‘Music heals’

Stephen Marley, family honour Jo Mersa’s legacy at birthday tribute

The historic Bob Marley Museum, on Saturday night, hosted an event that served as both memoriam and medicine as family, friends and fans gathered to celebrate the life of Jo Mersa Marley.

The occasion, staged in honour of the late singer’s birthday, unfolded as a deeply moving tribute led by his father, Stephen Marley, who was joined by several of his musical siblings and members of the extended Marley family.

When host Bambino opened the evening’s tribute concert, he did so by signalling the night’s overarching theme — healing and legacy.

From the moment Stephen Marley took centre stage it was clear the gathering would be more than a birthday celebration. Instead, it would serve as an ode to family, a recognition of grief, and a reflection on the eternal influence of a young man many described as an old soul.

Stephen opened the night with soulful renditions of classics including Put It On, Hit Me With Music, Trench Town Rock, and Easy Skankin’.

Carried by the steady heartbeat of the keteh drum, his performance immediately set a reflective tone. Drawing from his Old Soul album, Stephen occasionally altered lyrics to incorporate Mersa’s name. At several moments he bowed his head, eyes closed, as though caught in quiet meditation on memories shared between father and son. Those pauses felt grounding and sobering, allowing the weight of the moment to settle across the crowd.

Stephen soon invited emerging talent Ras-I to the stage to perform Somewhere Wonderful, before Jemere Morgan stepped forward with a heartfelt rendition of Try Jah Love.

“Dem youth deh and Joseph par ennuh, so we give thanks for their love and support,” Stephen said, acknowledging the younger generation of musicians standing in solidarity.

The focus then shifted to family as Mersa’s siblings took control of the microphone. Hymn Marley was first up, delivering an emotional rendition of Since You’ve Been Gone. He was followed by Mystic Marley, whose performance of Harambe carried both grace and strength.

Momentum picked up when Yohan Marley stepped forward with an energetic rendition of Mersa’s
Burn It Down. Continuing the spirit of collaboration, Yohan welcomed Jesse Royal to perform their single Blessing. Appearances from Puerto Rican star Farruko and singer Imeru Tafari further underscored the international reach of reggae’s message.

The magnitude of the moment was not lost on Stephen Marley.

“Music heals,” he told the audience. “The vibration of music heals, sometimes we haffi pick it up or tone it down, but it heals.”

With that he welcomed Queen Ifrica to the stage for a powerful rendition of Lioness.

Stephen later returned to the microphone with I Shot the Sheriff before once again turning the spotlight towards family. This time he was joined by his brothers, Julian and Damian Marley.

Stephen and Julian performed Three Little Birds and Straighter Roads, while Stephen and Damian delivered a commanding rendition of Cast the First Stone. The depth of the Marley musical lineage was further cemented when Damian’s son, Elijah, stepped forward with a spirited performance of Heathen. His appearance drew screams of excitement from the packed venue, the audience eager to absorb every moment of the historic gathering.

Additional performances from Richie Spice, Romain Virgo, and Warrior King further enriched the evening’s musical offering.

Later, Damian Marley returned to the stage to perform The Mission alongside Stephen before delivering a brief solo set that included abbreviated versions of his hits Blessed and Here Comes Jr Gong. Julian soon rejoined his brothers as the trio performed their father’s timeless anthem Could You Be Loved.

As the night drew towards its close, the mood softened once again. “It’s alright,” Stephen sang gently, “the sun will rise again.”

In that moment, the crowd fell quiet. The air grew almost reverent as a father saluted the memory of his son.

Stephen closed the tribute with a stirring rendition of Lion of Judah, leaving a lingering sense of reflection across the grounds.

Throughout the night the venue remained packed to capacity. Faces in the crowd glowed with emotion. Some patrons climbed onto barriers for a better glimpse of the stage, while others simply swayed where they stood, carried by melodies that seemed to move through the air like a shared prayer — a fitting tribute to a young artiste whose spirit, much like the music that celebrated him, continues to resonate beyond his time.