When Kallia Wright looked at the 2007 calendar of events for the Multicultural Center, she knew something was missing.
I noticed Bob Marley Day wasn't on the calendar. For me it's more noticeable because I know his birthday (when the celebration is commonly held)
said Wright, an Ohio University doctoral student.
This year, Bob Marley Day is back. Wright will host tonight's event, which features films about Marley's life, traditional Caribbean food and a live reggae band.
The first university celebration of Bob Marley's life and legacy was in 2005 and was created by Winsome Chunnu, assistant director of the Lindley Cultural Center.
I suggested that we celebrate someone from the African diaspora (for Black History Month) Chunnu said. Bob Marley is recognizable and has international appeal because of the message of his music.
Last year, the center's calendar of events was so full that there was nowhere to schedule the event, she said. This year, programmers made sure to hold Bob Marley Day on Parents Weekend to showcase the diverse cultural programming that
OU offers.
The first year we had between 500 to 600 people show up and I'm expecting even more this year. We usually have a lot of diversity and get a lot of families
Chunnu said.
Both Chunnu and Wright are from Jamaica and are still amazed at the popular appeal of Marley.
In Jamaica
everybody knows him and loves him. But here
it's a whole other level of adoration
Chunnu said.
Marley has been dead since 1980, but his image is everywhere, Wright said.
But Marley isn't a figure without controversy, though. Many of the images of him on college campuses feature him smoking marijuana.
Chunnu doesn't think that by honoring Bob Marley the university is encouraging drug culture.
A lot of people associate Rastafarians with marijuana
but there's difference between people who lock their hair and the way they live
she said. In Jamaica
we don't associate him with marijuana. What we want people to enjoy is his music and message.
Marley's music has a message of freedom that she hopes people will embrace, Chunnu said.
Bob Marley's music is still popular because there's still inequality in the world
she said.
The event is free, but donations will be collected for the Appalachian Peace and Justice Network, continuing the tradition of raising funds for charity on Bob Marley Day.
Other performers are Columbus-based reggae group Flex Crew, the Athens Black Contemporary Dancers, drummers and poets.
Quoting one of Marley's lyrics, Chunnu said she wants people to come to Bob Marley Day and
'feel alright.'
