In just 15 days, the film Bob Marley: One Love, released in cinemas on February 14, attracted over one million viewers in France. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, this biopic primarily focuses on two pivotal years in the singer's career, from his assassination attempt in 1976 to his 1978 One Love Peace Concert at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The film also topped the English and Jamaican box office charts. Predictably, demand for Bob Marley albums skyrocketed, whether on streaming platforms or through physical purchases.
While the film is distributed by Paramount Pictures, it was produced in partnership with part of the Marley family, including his wife Rita. Married at a very young age, the world-famous reggae star had – officially – a total of 11 children, four of them with Rita. It would be both tedious and ridiculous to list all the girlfriends Marley may have had throughout his life. However, let's mention some of the most illustrious, including supermodels Sandra Kong –whom he met at a beauty contest in Paris – and Cindy Breakspeare, crowned Miss World in 1976, with whom he had a child, Damian. Although accepted belatedly by the family, he was nevertheless regarded as his father's rightful successor for a time.
When he died of cancer, on May 11, 1981, Marley left no will or final wishes. Under Jamaican law, his wife received 55% of the inheritance, with the rest divided between his legitimate children. In 2009, the entire family signed a lucrative deal with US company Hilco Consumer Capital, granting them exclusive worldwide licensing rights to the Marley name. According to the American magazine Forbes, the beneficiaries accrued over $14 million (€12.8 million) in 2020.
While most of Bob Marley's children still spend time in Jamaica, they all currently live in Florida, where they have rebuilt their lives. Inheriting a substantial legacy, many of them have tried to pursue their own musical careers.
The film's co-producer, Ziggy Marley, is probably the best-known to the general public. The second son of Rita and Bob, he first appeared on stage at his father's funeral in 1981. The following year, Ziggy formed a band, The Melody Makers, accompanied by Stephen, one of his brothers, and Cedella and Sharon, two of his sisters. Over time, the band developed its unique sound by combining reggae with various contemporary music styles.
Alongside Ziggy and Damian, three other children have succeeded in following in their father's footsteps. Julian, who recorded his first song at the age of five, won Best Reggae Album 2023 at the 66th Grammy Awards for Colors of Royal. The son of Bob Marley and table tennis champion Anita Belnavis, Ky-Mani grew up in the United States under very difficult conditions and away from the Marley family. His musical repertoire, comprising four albums, features several songs inspired by this legacy, including "Dear Dad," in which he pays tribute to his father.
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