Fans Gather To Celebrate Bob Marley's 60th Birthday

Over 200,000 people are expected to gather in the Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to mark what would have been Bob Marley’s 60th birthday.

It will be the first time that the annual birthday celebrations will be held out of Jamaica.

It was reported late last year that Marley’s widow, Rita, wished that her husband’s remains could be re-buried in his spiritual home of Africa.

"It was a dream of Bob Marley and it is a dream of the family to bury him in Ethiopia. As we believe in what is to be, must be, it will happen in due course," she told AFP news agency.

She has since distanced herself from the comments after citizens of Jamaica took offence, reports the BBC.

Netsanet Asfaw, Ethiopia's minister of state for information said Ethiopia was pleased to be hosting the events: "Bob Marley put Ethiopia on a pedestal and it is in his honour that this festival is going to take place here," she said.

The month long event ‘Africa Unite’ will include concerts, a film festival, seminars and a gala fundraiser using the themes of Marley's songs including ‘War’, ‘Exodus’ and ‘Get Up Stand Up’. Events kick off on Tuesday when Bob Marley’s 80-year-old mother performs.

A concert in Addis Ababa will feature three of Marley’s children, as well as producer Quincy Jones and Youssou N’ Dour.

Throughout his life, Marley was a dedicated Rastafarian, believing in the return to the mother land of Africa. He received a United Nations Peace Award, in recognition of his attempts to calm the warring factions of Jamaican politics.

He died in 1981 of cancer, he was just 36.