Last summer Ziggy, Rohan and Robbie Marley travelled to Africa to embark upon an adventure, which has been captured for a new documentary, Marley Africa Roadtrip. The series follows them while in South Africa, observing the brothers as they experience life in Johannesburg and travel to remote areas.
Africa held Bob Marley spellbound but this film discovers it through his sons eyes, as they share an exploration, keeping close to the heart of the country, meeting its people and encountering its wildlife. Between adventures on the road they relate the lessons they have learned from their father about family, moral righteousness and revolution. The series captures their highs and lows with an intimate camera crew, encouraging the trio to film their thoughts, memories, unique humor and frustrations. The three brothers interaction with new characters and each other is very engaging as they bring a sense of fun, charisma and thought provoking observations. They discuss returning to the land their father loved and seeking not only what had become Bobs dream of a unified Africa, but to find out what they themselves have done with their fathers legacy.
In 1980, thirty years before the brothers trip, their father Bob Marley performed at the Independence Concert in Zimbabwe. Ziggy was with him on that trip and it is something that he reflects on regularly, One of my most memorable moments was being in Zimbabwe in 1980 with my father. It was life changing for me and it shaped my thoughts of Africa and knowledge of African struggles. What were trying to do is keep one of the dreams that my father and the forefathers of African liberation had in mind, which is for real African unity, Ziggy said.
The six-hour series, due to air on Discovery World on November 2nd, is produced and directed by acclaimed documentary maker, David Alexanian. Alexanian and his production company, Elixir Films, were behind Ewan McGregor’s unforgettable motorcycle trips across the world in the popular series’ “Long Way Round” and “Long Way Down”. Alexanian said “The documentary will provide viewers with an intriguing look into a legendary musical family”. The series is also being distributed by Arc Entertainment and will be aired in the US and other territories in the coming months. Alexanian said The documentary will provide viewers with an intriguing look into a legendary musical family.
While on the trip Ziggy was motivated by the prospect of performing with African musicians and the series finale sees him planning and performing a concert in Soweto. The documentary will feature Ziggy teaching local musicians to play his own as well as his fathers music and rehearsing for the spontaneous performance with new musicians, in record time. While on the trip Ziggy said We are trying to perform a concert, for free, in Soweto because I want to show my respect to Soweto and the struggle. We are trying to do it on our own, guerilla style. Reggae music is free music. Like my father said nobody has ownership on it. Its like oxygen, like the wind, like the rain.
Ziggy Marley also recently released a new song, Africa Land to celebrate the occasion. He is a five-time Grammy winner and reggae icon, whose last Childrens Album, Family Time, won the Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children. Rohan Marley is an entrepreneur and philanthropist, whose company, Marley Coffee, offers gourmet ital coffee to major gourmet food distributors worldwide. Robbie Marley is a motorcycle stunt rider who has appeared in several major motion pictures, and also owns a retail store in Miami, Florida.
For information about the project visit www.marleyafricaroadtrip.com
For more information about Ziggy Marley visit www.ziggymarley.com
For more information about Elixir Films visit www.elixirfilms.com
Photography: David Alexanian
