It was a celebration of life like no other as some of music’s biggest stars joined forces with the lion-hearted Marley family to honour the late Jo Mersa.

Hundreds flocked the grounds of the Bob Marley Museum on Saturday to stand in solidarity with the musical family as they memorialised Jo Mersa’s legacy.

While the musical display from each act was at a mastery level, it was the love of family and community that was most palpable. From the opening act to the curtain-closer, a spirit of togetherness enveloped the venue, something the Marley clan admitted was always a priority for their beloved Jo Mersa.

Yohan Marley, Jo Mersa’s brother, fought back tears as he performed a single written by his late sibling. According to him, the track was inspired by people going through hardships and is a stark reminder that, though their burden may seem overwhelming, they are not alone.

“This song is for those of you going through something, fighting some kind of depression; fight the fight because you’re not alone. This song was written by my brother Jo Mersa and it goes out to all of you,” said Yohan before taking the audience along with him on a tear-jerking rendition of the track, You’re Not The Only One.

His set was injected with many magical moments as he invited several members of his family, including Mystic Marley, to aid in honouring his late brother’s memory.

But the highlight of his performance came when he invited his niece to share the stage. Sunshine Marley, the daughter of his late brother, shun bright as she partnered with her uncle. Fully embracing her birthright, the young Marley delivered the chorus to her father’s decade-old track, You’re My Sunshine. She was rewarded with resounding applause before making her exit and clearing the way for another talented pool of artistes from her family.

Skip and Soul-Rebel Marley were next on stage. In-between delivering some of their most notable tracks, the pair called on Jesse Royal to help take the energy to a whole new level. And he did just that as he performed tracks such as Modern Day Judas. But it was his performance of the single he did with Jo Mersa that resonated most with the audience. Outlining that the track was done with purpose, Jesse Royal declared that today’s generation of youth is on a mission to effect change.

“This song is a song that Jo Mersa and I sang for a reason. We believed in the power of this generation. A lot of times dem tell yuh say the best is already gone… but this is the generation of change. This is the generation that put people over money, love over hate, and peace over war,” he said before prompting the audience to help him sing the track. Reggae singer Kellissa made a cameo before another sweet surprise of Chronixx on-stage. The crowd erupted as he walked on singing his mega-hit Here Comes Trouble. He delighted fans with a rendition of Skankin’ Sweet.

The night featured many more electric performances from the likes of Ras-I, Lila Ike, Jaz Elise, Bugle, Agent Sasco, and Tarrus Riley. And just when attendees thought things could get no better, the Marley clan kicked things up a notch. Proving just why the family heads the hierarchy of reggae royalty, Jr Gong, Stephen, Julian, and Ky-Mani Marley served up hit after hit from their late father’s massive catalogue.

Stephen Marley, father of the late Jo Mersa, urged crowd support as he delivered the track Get Up, Stand Up before his brother Jr Gong segued into War/No More Trouble. Julian and Ky-Mani Marley held their own with renditions of Running Away and Crazy Baldhead, respectively. The brothers also sprinkled their set with bits of their own tracks.

Inviting special guests of their own, the brothers added to the vibe of togetherness by calling on the likes of Bounty Killer, Capelton, Spragga Benz, Sizzla, and Ib Mahr to perform a slew of hits, along with collaborative tracks from Medication, Khaki Suit, Rockstone, and It Was Written.

The musical event came to a fitting close at close to 2:00 am when Jr Gong delivered his global hit, Welcome to Jamrock.

Skip Marley (right) joins Yohan Marley on stage as the pair celebrated the life of their relative, Jo Mersa, during a concert at the Bob Marley Museum on Saturday. (Photo: Andre Skeen)