Mrs. Rita Marley and The Marley Family Spread 'One Love' Encouraging Peace, Education and Empowerment With Africa Unite 2007

Mrs. Rita Marley and The Marley Family Spread 'One Love' Encouraging Peace, Education and Empowerment With Africa Unite 2007

Africa Unite Joins Forces with the Emerging Leadership Programme, an Initiative of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre to Honor the Spirit, Legacy and Music of Bob Marley while Supporting African Youth with The Shanduka Foundation's Adopt-a-School Programme and The Ubuntu Institute for Young Social Entrepreneurs

LOS ANGELES, NEW YORK, LONDON, and JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Sept. 5
/PRNewswire/ -- Mrs. Rita Marley on behalf of The Bob & Rita Marley Foundations announced at a press conference in South Africa today that in February 2007 they will bring "Africa Unite 2007" to South Africa. Through a series of benefit concerts, symposiums, fund raisers and events, Africa Unite 2007 will encourage peace, education and empowerment for youth in Africa while reinforcing the significance of Bob Marley's Songs of Freedom to manifest change throughout the world. Africa Unite 2007 is Executive Directed by Mrs. Rita Marley and Executive Produced by Christine Hansen and Thirty-Three Productions, Inc.

This year, Africa Unite will join forces with the Emerging Leadership Programme, initiated by the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, which honors the peacemaker and iconic Nobel Peace Laureate, Desmond Tutu. The Emerging Leadership Programme grooms young leaders with value-based leadership for reconciliation, transformation and peace in global communities. Africa Unite 2007 will also support the Shanduka Foundation's Adopt-a-School Programme that is committed to providing quality education to all African children, and the Ubuntu Institute that is dedicated to the development of young social entrepreneurs on the African continent who are committed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. Each organization will contribute their combined resources to Africa Unite 2007 and share in the singular goal to unite Africa through peace, education and empowerment for all people.

"Our family is committed to keeping the legacy and teachings of Bob alive to spread "One Love" worldwide through the power of music, which is a gift from God," said Mrs. Rita Marley. "I have so much hope for Africa. It is our goal to bring life to the words of "Africa Unite" and aid where help is needed, while creating opportunities and sustainable change for youth in Africa and worldwide."

Africa Unite 2007 will commence on the honor rebel Bob Marley's birthday, February 6, 2007 and continue throughout Black History Month to include:

Durban
-- February 6 - Bob Marley's 62nd Birthday celebration and Africa Unite
kickoff ceremony
-- February 7 - Bob Marley Photo Exhibit and Mrs. Rita Marley "No Woman No
Cry" Book Launch
-- February 7 - Africa Unite Benefit Concert at the site where Nelson
Mandela cast his first vote

Johannesburg
-- February 9-13 - Africa Unite "You Can't Blame the Youth" Education
symposium and workshops to encourage peace, education and empowerment
for Africa's youth
-- February 14 - Constitution Hill Debut of "Freedom Fighters" photo
exhibition featuring rarely seen photos of Bob Marley including an
exhibit from famed photographer Alf Kumalo and more
-- February 14 - Constitution Hill "One Love" Fundraising dinner & photo
auction
-- February 14 - Catch a Fire Fashion Show featuring local South African
designers
-- February 17 - Africa Unite for Empowerment Benefit Concert

Cape Town
-- February 22 - "Songs of Freedom" Fundraising Dinner
-- February 24 - Africa Unite for Peace Benefit Concert

Born in Ethiopia in 2005, and again realized in Ghana in 2006, the now annual Africa Unite events came to life from the unwavering passion and spirit of Mrs. Rita Marley.

Mrs. Marley and her family are inspired to spread the spirit and legacy of Bob Marley, to continue to bring life to his Songs of Freedom and to actively work towards a united Africa in their lifetime. The Africa Unite events have begun a global movement that continues to create worldwide awareness for vital issues affecting Africa as well as realizing important and meaningful change that will contribute to lasting solutions.

