And the thing about the Godfather of Reggae is that he is revered around the world but luuuuurved in the Caribbean as I discovered when I was invited to share One Love with Marley.
You see that’s the thing with the West Indies that while the individual islands all have their individual identities they all share one love…
And if ever they forget it they have Robert Nesta Marley’s enduring anthem.
Which rings out everywhere to remind them.
Even at the height of Soca madness during the Crop Over carnival week in Barbados.
World party
Where we brought the cooler party (or mas) which was appropriately called One Love to a conclusion.
By following the mass gathering of performers on stage.
By singing One Love before taking our weary, rum-sodden bodies off to our respective billets.
And yes, it was on the minibus home that I dozed off and only awoke when prodded by one of our gang.
Because I was pushing my hands forward in a dig motion, reliving and replicating my pool volleyball move from earlier in the day.
Bob’s the job
All of which rambling brings us back to Bob who has honed ever more into view this month.
With the release of the biopic One Love.
Now, of course, any Marley pilgrimage will have at its heart his beloved Jamaica and the Bob Marley Museum, his old home.
Where One Love is at the heart of the message…
With the display including a life size 3-dimensional hologram of Bob from the One Love Peace Concert in 1978.
While the One Love Café serves Marley inspired recipes and juices… schweet.
And other islands are included
It’s a scene played out across the Caribbean and there will be special love for Bob this March on Anguilla this year for Bankie Banx’s Moonsplash Music Festival.
Moonsplash is only the longest-running indy music festival in the region and this year’s bash runs like this:
21 March: Kick-off cocktail with local talent igniting the vibes at Savi Beach Club.
22 March: Reggae night with Grammy-nominated Protoje.
23 March: Legends Night with The Legendary Wailers, channeling Bob and the roots of reggae.
24 March: And the Sunday Festival begins with a day-time Jimmy Buffett tribute concert.
Culminating in performances by Mighty Mystic and the Moonsplash Allstars.
All following in the rich traditions of those who have come before.
With Buffett, Toots & The Maytals, Gregory Isaacs and Third World among the acts jumping in Anguilla.
How to get to Anguilla
Anguilla is accessible from the UK via British Airways or Virgin Atlantic on services to Antigua (ANU), followed by a short inter-island flight transfer to Anguilla (AXA).
An alternative route is with Air France via Paris (CDG) to St Maarten (SXM), followed by a short boat transfer or flight.
American Airlines also operates a service from Miami International Airport (MIA) into Anguilla, with connections to the UK available.
Or you can just float there when you share one love with Marley.
