Father, entrepreneur, athlete, visionary: Rohan Marley is not just “Bob Marley’s son”, but a success in his own right. We caught up with Rohan on the eve of the Bob Marley 73rd Birthday Concert in Tel Aviv – tonight at Hangar 11, with Israeli heavy-hitters like Avraham Tal, Mosh Ben Ari, Karolina, Mooki, and more. Get tickets here.
Why has your dad’s music had such an impact here in Israel?
It’s funny you ask, because this morning I was at the House of Marley store on Dizengoff when someone came to me and said, "Your father's music touched the Israeli spiritual-religious community. It might not seem like this in Tel Aviv, but where I come from – the countryside – we truly love it." He said that while my father would sing "We’re jammin’, jammin’, jammin," they would add: "We’re praying, praying, praying!" It’s nice that his music resonates with people all over, ya know what I mean?
Photo by Josef
Israel’s a tight-knit, family-oriented country. Can you talk a bit about what family means for you, for the Marley’s, and what your dad was able to pass on to you all?
Here, everyone’s Israeli: you feel that sense of family, of everyone looking out for each other. It’s the same with my family values and principles. We’re a unit. We stick together. We work for each other, for the betterment of each other’s lives. Our father said family values are the greatest thing. He told my brother’s and sister’s, “You don’t need any friends, you have enough brothers and sisters!"
What’s your favorite Israeli food?
I love the food here because it’s just so fresh. It’s the best babaganoush I can ever have 'cause it tastes a little smokey, ya know. I’m vegan, but I do eat a little fish. My favorite place is Old Man and the Sea in Yaffa. I love the experience – when you sit to eat, it’s just: bring-bring-bring, food-food-food. Like a feast. It reminds me of when Yeshua and his twelve disciples gathered around that supper, ya know, having that supper. It’s like that, just eating spiritual food.
You ventured into a successful football and entrepreneurial career while your other family members are very musical. But your dad was also an entrepreneur with Tuff Gong Records. Were you pressured to pursue music or encouraged to pursue your own dreams?
One thing about my family: there’s no pressure. I think the pressure comes from the outside. But, if you’re gonna sing and your last name is Marley, you better know how to sing!
Not everyone can be a musician. But, my father was also a businessman, with his own record company, pressing plant, merch, everything! I grew up wanting to become that, to further what my father started. So I’m not doing anything new, I’m building up on the same foundations, legacy and Marley principles.
Israel is an entrepreneurial hub, and also a leader in the medical marijuana industry. Will we see "Marley Reefer" anytime soon?
You mean, will we see Marley Natural here in Israel?! It’s already our U.S. herb brand. It’s gonna cross the border, for sure.
What do you think of Israeli herb?
Ha! The medicinal Israeli herb is soooooo good!
The average Israeli knows little about Rastafari. How does it connect to Israel today?
First of all, Rastafari is an Amharic word. “Ras” means head, and “tafari” means creator. Big ups to Beta Israel, the Ethiopian Jews of Israel.
But when we talk about Rastafari, we have to go back into the Old Testament. To learn from King David, Moses, Abraham. Our roots are the principles of the Old Testament. Rastafari is Judeo-Christianity.
Our connection to Israel is very deep. The dust of Israel is holy. Ancient prophets – wise, wise, wiseeeee men – walked through this land, ya know. The struggle, the teaching, the journey, the journey through the wilderness, being freed from bondage to find a piece of land where we can settle, congregate, worship and pray the way we see fit to pray. So we just want to be a part of that history that’s never left Israel.
If you had to leave the world with one of your Father's messages, what would it be?
I am not on the white man, black man, Indian, Chinese man or any man’s side. We’re on God’s side. One love! Rastafari!