More than 800 reggae fans came together for a vibrant Caribbean celebration honouring the birthday of Bob Marley, the iconic ‘King of Reggae,’ on what would have been his 81st birthday.
The special tribute, held at Captain Jack’s Restaurant at the Elite Seef Residence, treated attendees to live music, classic Caribbean dishes like jerk chicken and laid-back island vibes, celebrating the musician’s lasting influence on the global music scene.
Speaking to the GDN, Bob Marley’s cousin Alex Marley, widely-regarded as ‘reggae royalty’, reflected on the legacy of the cultural icon.
“It feels very unreal that a small country like Jamaica is being celebrated all the way in Bahrain,” he said. “It is a huge honour, and it makes me really happy to see this kind of cultural exchange happening in different parts of the world.”
Speaking about Marley’s message through his music, he said it was always rooted in peace, love and unity among people of all backgrounds.
“Marley was mixed-raced and truly believed in the power of people coming together and having a good time,” he added, suggesting that people around the world have far more in common than differences.
“Everyone wants happiness, food, health and peace, and that is what Marley stood for. I think people everywhere can relate to that.”
He also noted the lasting influence that Marley’s music continues to have on today’s artists. “Most artists still carry a piece of Marley in their music because he made some of the best music ever – even if I’m a little biased!” he said.
A headliner in his own right, Alex Marley encouraged young people in Bahrain to learn how to play musical instruments and move away from relying on artificial intelligence, saying it takes away from the authenticity and real passion of music.
Meanwhile, event organiser Don Adonai told GDN, Marley’s birthday continues to be celebrated worldwide and the Bahrain event was held to honour his legacy while spreading positive energy.
“We’ve been holding this tribute for about four years now,” he said. “The event featured a Caribbean brunch – curated by Chef Big Sho of Kingston 10 – whose father cooked for Marley himself!”
The brunch welcomed more than 200 people and featured unlimited food and drinks, warming up for the main event, from 1pm to 9pm, which attracted 800 music lovers.
The celebration featured a full day of musical performances, with headliner Alex Marley joined by the Wailing Wailers, Mo Ali, DJ Epic, DJ Shola, DJ Nesto, DJ Kriss Darlin, DJ Trouble, and local band Kushari Band with Abyooki, among others. “It’s always a great vibe,” he added.
Mr Adonai also thanked Bahrain, describing it as a cosmopolitan country where people of many nationalities live together in ‘peace, love and harmony’.
Miami Events Bahrain director Madan Perratur said the company’s goal is to consistently position the kingdom as a leading destination for tourism and entertainment.
“Seeing people from all backgrounds come together to celebrate such an iconic legacy in music is truly inspiring,” he said. “With every event, we aim to deliver the best in music, entertainment, food and atmosphere, elevating Bahrain’s nightlife while continuously striving for more.”
julia@gdnmedia.bh
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