The Annual Bob Marley Song Rearrangement Competition and finals of the inaugural Bob Marley Secondary School’s debate competition are among the highlights of the annual Bob Marley Regional Symposia scheduled for Monday, February 2 to Friday, February 5, 2010. This tribute to the late reggae icon Bob Marley is organised by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) in association with the Bob Marley Museum.

The symposia will also feature presentations on his life and work by renowned musician Ibo Cooper, musician and producer Grub Cooper, Rev Dr Basil Chambers and Howard Hendricks.

Under the theme “We don’t need no trouble … What we need is love”, a total of four regional symposia are scheduled, the first of which will be held at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre in Kingston on February 2, while the others will be held in Portland, Westmoreland and St Elizabeth respectively.

The Wolmer’s Boys School, Ardrenne High, St Mary High, Marymount High, Cornwall College and Little London High School, are among the schools in the debate competition who topped over 40 secondary institutions island-wide to cop a place in finals. They will debate the topics, “Bob Marley’s messages are more than social commentary but revolutionary” and “Bob Marley’s messages invoke more revolution than love” during the symposia.

The Bob Marley Song Rearrangement Competition will see choirs and ensembles from schools across the island remaking selected songs written by Bob Marley. The winners of both competitions will walk away with trophies and other prizes courtesy of Excelsior, Sangster’s Book Store, CARIMED, Appliance Traders, Digicel and the Bob Marley Museum.

The public is invited to attend the symposia and admission is free.