Rita Marley throughout LIVE 8 – Philadelphia – Present at Philadelphia Museum of Artwork in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
Photograph by Theo Wargo/WireImage
The Consulate Common of Jamaica, New York, lately hosted an occasion that transported attendees to Rita Marley’s coronary heart and residential.
“From the refreshing sorrel and ital treats to the evocative storytelling and music by Zion Marley and Tuff Luke Iron, the ambiance was wealthy with connection to the matriarch of reggae,” Jamaican leisure publicist Micahaela Samuels informed Caribbean Life.
She mentioned the occasion featured excerpts from Rita Marley’s books, merchandise shows, and “an inspiring walkway adorned with paintings and time-stamped photographs.
“These visuals captured her journey as a performer with the I Threes and extra intimate moments along with her household and Bob Marley, creating an immersive expertise all through the convention area,” added Samuels, a Brooklyn resident.
She mentioned the night started with “a heat welcome” by Renee Reynolds, vice consul of Jamaica, adopted by a “highly effective and heartfelt assertion from curator Donisha Prendergast.

“Friends have been then handled to a energetic Q&A dialogue with Lee Jaffe, who shared anecdotes about his interactions with Rita and Bob Marley throughout their time in New York and Jamaica within the Nineteen Seventies,” Samuels mentioned.
Samuels mentioned reggae artist Taurus Riley made a shock look to point out his assist for this tribute to Rita Marley, including to the occasion’s significance.
One attendee mirrored on the night: “Rita Marley’s grandchildren paid an exquisite tribute to their grandmother and matriarch on the Jamaican Consulate.
“It was not solely nostalgic however memorable and highlighted her invaluable contributions to reggae music in Jamaica and worldwide. The leisure was nice, and the refreshments have been scrumptious. We had an exquisite time.”
Samuels mentioned celebrating Rita Marley’s legacy was a “heartfelt and galvanizing reminder of her contributions to reggae, tradition and neighborhood.”
“The Backyard That Rita Grew,“ an evocative exhibit celebrating Rita Marley’s legacy as an influential determine in reggae tradition and a foundational voice for Jamaican heritage, was on show on the Jamaica Consulate Common in New York from Nov. 18-20.

Curated by her eldest granddaughter, Donisha Prendergast, the exhibit presents a deeply private narrative that spans generations, highlighting Rita Marley’s impression on her household, neighborhood, and the world.
By means of an suave mix of portray, images, vinyl panels, and punctiliously chosen quotes, Prendergast informed Caribbean Life that she presents “a granddaughter’s lens“ on her grandmother’s life and work, creating “a reflective area for viewers to expertise the resilience, creativity, and love that Rita Marley embodies.”
Prendergast mentioned this exhibit is “not solely a tribute to Rita Marley’s journey but in addition a platform for broader conversations on heritage, cultural preservation, and generational therapeutic.”
By staging “The Backyard That Rita Grew“ as a preview on the Heritage Awards, an annual honor ceremony hosted by the Jamaica Consulate Common New York, Prendergast the Consulate honors Rita Marley’s legacy alongside Jamaica’s different impactful figures, creating “an area for guests to attach with tales of Jamaican icons who’ve remodeled and uplifted communities.
“The aim of ‘The Backyard That Rita Grew’ extends past celebrating a single life; it goals to foster cultural reminiscence and assist Rita Marley’s imaginative and prescient of neighborhood empowerment,“ Prendergast mentioned.
She mentioned all paintings on show is obtainable for buy, with proceeds directed towards the Rita Marley Women Heart (RMGC) in Trench City, Jamaica.
Prendergast mentioned this heart, a mission of the Bob Marley & Rita Marley Basis in partnership with the Ghetto Youths Basis, is designed to assist younger girls in Rita Marley’s neighborhood by offering sources in mentorship, life abilities, skilled improvement, and psychological well being assist.
“By making a secure area for younger girls aged 17-25, the middle helps to encourage and equip future generations to guide lives of objective and empowerment, reflecting Rita Marley’s enduring dedication to neighborhood upliftment,“ she mentioned. “Finally, ‘The Backyard That Rita Grew‘ is a name to acknowledge the facility of storytelling, preservation, and neighborhood assist. It honors not solely Rita Marley’s legacy but in addition the energy of all girls who, like her, have left an indelible mark on the world by difficult norms and main with coronary heart.“
By means of this exhibit, Prendergast mentioned she presents a “visible and religious journey that underscores the significance of heritage and empowers guests to mirror on their very own function in carrying ahead legacies of change and resilience.”