Cedella Booker passes away in Miami
10th April 2008
All credits: Jamaican Gleaner
Cedella Booker, mother of pop icon Bob Marley and matriarch of reggae's most famous family, died at her Miami home on Tuesday evening. She was 81 years old. Jerome Hamilton, a spokesperson for the Marley’s, told The Gleaner that Booker passed away in her sleep. No cause of death has been given. Booker was a popular figure in the South Florida area she called home for more than 30 years. Since 1993 she was integrally involved in promotion of the annual Bob Marley Movement Festival there, which raised funds to buy food for the indigent.
The live show attracted major stars including Carlos Santana and Wyclef Jean.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Bruce Golding paid tribute to Booker, saying she was a star in her own right. "Her life was one of hardship, struggle and fulfilment and through it all she exuded hope, strength and confidence." Information Minister Olivia Grange described Booker as a 'true heroine'.
Booker, who is survived by two of her four children, last visited Jamaica in February for the annual celebrations marking Bob Marley's birthday. A thanksgiving service for her life will be held in Miami on Sunday, a statement from the Marley family said.
Cedella Malcolm was born in Rhoden Hall, St Ann. At 18, she gave birth to her first child Robert Nesta Marley; his father was Norval Marley, an Englishman 35 years her senior.
Shortly after Norval Marley died in 1955, Cedella moved with Bob to Kingston. She lived in Trench Town, then an expansive slum bursting with musical talent.
Marley achieved relative success with The Wailers group in the early 1960s. During that period, Booker married an American and immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s, settling in Delaware.
After Marley's death from cancer in May 1981, Booker launched her own musical career, recording two albums: Awake Zion and Smilin' Island of Song.
She also wrote two biographies on her famous son.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Marley's Mother Dies
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Oluwale Memorial
The David Oluwale Memorial Appeal
How you can be involved in the appeal: Come to the following events
Event1:
An evening of information and poetry
On Monday 31st March 2008
At Leeds West Indian Centre, Chapeltown
CARYL PHILLIPS (Writer, St Kitts, Leeds)
“What David Oluwale’s story means to me, and why we need a Memorial in Leeds”
IAN DUHIG (Leeds Poet, Eliot Prize nominee) reading “God Comes Home” in commemoration of David Oluwale
FWORDS, six Yorkshire-based black writers, and
LEEDS YOUNG AUTHORS, will present new work reflecting on David Oluwale’s life.
From 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm.
At Leeds West Indian Centre, Chapeltown LS7 3JA.
(2, 3 or 3a bus from town centre. Get off near Mandela Centre on Chapeltown Road.)
Caribbean food on sale from 6.30pm. Programme starts 7pm.
This event is FREE, but a collection will be taken for the Memorial Fund.
Event 2:
The Hounding of David Oluwale
Thursday 15th May
Kester Aspden will discuss his recent book on David Oluwale and Rommi Smith. FWords will present an artistic and poetic response to David's life and Death. 7 pm, Venue to be confirmed.
For information:
Oluwale Memorial Appeal
c/o Max Farrar, C513 Civic Quarter, Leeds Metropolitan University
Calverley Street, Leeds, LS1 3HE
m.farrar@leedsmet.ac.uk
0113 812 3984
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
BLAK BRUM, a new online resource for Birmingham
BLAK BRUM is coming….
The directory for black business, entertainment and services in
Launching in December 2007
BLAK BRUM is a local community collective, and seeks to provide an accessible and affordable medium for online advertising services that are available within black and marginalised communities in
Visit the website and sign-up to be kept informed of progress!
www.blakbrum.moonfruit.com
We look forward to your custom and support
BLAK BRUMBusiness Team
