The best of Bob Marley is not limited to his music, but also includes the legacy carried on by his children. His children by birth order are: Sharon, Cedella, Ziggy, Stephen, Robbie, Rohan, Karen, Stephanie, Julian, Ky-Mani, and the youngest Damian.
Each has gone on to influence their culture and surroundings. Ziggy, Stephen, and Damian pursued careers in music in the footsteps of their father. They have all embarked on enormously successful projects, including albums that deviate from the traditional “roots” reggae played by Bob Marley. For example, in 2010 Damian released an album with rapper Nas titled, “Distant Relatives.”The album was a huge commercial success selling millions of copies, and led to a sold-out national tour.
While many of Bob Marley’s children stuck with music, one was inspired by his legacy in a different way. In 2007, Rohan founded Marley Coffee, an organic coffee plantation and sustainable farming business located in the heart of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains. His goal was to elevate the social status of farm workers by paying them higher wages and providing better working conditions. Bob Marley had always wanted to return to his homeland of Jamaica to begin a plantation that would uplift the impoverished from the slums and contribute to the betterment of the community. The best of Bob Marley continues to live on in these plantations in Jamaica, via Rohan and Marley Coffee.
Rohan recalls his grandmother drying their wild coffee berries in the sun, and his father’s desire to return to this simple life of farming. Rohan remembers his father saying, “I’m going to stop playing music one day and just farm.” But Bob Marley never actually fulfilled this desire. Rohan began Marley Coffee saying, “I’m that other side,” in fulfillment of Bob Marley’s dream.
Marley’s legacy has reached the far corners of the world, and has continued to live on through his children. These children constitute the Best of Bob Marley.
Check out the video below to hear Rohan talk about the farm.
Peace and Love.
