On display are his albums, which were recorded long before CDs were available, along with numerous walls of memorabilia telling the story of the legends life.

Learn firsthand about how Reggae was born from music known as Rocksteady, but quickly overtook this style to become one of the most beloved forms of music the world has ever known. Live through his eyes as he evolved as a musician, through his ups and downs, both personal and professional.

There is little doubt that the man born Robert Nesta Marley in 1945, would impact both Reggae and the music scene that came out of Jamaica. Prior to the Wailers signing a contract with Island Records in the early 1970s, outside of Jamaica it was still a relatively unknown genre of music. Reggae had difficulty holding its own against the growing popularity of Rock n Roll. The Wailers third album Catch a Fire would mark the first Reggae album recorded by a major record label.

An earlier version of the Wailers had him performing with Reggae legends Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Junior Brathwaite, who later would strike out on their own to create solo careers. Although discouraged by their departures, learn about how he picked himself up and along with wife Rita, went on to record his fourth and probably his best album, Exodus.

Feel as if you were there with him as he recorded the songs that made him famous. Follow along and witness his concert tours through England, the United States, Germany, France, Kenya and Ethiopia via numerous photos that decorate the walls of the 19th century building.

Follow his journey from Catholicism to Rastafarianism and see how the latter greatly influenced his music, his family and his decision not to seek treatment for Malignant Melanoma, which eventually killed him in 1981.

Situated in the home he purchased for the family, with his wife Rita, and learn how, six years after his death in 1981, Rita converted it into a museum.

Tours begin daily at 9:30 a.m. and the last one starts at 4:00 p.m., and they are open to adults and children of all ages. The museum is open Monday through Saturday and is closed every Sunday. It has an 80-seat theatre from which fans can view video footage of his concerts and interviews.

The Bob Marley Museum is located at:
56 Hope Road
Kingston 6
Jamaica, W.I.
(876) 978-2929

Jamaican Patois however, is a curious blending of Creole and English, originating from the West African slaves who were brought over hearing the speech of their masters. Even though British English is the predominant language when it comes to writing, Jamaican Patois, which is primarily a spoken tongue, has been gaining ground in literary circles for some time.

Highly idiomatic, the Jamaican Patois is difficult to understand for many, even for fellow English (non-Caribbean) speakers. Additionally, Jamaican Patois has several similarities to the pidgin and Creole languages of West Africa due to their common descent from African languages that have become meshed with assorted European languages. Another problem with Jamaican Patois is that because it’s a non-standard language, there are multiple ways of writing it. No official way exists. This could be why certain authors who wrote in Patois exclusively had such a difficult time in gaining acceptance from their contemporaries elsewhere in the world. Another aspect of Jamaican Patois that makes it so fascinating is that it contains many loanwords, mostly English. However, there are words borrowed from other tongues as well – namely Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Arawak and African dialects.

Such a rich and varied language should be the talk of the town, not only in academic circles, but also the world over. Thankfully the language is not isolated solely to the island. Large communities of Jamaican expatriates exist in several cities around the world, including Toronto, Washington D.C., London, New York, Hartford, Miami, and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

A Great Patois Dictionary

9 Mile is a small village in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. Both the birthplace and final resting place of Reggae legend Bob Marley, its a must see for any fan of his.

Outside the areas the tourists tend to flock  Ocho Rios, Negril, and Montego Bay  most of Jamaica is poor. Indeed Jamaica is one of the poorest island nations in the Caribbean. For the tourists who tend to frequent all-inclusive resorts, there may be a certain amount of shock when seeing begging children and drugs (mostly marijuana) sold openly on the street. This is the scene all over Jamaica, with the exception of the aforementioned areas where tourism requires a more scenic view.

The 9 Mile of the 1940s through the 1970s was not unlike what you find in Kingston, where pickpockets are second only to gang violence on the crime scale. From the point of view of a tourist, who is not accustomed to seeing this, it would surely be quite shocking to witness. However, the big difference between 9 Mile today and that of the time when Bob Marley grew up is his fame and fortune.

Whether you arrive to 9 Mile by way of hired Taxi or youve rented a car or a tour company, indeed youll likely be met by begging children and a Rastafarian or two hoping to sell you some marijuana, but by and large its safe. This wasnt the case 30 to 50 years ago.

Today, 9 Mile is owned and operated by Bob Marleys family. Indeed the road leading to 9 Mile is in desperate need of repair, once inside the 30-foot tall purple gates of 9 Mile, its quite the Rastafarian paradise. Clean, well maintained, organized and can rival any of the aforementioned resort towns with its presentation.

Until her death in March 2008, Marleys mother Cedelia Booker Marley would often be seen walking up and down the street doing such normal things such as shopping for groceries; indeed an indication of the level of safety within 9 Mile.

Although Bob Marley is the most famous person to come from 9 Mile, many others with equal notoriety were born in St. Ann Parish. Black Nationalist and Author Marcus Garvey, as well as Reggae musicians Burning Spear and Floyd Lloyd are among them.

Despite the towns tiny size, it is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Jamaica, the Caribbean and as well the world.

