June 10, 1998

Kwame Sarpong, director and owner of Gramophone Records Museum & Research Centre of Ghana, is currently in Jamaica and will be making a formal presentation of works from Ghana to The Bob Marley Museum's Library. The presentation will take place at 10:00am on Monday, June 15, at The Bob Marley Museum.

The late Bob Marley, an icon of African emancipation and unity in the rank of people such as Marcus Garvey and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, did so much for the African cause. The Gramophone Records Museum & Research Centre of Ghana therefore wishes to establish cooperation with The Bob Marley Foundation (Museum) in the effective promotion of Reggae, Highlife and traditional music and arts.

As an initial gesture of this cooperation, The Bob Marley Museum will be presented with copies of the speeches of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah "Africa's Man of Destiny" along with pictures of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and other publications from Ghana for the listening pleasure of visitors to the Museum.

The Gramophone Records Museum and Research Centre of Ghana is a private museum aimed at the collection, restoration and documentation of Ghanaian Highlife, traditional and folk music. The collection numbering over 20,000 78 rpm Shellac gramophone discs of recordings made from the early part of the century to the mid 1960s and 1970s, represent the works of over 700 Ghanaian recording artistes. It also represents the widest assortment of gramophone records and other related archival materials by any private individual.

The Museum is collaborating with many institutions in Ghana, such as the Musicians Union of Ghana, with whom exist a memorandum of understanding for the publication of the works of some vintage Ghanaian recording artistes whose works are presently held at the Museum. It is also collaborating with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and the Information Services Department (ISD) of the Ministry of Communications of Ghana in the creation of an inventory system for Sounds and Images, the preservation of the cultural patrimonium of Ghana for safety and easy accessibility by researchers, musicologists, etc. The Centre by its affiliation with the GBC and the ISD has made it possible to access the speeches of the late president of the Republic of Ghana Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and others.

On the occasion of Ghana's 40th Independence Anniversary Celebrations last year, the Centre in collaboration with the GBC and the ISD produced a CD entitled "Africa's Man of Destiny". This speech was made by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1962 in Accra at the Opening Conference of African Freedom Fighters and Supporters of the African Liberation Struggle.

Mr. Kwame Sarpong has been visiting the Caribbean Islands since February, 1998 to inaugurate and promote this CD as well as forge linkages. Already Mr. Sarpong has been to Surinam, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, and is now here in Jamaica. In the countries visited, the director met with progressive African cultural groups with whom he established collaborations and signed appropriate agreements to that effect.

This presentation is to be the first with other materials also to be made available to The Bob Marley Museum. The cooperation between these organizations is sure to help build a successful cultural and educational unity for years to come.

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PRESS RELEASE: June 16, 1998

Kwame Sarpong, director and owner of Gramophone Records Museum and Research Centre of Ghana is currently in Jamaica and recently made a presentation to the Bob Marley Museum's library. He visited the Bob Marley Museum on Monday, June 15, along with Cecelia Logan, director of Country Farm House, where he presented to Angella Bitter, the museum's librarian, copies of "Africa's Man of Destiny" (the speeches of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah), pictures of Dr. Nkrumah and other publications from Ghana.

Mr. Sarpong and Miss Logan are proposing a plan to form an exchange link between Jamaica and Ghana. Country Farm House will supply Ghana with Soya products and knowledge in exchange for Ghanaian fabric (eg. kinte cloth) and fabric knowledge. There was talk of beginning an after school youth programme where learning about other cultures could take place, starting with the Ghanaian culture. As a part of this proposed exchange of cultural knowledge, Mr. Sarpong has agreed to help seek films for the Bob Marley Theatre's Annual African Film Festival, which is scheduled for screening in October '98.

During the presentation, there were discussions about other ways to forge a closer link between Africa and the Caribbean. There was an expressed hope to have a direct flight from Jamaica to Ghana without having to go to Europe first. The direct flight would only take about 5 hrs. (the same as traveling to New York) and would lead to greater links between Jamaica and Ghana for better trade, commerce, and communication.

After the presentation Mr. Sarpong and Miss Logan were given a tour of the Bob Marley Museum by the Bob Marley Foundation's group administrator, Marjorie Scott . Mr. Sarpong left by saying, "It is a wonderful place, I could stay here all day."

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PRESS RELEASE: May 22, 1998

Labour Day, Monday, May 25, is AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY! In celebration of this momentous historical occasion, The Bob Marley Museum will host an afternoon of chanting. All members of the public are invited to attend this culturally uplifting event on Monday, May 25, 1:00pm - 2:00pm, at The Bob Marley Museum.

To facilitate the observance of AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY, The Bob Marley Museum will remain open on this public holiday. It was at the first conference of the independent African states on April 15, 1958, that it was decided to celebrate this historic day as African Freedom Day throughout the continent. However, on May 25, 1963, it was decreed that the day on which the significant Charter of the Organization of African Unity was signed would, from that day forth, be celebrated as the continent's AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY.

To commemorate the 40th year of African unity and freedom, The Bob Marley Museum will present an ilect of drummers from the Haile Selassie I Theocracy Government along with singing, poetry, and chanting in thankful praise. Local artist Jah Lloyd is helping with the coordination of this auspicious event which is sure to be a celebration befitting the occasion.

AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY rejoices in the freedom of the independent African states, as well as, reaffirms and motivates the continued worldwide struggle to liberate ALL of Africa. COME & CELEBRATE WITH US!

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PRESS RELEASE: April 28, 1998

FIRE at TUFF GONG STUDIO, Kingston, Jamaica

On Sunday morning, April 19, at approximately 5:30 am smoke was noticed coming from the Tuff Gong Recording Studio located at 220 Marcus Garvey Drive, Kingston 11. An attempt was made to extinguish the fire but upon realizing its capacity the Trench Town Fire Station was called.

The fire brigade was able to save the rest of the building but the walls, ceiling, and floor of the first half of the studio along with a grand piano is destroyed. There is a crack in the glass that separates the control room and other items are being checked to see if there is any damage caused from water and heat. Hunt's Bay Police were called and they returned on Monday, April 20, with a forensic expert who has confirmed that the fire was caused by a short circuit.

Fortunately no one was hurt. The building is insured and after the insurance team visited the studio, an electrician was brought in and a clean up project with an estimate of repairs and damages has started. The Marley Studio (where Lauryn Hill recoded her solo album) located at The Bob Marley Museu, 56 Hope Road, Kingston 6, is still open and in excellent working condition.

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