Music transcends boundaries for star
Grammy Award-winning musician Stephen Marley has many memories of performing with his family. But one of his favorites was when he traveled to Zimbabwe with his father, the late reggae icon Bob Marley.
“It was really eye-opening,” says Marley, whose latest EP is “One Take: Acoustic Jams.” “I was probably about 9 years old. My brother, Ziggy, and I performed with him to honor the nation’s independence at the time. This was the moment I realized music is way more than just music.”
Proceeds from his latest tour benefited the Ghetto Youths Foundation, which aids communities in need.
Marley, who was born in Delaware and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, talked to us about some of his favorite travel memories.
A: It would be Jamaica, of course. There is so much beauty, culture and life on this island. Explore the rivers and beaches. Reach Falls near Port Antonio is really majestic and there are not a ton of tourists. Around the North Coast of Jamaica — where Ocho Rios and Port Antonio are located — it is more rustic and untapped, while Negril is famous for its seven-mile stretch of white sand beaches and blue waters. There really is something for everyone in Jamaica. A: The world is very diverse, but yet everything is similar. We have all these different customs, culture and traditions that make each society unique, but if you have a chance to connect on a human level, you realize there is more that bonds us than separates us. In my travels, I fortunately have been able to see how the power of music can interconnect us all and transcend boundaries.
A: Definitely more casual. I would eat at Cutties, which is a little food spot in Trench Town, Jamaica. The food is simple and fresh. You won’t find this spot online though. You just have to go to town and ask around.
A: In the countryside of Saint Ann in Jamaica. My father was born in Nine Mile, a district in the Saint Ann parish, so it holds a special place in my heart and in my childhood memories. The countryside is calming and filled with rivers and falls and is lush with a variety of plant life, (like) wisdom trees, fruit trees and flowers.
A: My trip to Ethiopia was best. As a Rasta, there is a connection you feel the moment you hit the ground. This is the Land of Zion. The people, energy and country are so vibrant.
A: Africa. It is the Motherland, the foundation of life. Everything about Africa flows through the human race.
A: India. Like Jamaica, the people seem to have a lot of hope, vibrancy and rich colorful culture, despite any turmoil that they may have faced. I would love to visit.
A: Because I am moving around a lot on tour, sometimes I just want to decompress and just go to the movies.