14 Eylül 2008 Pazar

Bob Marley statue unveiled in Europe

2009
Bob Marley statue unveiled in Europe
Serbian memorial promotes peace
By Ben Apatoff/ BobMarley.com
Bob Marley statue
The new statue in Serbia stands at 6'5" (Srdjan Ilic/AP photo)
He's been honored with museums, documentary films, benefit concerts, tribute albums and reverence as one of the 20th century's greatest cultural icons. Now Bob Marley is being lionized with a new statue, recently erected in the south-east Serbian town of Banatski Sokolac.

BBC News reports that the statue was uncovered just after 12am on August 24 during a ceremony with musicians from Central Europe. The statue's creator, Croatian sculptor Davor Dukic, was also present, along with hundreds of fans paying their respects. The event's organizers claim that this is the first European statue to pay tribute the reggae legend, who is being honored for having "promoted peace and tolerance in his music."

The statue, which stands at 6'5", depicts Marley clenching his right fist and holding a guitar. An inscription on the monument reads, "Bob Marley -- fighter for freedom armed with a guitar."

Serbia and its surrounding countries in the Balkan region have previously built statues of several other contemporary figures in popular culture. Other figures to be recently honored with statues include actors Bruce Lee, Johnny Weissmuller as "Tarzan" and Sylvester Stallone as "Rocky Balboa."Europe News reports that Marley was chosen over '60s-era rock stars Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison to be memorialized with a statue.

Bob Marley's greatest achievements may be in his music, but his social consciousness and political integrity are equally vital to his legacy. The newest tribute to his accomplishments reminds us all that a civilian with humble beginnings can affect the world as profoundly as any general, politician or businessman.

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