The feature documentary Africa Unite will make its North American debut on April 7 at the 14th annual New York African Film Festival.

The film, starring Rita Marley, Danny Glover, Angélique Kidjo, Lauryn Hill and Bob Marley's children Ziggy, Cedella, Sharon, Stephen, Kymani, Julian and Damian, is produced and directed by Stephanie Black (Life And Debt, H-2 Worker).

The documentary highlights the vision for African unity that Bob Marley was devoted to throughout his music career and presents an inspiring tribute to a man who defined his own aim as "spreading the message of unity and equality to end the needless suffering of mankind."

On February 6th 2005, over 350,000 people gathered in the historic Meskel Square of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to celebrate what would have been Bob Marley's 60th birthday. The twelve-hour concert, featuring a host of internationally acclaimed artistes, is interwoven throughout the film, highlighting the singer's global influence.

American Lauryn Hill passionately debuts new material, Benin-born Angélique Kidjo jumps into the audience during Mama Afrika, and legendary Jamaican artiste Bob Andy serenades Ethiopia . The concert culminates with a spectacular night-time performance by Rita Marley and the I-Threes and all of Marley's sons singing their father's songs.

Crucial to the Africa Unite vision, the film also focuses on UNICEF-sponsored symposia and youth-oriented workshops that were held during the week-long celebration. Taking their inspiration from such Bob Marley songs as War and Get Up Stand Up, these sessions deal with issues such as conflict transformation, youth and women's empowerment, the prevention of corruption, awareness and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other major diseases, and the centrality of human rights.

Speaking at a symposium dedicated to dialogue with youth, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover, whose production company, L'ouverture Films, executive-produced the film with Tuff Gong Pictures, stresses that "It takes time to build, years to organise, and that's what we have to commit ourselves to.

In Guinea, in Kenya, in too many other countries, less than 30% of children go to school. It is a human right to have an education. And that begins right here with you. Bob Marley would've loved to have been here with us today... He loved Africa , and the fact that we are here to carry on this work is most important."

"The message of Africa Unite is for Africans to take our own lives into our own hands and to realise that we are better off together than divided," says Ziggy Marley. "We know the history of Africa. Believe the dream of the unity of Africa is something we can accomplish. It is possible and we should do it."

"It's our aim with this documentary to further Bob Marley's eternal message of hope and struggle across continents and generations," agrees producer/director Stephanie Black. "We know that change occurs when we refuse to be silent in the face of injustice and inequity, and Africa Uniteis a call to action catalysed by Bob Marley's musical legacy."

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