‘None of us could ketch him!’ - Stephen Marley recalls racing dad, Bob Marley

Stephen Marley was only nine years old when his father, Bob Marley, died but still remembers the day his father mesmerised he and his siblings while on a family day out in rural Jamaica.

"I remember going with him to Clarendon, to a place called Scotts Pass, and he decided to have some fun and race all of us," Stephen recounted in an interview with THE STAR last Friday.

"So Ziggy, Cedella, Sharon, Karen and me all gather pon the piece of land, and he decided to have a relay race," he said. "Me did check say we faster than him, enuh, cause him a big man. But cause him play football, him did fit. Man!

"When me see him go suh and tek off, me sey 'Wait deh ...! None of us could ketch him! I think Ziggy got the closest. That's a happy memory for me."

Bob Marley, widely regarded as the greatest reggae artiste of all time, passed away on May 11, 1981, at the age of 36, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire generations.

At the time of Bob Marley's death, Sharon was 16, Cedella 13, Ziggy 12, and Karen was just 7 years old.

Last Friday, throngs of Jamaicans gathered at Emancipation Park in St Andrew to pay tribute to The Gong on what would have been his 81st birthday.

Though the concert initially advertised a dozen or so artistes, the lineup grew as both reggae and dancehall performers took the stage, many sharing personal stories of how Marley had shaped their careers. For Stephen and his brother, Julian, the evening was both moving and humbling.

"It's an honour to perform for The Gong, especially on his birthday. I want people to remember him as a man who was for everyone and who believed that everyone should have an equal opportunity in life and to be seen as equals, regardless of their social status or their background," said Stephen.

For Julian Marley, being surrounded by fans who cherished their father was a special joy.

"It's a beautiful concert celebrating the birthday of our father, so today is indeed a beautiful day," he said.

"I think my father would indeed be pleased to see how his legacy bore fruit with the influence and impact he has had on the world," he added.

Though many of Bob Marley's well-known songs were performed throughout the evening, Julian admitted choosing his personal favourites was challenging.

"Choosing my top three songs is hard because there are so many great ones with deep meaning, but right now I would say Redemption Song, Africa Unite, and Exodus."