A Little about the Man, the Musician, the Legend

Marley was born in 1945 in 9 Mile, in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica to [Jamaican by descent] Norval Sinclair Marley, a captain in the British Royal Navy and Cedela Booker Marley.  He would form and dissolve three bands before finding fame with the one we know today as Bob Marley and the Wailers. The first band he founded performed a style known as Rocksteady, from which Reggae was born in the late 1960s.

Jamaicas Prodigal Son Returns Home

Few would argue that were it not for Bob Marley and the Wailers, the world outside of Jamaica might never have come to appreciate the unique sound known as Reggae. Becoming the standard by which all future Reggae musicians would be rated, Marley offered us not only his musical genius but also his love for life, his religion and his way of life. For the brief period that he was alive, the world got a glimpse into the life of the man who would become the father of Reggae.

Much too soon, Marley died in 1981 of Malignant Melanoma. He was only 36. Left to mourn his memory and legacy are his wife Rita, his 11 children, some of whom are Ritas and others the result of his free-spirited life and literally millions of fans around the world.

Pilgrimage to 9 Mile

Tens of thousands of fans flock to his birthplace and final resting place, known as 9 Mile. Located about 1½ hours from Ocho Rios, a popular tourist site also in St. Ann Parish, you can rent a car, hire a taxi or pay a tour company to get there. Traveling the countryside from your resort to a part of Jamaica that to this day remains poverty-stricken, it can go unnoticed what often inspired Marleys lyrics in songs like Get Up, Stand Up,One Love/People Get Ready, Redemption Song, Exodus and many others.

Although it might shock fans to see children begging, especially having spent several days in your resort, its well worth the pilgrimage. Not only do you get a glimpse into the reality of what its like for the hundreds of thousands of Jamaicans who dont rely on tourist dollars to feed their families, but as a fan of Jamaicas prodigal son, its a must see!

When I meet you around the corner (round the corner),

You make me feel like a sweepstake winner (a sweep – a sweepstake winner).

Whoa, child! Can’t you see? You must believe me!

Oh darling, darling, I’m calling, calling:

Can’t you see? Why won’t you believe me?

When analyzing the songs written by Bob Marley, one can hear his love for life, his passion for Rastafarianism and his distaste for much of the injustice that was a sign of the times then. Even in such songs as Exodus, his lyrics convey his wish to empower his fellow brothers and sisters, by way of lifting oneself up and looking within to find the answers to difficulties everyone faces.

Conversely, lyrics in present day Reggaeton and Dancehall, which advocate violence and hate, have even the fans of the music torn between loving the beat and hating the lyrics they represent.

Throughout 9 Mile and the island nation of Jamaica, music has long been an expression of the dissatisfaction with the poverty, crime and living conditions of the majority. What appears to be different today vs. when Bob Marley and the Wailers were writing and singing about the issues that plague the country is possibly perspective. While Marley clearly advocated taking responsibility for ones actions and if empowering people to stand up be heard, he never advocated violence as a vehicle to achieve this. Embracing the principles of Rastafarianism, which by nature is non-violent and peaceful, Bob Marley did all he could to spread a message of love and understanding.

It’s difficult to imagine that the man, who is ultimately responsible for putting Reggae on the International map, would be very happy to hear the lyrics of the popular Jamaican genres of today.

At the moment, it would seem as though both Reggaeton and Dancehall are not going anywhere anytime soon. While some love the music for its ability to get fans on the dance floor, others appear to be inspired by the message of hate and taking matters into your own hands.

As with all fads, one can only hope that as the expression goes, this too shall pass.

Ziggy Marley was born on October 17, 1968 “ the most senior of the elder Marley’s sons and third child after his siblings Sharon and Cedella to mother Rita. Born in the Trenchtown, a neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica, Ziggy and his siblings, Cedella, Stephen and Sharon formed a band with their father in 1979, which came to be known later, as The Melody Makers. Their recording debut, Children Playing in the Streetswas Ziggy’s first true introduction to the world of the music industry. The Melody Makers wouldn’t debut an LP until after their father’s death in 1981,Play the Game Right. Since then, The Melody Makers have released thirteen albums spanning twenty-three years.

After their first album, they moved to Virgin Records in order to keep the group together, where they recorded three new albums. These were: Conscious Party, One Bright Day and Jahmekya (1988, 1989 and 1991 respectively). Sadly, as the 1990s progressed, the popularity of The Melody Makers waned. However Ziggy never let this slow him down. Having become politically active, Ziggy began working with the United Nations, and to that end, formed a record label known as Ghetto Youths Crew with his siblings Stephen, Julian, and Damian. GYC is a label founded to help bring young reggae artists the notice and acclaim they deserve.

In the first few years of the 21st century, Ziggy entered a solo career, releasing Dragonfly, Love is My Religion and Family Time on his own record label, Tuff Gong Worldwide.

Throughout his life, Ziggy has exemplified his father’s final words, becoming well-known for his generous spirit, and willingness to help the less fortunate. His charitable and philanthropic work has made as much of a marked difference in the lives of many, as his music has, both then and now. A far cry from what most think of when they think of modern ‘reggae music’, the music of Ziggy and his family offer something that other ‘music’ does not. Whether or not you’re a fan of reggae music, surely you can appreciate that there’s at least one person who believes in and helps foster in others, a hope for the future.