THE WEEKLY GLEANER | OCTOBER 6 - OCTOBER 12, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 9 MATRIARCH OF the renowned Marley clan, Alferita ‘Rita’ Marley, OD, OJ, D Litt, received the Jamaica Consulate General’s Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday, October 1. Consul General Oliver Mair presented the prestigious honour at the premier performance of the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC) at the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay, Florida. In bestowing the award, Mair stated that while Rita Marley is known as the wife of reggae legend Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley, she has also contributed successfully to reggae music as an artiste in her own right. He noted that she has also been instrumental in the management of the Marley legacy, which has continued to impact the music industry internationally. Synonymous with reggae music and Jamaica’s rich culture, Rita Marley, as she is affectionately known, is part of the foundation of the talented musical Marley family. While her early career was spent with the Wailers, Rita then became a vocalist with the world-famous trio, the I Threes harmony group, also featuring Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt, backing her husband Bob Marley and the Wailers. Following her husband’s death in 1981, Rita Marley continued her music career as a soloist, recording rootsy conscious hits including One Draw; Who Feels Its Knows it; Harambe; I’m Still Waiting, among others. She did a final album, Rita Marley Sings Bob Marley … and Friends. In later life, Rita Marley converted the former residence located on Hope Road in Kingston into the Bob Marley Museum. She is also founder and chairperson of the Robert Marley Foundation, Bob Marley Trust, and the Bob Marley Group of Companies. She also created the Rita Marley Foundation, working to alleviate poverty and hunger in developing countries, targeting the elderly and youth. She has also adopted 35 children in Ethiopia and has supported some 200 children in Kokkonuru Methodist School in Ghana. Rita Marley is the recipient of the Order of Jamaica (OJ), the Marcus Garvey Lifetime Award, and the Iconic Award by the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association. She is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree fromThe University of theWest Indies. Marley’s honour formed part of the programme featuring an outstanding repertoire by the internationally acclaimed dance group NDTC. A second show was also staged on Sunday, October 2, at the Miramar Cultural Performing Arts Center in Miramar. Under the patronage of the consul general in Miami, the sold-out performances were presented by the Louise Bennett-Coverley Heritage Council (LBCHC), as Miss Lou was a founding patron of the company. According to President Colin Smith, a cultural artist himself, the LBCHC (Florida) Inc., was launched to preserve the legacy of Jamaica’s cultural icon, Louise Bennett-Coverley, affectionately known as ‘Miss Lou’, and to share Jamaica’s rich folkloric culture through education and entertainment ‘edutainment’. The NDTC Gala in Florida coincided with the dance group’s 60th anniversary celebrations, as well as Jamaica’s 60th Independence anniversary. Rita Marley gets Lifetime Achievement Award Rita Marley By Aubrey Campbell THE TOP five contestants in the Vision of Genesis (VG39) Gospel Talent Search is to be announced on Wednesday, October 12. Viewers began deciding last weekend the top picks from among the 21 constestants in the competition, for advancement to the final round in the second season of VG39 Talent Search. Shortly after the announcement of the finalists, Pastor Elisha Smellie, founder and coordinator of VG39, thanked the judges and congratulated the contestants on making the cut. “Congratulations to the contestants who were voted in by the judges and will be seen by viewers from all over the world,” he said. The broadcast of the final five will take place on Saturday, October 15. Voting will start immediately following the broadcast and end on Tuesday, October 18. The grand finale for Season 2 is set for Saturday, October 22. Viewers will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite contestant by visiting vg39ministries.com. Donations in support of your vote can also be made during the voting process directly through the PayPal link on the voting ballot. All contestants will receive certificates of participation, with the top three sharing CAD$100,000 in prize money, including a recording session and VG39 apparel. The Spirit Award will be reserved for the talent who the judges felt gave amoving performance. The VG39 is still accepting sponsors and donations at vg39talentsearch@ gmail.com. The competition is broadcast live on Facebook and YouTube on Saturdays at 6 p.m. ET. VG39 Gospel Talent Search final cut George Royal, Season 1 winner, VG39 Gospel Talent Search. CONTRIBUTED
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