SHARON MARLEY PRENDERGAST MARRIES EKOW ALABI SAVAGE IN GHANA!

The wedding was a very colourful ceremony with just few family folks of both couple and a few invited guests. The boding of Sharon and Ekow has inked a very respectable history, thus, a true reflection of the Afro-Caribbean connection as well as a visible example of repatriation.

Dr. Erica Bennett, Ambassador for the Diasporan African Forum (DAF), was present at the ceremony to represent Rita Marley (who had traveled out of the country to USA). “The Marley family is an iconic family, and they welcome you into their family. And they have allowed you to be part of their (Marley) family. They asked me to give you a message – No Woman, No Cry – they don’t want to see any tears in her eyes. The tears she’s shedding today are tears of joy, but there should never, never, ever, be any tears of sorrow. I will like to raise this glass and make a toast for Mr. and Mrs. Savage; may you have health, happiness and wealth,” Dr. Bennett apprized.

Daddy Bosco (Ahuma Ocansey), Administrator of Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), who was the MC for the wedding, also added his voice. “I find this marriage as another extension of the Marley legacy. Sharon’s mother, Rita Marley, we all know moved to settle here with us in Ghana way back in 1990s and for her to give out her daughter’s hand in marriage to one of Ghana’s disciplined sons is indeed plausible. For the wind of love to circulate around these two people for 23 years is no joke at all. It’s even going to be denser than it was in the past years and it is our hope and prayer that this lasts forever, like the Marley legacy. A huge history has been made in Ghana with this marriage because it stands as the first and direct African marriage bonded to the Marley family. It will go a long way to solidify the connection of Ghana and Jamaica. Bob Marley himself in songs have always wanted to be back to the motherland, we have his wife Nana Rita with us and now Sharon too has followed the trend. In other words, it will also go a long way to give the Ghana Reggae industry and the entire music and cultural sector a lot of good,” Daddy Bosco intimated. Daddy Bosco is one of the legendary faces in the Ghana media who has sustained the Rastafari faith as well as the Reggae industry for over 30 years, and still counting. He also doubles as the Board Chairman of the BASS Awards, a scheme set to honour Reggae and Dancehall music made in Ghana and Africa, particularly.

“Thank you all for coming and sharing this moment with my husband (Ekow Alabi Savage) and I. My mother (Rita Marley is not here because of Jah’s plan. She is in the USA but thanks to Ekow’s brother, Oliver, who was able to connect us to her via skype. Even though she is not here we all can see the beauty in Jah’s plan, as always. I thank her for making time to enjoy this ceremony with us and be part of us even though she is not here. I will be spending some time here in Ghana, learning more about my new family – Fante family – I’m looking forward to that and learning how to speak Ghana language, I want to learn the tradition, I want to love the people of Ghana” – says Sharon Marley, with teary eyes.

Sharon Marley Prendergast (born November 23, 1964) is singer, dancer, and curator. She is the biological daughter of Rita Marley who was adopted by Bob Marley when the two married. She was in the group Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers along with her young sister and brothers. With the group, she has won three Grammy awards.

Ekow Alabi Savage is a great exponent and promoter of Ghanaian music and Africa in general. He was a founding member of Roots Anabo music group who was the first ever Reggae Group in Africa to perform on Reggae Sunsplash in Jamaica in 1984. Ekow Alabi Savage has toured the world with his music later on as a solo Recording Artiste and Performing Artiste. He started playing music as a drum roadie for Pat Thomas and D Sweet Beans before he was employed as a percussion player. He was by then also playing in a spiritual church Aladura, at an early age of 5. He has toured around the world with several artists including Kora Award winner, Ade Bantu. He has also worked with a number of both foreign and local artistes including Pat Thomas, Kojo Antwi, Eeka Mouse (Jamaica), Reality Brothers (Germany), Vitamin X and Jimi Tenor.

Story & Pictures by Elorm Beenie