Pubdate: Sat, 13 May 2006
Source: Tide, The (Nigeria)
Copyright: 2006 The Tide
Contact:  http://www.thetidenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3973
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Bob+Marley (Bob Marley)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Marijuana)

REGGAE FAITHFULS CELEBRATE

Reggae faithfuls in Rivers State has celebrated the late Raggae
King, Right Honourable Robert Nesta Marley's day in grand style in
Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The event which took place on Wednesday and Thursday at studies night
club and Emma Chez Hotel respectively witnessed a mammoth crowd of
Raggae faithfuls across the country as well as other music lovers.

Speaking at the venue of the event, the president of Raggae world in
the state, Ras Chidi Umeh, stressed that the late Bob Marley
popularised Reggae music in the world and used his music as an
instrument for the war against oppression and other social vices and
preached emancipation of Africans in the diaspora.

According to him, late Bob Marley remains the most prominent advocate
of Rastafarianism, a movement which began as a struggle for the
unification of the Africans, but has now metamorphosed into a
religious movement which believes and regards the late imperial
majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia as god and saviour of the
black race.

He said though there exists a long list of ardent advocates of this
religious consciousness, late Bob Marley remained the most vocal of
all and an ardent advocate of the use of marijuana which is considered
as the Rastafarian religious sacrament. The Reggae King died of cancer
in 1981.

Ras Chidi Umeh explained that Marley's day which is celebrated every
May 11th is a global phenomenon and Raggae world in the state could
not be left out, hence the celebration here in the state capital.

He gave thanks and praises to Jah Almighty that it was a successful
celebration. The Reggae president also thanked individuals and
corporate bodies in the state who contributed to the success of the
event.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake