By Shereita Grizzle— Rita Marley—–  The Marley family matriarch, Rita Marley, was recently conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters by the University of the West Indies, Mona (UWI). The presentation was made during UWI’s graduation ceremony on Sunday. The widow of the late reggae singer, Bob Marley, will now be referred to as Dr. Alfarita Marley (DLITT). In his citation just before the presentation, UWI’s public orator described Marley as a source of inspiration. “Rita Marley is that woman, is that force, is that source of the creative overflow of that period and beyond,” he read. “She has also been matriarch of the Marley family, as well as the Marley Foundation, who, since Bob’s passing, has continued to build with the Marley family, a globally recognized musical empire.” Marley was honored for her contribution to the … Read entire article »

Rita Marley—- RITA Marley, singer and wife of reggae king Bob Marley, received her African Women of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award at a glitzy ceremony at the Warwick Hotel in New York, recently. The event was hosted by the African Union Diaspora Africa Forum in collaboration with the United Nations. The Marley family matriarch was bestowed the honor for her philanthropic works in Africa and Jamaica through the Rita Marley Foundation. “I want to show some love to Africa, Jamaica and our ancestors. As Bob Marley said: ‘Africa Unite’, ’cause we’re treading on the winepress for far too long. United we stand, divided we fall,” she told the gathering. “All of us gathered here this evening still have a great deal of work ahead of us; because, right now in Africa, young girls and women … Read entire article »

Rita Marley—- REGGAE singer Rita Marley will be this year’s recipient of the Living Legends Award from the African Women of Excellence Awards (AWEA) Committee. The ceremony will be held at the African Women of Excellence Awards Empowerment Banquet at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York on September 12. Marley, who is the widow of reggae singer Bob Marley, said the honor came as a surprise. “I was not expecting this award. I know I’ve done hard work, to God be the glory,” she told the Jamaica Observer. According to Dr Erieka Bennett, head of mission (AU) Diaspora African Forum, Marley was selected for her outstanding contributions to music, and political and social activism. The award, according to Dr Bennett, was conceived as a platform to recognize Women of Africa and of African descent who … Read entire article »