Full slate of activities planned to honour Rita Marley for 76th birthday

Rita Marley will celebrate her 76th birthday in true iconic fashion this year. To commemorate the occasion, dubbed ‘One Rita: Royal and Rootsy’, the Marley family has planned a series of events culminating in a concert fit for the reggae queen.

Marley turns 76 on July 25. The activities surrounding her birthday aim to highlight and support Jamaican communities that are rooted in causes she is passionate about as a cultural legend and philanthropist.

“Her philanthropy, determination, work ethic and entrepreneurship is the meaning of community. That’s where I’ve seen the real meaning of love and heart,” said grandson Skip Marley.

True to form, the events scheduled over the month are humanitarian, environmental, wellness-driven, and include the launch of the annual Rita Marley Scholarship.

Birthday activities kick off on July 9 with the One Rita Beach Clean-up at 8 Miles, Bull Bay. On July 15, the Rita Marley Foundation will host The Reggae Closet, a free boutique for Kingston’s inner-city communities. A Women’s Health & Wellness Day at Jamnesia, on July 13, will see providers of health services to the community. This is followed by a Bonfire Reasoning on the beach by women, for women, and about women. Other tributes include a Suite of Songs performance from the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica to recognise her cultural influence as Jamaica celebrates its 60th year of Independence.

The highlight of the celebrations is a star-studded concert that is streamed live on US-based satellite radio company SiriusXM on July 13 at 5 p.m. Eastern/4 p.m. Jamaica time on Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Radio channel 19 and the SiriusXM app. A slew of popular Jamaican entertainers, including Tarrus Riley, Chaka Demus and Pliers, Carlene Davis, Richie Spice, Gem Myers, Dean Fraser, Shuga, and Christopher Ellis, will join forces to fête the matriarch of the Marley family.

The celebration culminates with a live video stream on Rita Marley’s birthday, July 25, on Tuff Gong TV, sharing with fans around the world highlights of the birthday activities as well as the SiriusXM concert.