"It is an honor to bring the legend of Bob Marley to South Africa to manifest the monumental changes Africa Unite will deliver," said Christine Hansen, Executive Producer of Africa Unite 2007 and President & CEO of Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. "The power of music when merged with the inspirational legend and legacy of Bob Marley, then combined with the lifelong vision of Rita Marley, The Marley Family and The Bob and Rita Marley Foundation's to witness a united Africa in their lifetime, will bring dreams to reality for young Africans in 2007 and far beyond!"

"Africa Unite 2007 will provide a tremendous resource to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals that are not only possible but within the reach of our generation," said Prince Cedza Dlamini, Founder of the Ubuntu Institute. "Young people have the vision, the passion, and the energy to effect change. They just need the resources and skills to execute their vision."

More information on Africa Unite 2007, special guests, ticket distribution and events will be available soon. For more on Africa Unite 2007 click on http://www.bobmarley.com/africaunite07/ and http://www.africa-unite.org/.

About The Bob & Rita Marley Foundations

The Bob and Rita Marley Foundations are committed to keeping the vision, music, and legend of Bob Marley alive to spread "One Love" worldwide. The Foundations primarily provide assistance to other organizations, which conduct programs aimed at relieving poverty and the suffering of children and others. In some instances, The Bob and Rita Marley Foundations have created and conduct programs which have been executed internationally with an emphasis on the Caribbean, Africa and the United States, for the benefit of indigent, disenfranchised and underrepresented individuals, institutions and communities; particularly infants, youths and the elderly.

http://www.bobmarleyfoundation.org/http://www.ritamarleyfoundation.org/

About Thirty-Three Productions, Inc.

Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. is a unique event production, entertainment, marketing and promotional agency created to merge the power of music, art, and media to unite the world. Founded by Christine Hansen in 1998, Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. is committed to bringing "Dreams to Reality" by producing music festivals, tours, benefit concerts and events that inspire change and global awareness for social issues that are affecting our world today. Christine Hansen and Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. have made tremendous contributions to leading philanthropic organizations including: The Bob & Rita Marley Foundations, The Peapod Foundation, Entertainment Industry Foundation, A Place Called Home, The United Nations Association, Rock the Vote and more and continues to provide opportunities and support for people who suffer worldwide. Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. was established in New York City and is based in Los Angeles, CA.

http://www.33productions.com/

About The Desmond Tutu Emerging Leadership Programme

The Emerging Leadership Programme targets young people with demonstrated leadership skills, and aims to nurture and build more capacity in their styles of leadership, so they can best utilize their potential in the future. High schools nominate learners who have demonstrated leadership either at school or in community organizations, and then a panel of qualified assessors conduct interviews with the potential candidates. After the candidates are selected, they go through an extensive training in peace and leadership. The Programme culminates in an annual two-hour tea and discussion with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Emerging Leadership Awards Ceremony.

http://www.tutu.org/

About The Adopt-a-School Foundation

The Adopt-a-School Foundation was conceived in line with the government's national objectives of providing quality education to all South African children. It is administered by the Shanduka Foundation, as part of their community program. Founded by Cyril Ramaphosa, James Motlasi & others, The Adopt-a-School foundation assists with providing an environment conducive to quality education for all South African children to improve conditions of schools neglected by pre-1994 government.

http://www.shanduka.co.za/

About Ubuntu Institute

Founded in 2005 by Cedza Dlamini, the Ubuntu Institute is a Pan-African youth non-profit organization headquartered in South Africa focused on the development of young social entrepreneurs on the African continent committed to achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

http://www.ubuntuinstitute.com/

Contact: Candice J. Yusim
Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. for Africa Unite
+1 (323) 935-3483 or candice@33productions.com

http://www.africa-unite.org
http://www.tutu.org
http://www.shanduka.co.za
http://www.ubuntuinstitute.com

Source: Thirty-Three Productions, Inc.

CONTACT: Candice J. Yusim of Thirty-Three Productions, Inc. for Africa
Unite, +1-323-935-3483, candice@33productions.com

Web site: http://www.bobmarleyfoundation.org/
http://www.33productions.com/
http://www.ritamarleyfoundation.org/
http://www.bobmarley.com/africaunite07

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