Alfarita Constantia Anderson — known to the world as Rita Marley — is more than a musician. She is a living bridge between Jamaica, Africa, and the global diaspora.
Born in Santiago de Cuba in 1946 to a Jamaican mother and a Cuban father, Rita Marley grew up in the tough streets of Kingston’s Trench Town. It was there that she met a young Bob Marley, and together they would change the course of music history. But Rita was never merely “Bob’s wife” — she was a formidable artist in her own right, a fierce protector of his legacy, and a tireless advocate for the Rastafari faith and African unity.
After Bob’s passing in 1981, Rita became the steward of the Marley musical empire. Yet her most profound work may be the one that continues to unfold in Ghana. As the matriarch of the Marley family, she has dedicated decades to building bridges between Jamaica and Africa — a vision that culminates in Jamaica Village Ghana, a living heritage site where ancestral wisdom meets modern investment.
“We have to build our own,” she has often said. “We cannot wait for others to give us what is rightfully ours.” That fierce independence and Pan-African conviction is the bedrock of everything Jamaica Village stands for.
Key Milestones
- 1966 — Marries Bob Marley
- 1970s — Member of the I-Threes
- 1990 — Honoured by the Jamaican government
- 2000s — Establishes Rita Marley Foundation
- 2010s — Vision for Jamaica Village Ghana
Her Legacy in Ghana
- Spiritual mother of Jamaica Village
- Rita Marley Studio & Cultural Centre
- Champion of youth education & arts
- Bridge between Jamaican & Ghanaian traditions
Jamaica Village is not a dream — it is a responsibility. It is what we owe to our ancestors and what we must give to our children.
Rita Marley’s influence reaches far beyond music. These three pillars shape the foundation of Jamaica Village Ghana.
Music & Cultural Preservation
Rita was a founding member of the I-Threes, Bob Marley’s iconic backing vocalists. Her voice can be heard on classics like “No Woman, No Cry” and “Get Up, Stand Up.” Today, the Rita Marley Studio at Jamaica Village ensures that Ghana’s next generation of musicians can record, learn, and thrive — keeping the roots reggae tradition alive on African soil.
Philanthropy & Community
Through the Rita Marley Foundation, she has funded schools, health clinics, and clean-water projects across Ghana and Jamaica. At Jamaica Village, that spirit lives on through community-led initiatives: women’s cooperatives, youth mentorship programs, and a Rastafari-inspired model of collective care and mutual aid.
Pan-African Unity
Rita Marley has long envisioned a united Africa — not through rhetoric, but through tangible action. Jamaica Village Ghana is the physical embodiment of that dream: a place where Jamaicans, Ghanaians, and the wider diaspora come together to build, heal, and prosper as one people.
Since repatriating to Ghana, Rita Marley has become an integral part of the Eastern Region’s cultural and community life.
A Ghanaian Citizen
In 2013, Rita Marley was granted Ghanaian citizenship and took the name Nana Afua Abodea (also spelled Adobea or Addobea).[reference:0][reference:1] She was enstooled as the Queen of Development of Konkonuru, a village in the hills above Accra in the Eastern Region of Ghana.[reference:2]
She lives and operates her foundation out of Aburi in the Eastern Region, with her primary village and community center located in nearby Konkonuru.[reference:3][reference:4]
The foundation’s primary focus in Konkonuru centers around uplifting the village, providing healthcare, and maintaining basic schools.[reference:5][reference:6]
Foundation & Contact
Rita Marley Foundation – Ghana Headquarters
- 1 French Line, Aburi, Ghana[reference:7][reference:8]
- P.O. Box 34, Aburi-Akwapim, Ghana
- 56 Hope Road, Kingston 6, Jamaica (Jamaican Headquarters)[reference:9]
- ritamarleyfoundation.org
- General inquiries: info@ritamarleyfoundation.org
For more information about her Pan-African and cultural initiatives, reach out through the Rita Marley Foundation.
Explore more about Jamaica Village
Honouring Her Vision · Building Our Future
Rita Marley’s life reminds us that heritage is not static — it is a living force that can fuel prosperity. Whether you come to learn, to invest, or to reconnect, Jamaica Village welcomes you.
Eastern Region, Ghana · One Love, One Destiny.