This candid documentary series offers an intriguing look into one the most legendary musical families in history, following the trio as they travel through South Africa on motorcycles, and embraces their thoughts, memories, observations and frustrations.

Also, as part of Voyages of the World, comes Joanna Lumley’s Nile which sees her travel the river from its mouth to its source, encompassing the rich, varied history and contemporary daily life of the world’s longest river. From the luxury of Egypt to the searing heat of Sudan and on to the jungles of Rwanda, Joanna’s interaction with everyone she meets bring this rare expedition to life. It starts on Wednesday 2 November at 18:30 CAT.http://www.ameyawdebrah.com/

Throughout his career, Bob Marley showed the world his musical vision of Africa. This new series will bring his boys back to the motherland where they will encounter its people, its wildlife, and its music.

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Last summer Ziggy, Rohan and Robbie Marley travelled to Africa to embark upon an adventure, which has been captured for a new documentary, Marley Africa Roadtrip.

The series follows them while in South Africa, observing the brothers as they experience life in Johannesburg and travel to remote areas. Africa held Bob Marley spellbound but this film discovers it through his sons’ eyes, as they share an exploration, keeping close to the heart of the country, meeting its people and encountering its wildlife. Between adventures on the road they relate the lessons they have learned from their father about family, moral righteousness and revolution. The series captures their highs and lows with an intimate camera crew, encouraging the trio to film their thoughts, memories, unique humor and frustrations. The three brothers’ interaction with new characters and each other is very engaging as they bring a sense of fun, charisma and thought provoking observations. They discuss returning to the land their father loved and seeking not only what had become Bob’s dream of a unified Africa, but to find out what they themselves have done with their father’s legacy. In 1980, thirty years before the brother’s trip, their father Bob Marley performed at the Independence Concert in Zimbabwe. Ziggy was with him on that trip and it is something that he reflects on regularly, “One of my most memorable moments was being in Zimbabwe in 1980 with my father. It was life changing for me and it shaped my thoughts of Africa and knowledge of African struggles. What we’re trying to do is keep one of the dreams that my father and the forefathers of African liberation had in mind, which is for real African unity”, Ziggy said. The six hour series, set for release in 2011, the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s passing, is produced and directed by acclaimed documentary maker, David Alexanian. Alexanian and his production company, Elixir Films, were behind Ewan McGregor’s unforgettable motorcycle trips across the world in the popular series’ “Long Way Round” and “Long Way Down”. Alexanian said “The documentary will provide viewers with an intriguing look into a legendary musical family”.

While on the trip Ziggy was motivated by the prospect of performing with African musicians and the series finale sees him planning and performing a concert in Soweto. The documentary will feature Ziggy teaching local musicians to play his own as well as his father’s music and rehearsing for the spontaneous performance with new musicians, in record time. While on the trip Ziggy said “We are trying to perform a concert, for free, in Soweto because I want to show my respect to Soweto and the struggle. We are trying to do it on our own, guerilla style. Reggae music is free music. Like my father said nobody has ownership on it. It’s like oxygen, like the wind, like the rain”.

Ziggy Marley also recently released a new song, Africa Land to celebrate the occasion. He is a five-time Grammy winner and reggae icon, whose last Children’s Album, Family Time, won the Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children. Rohan Marley is an entrepreneur and philanthropist, whose company, Marley Coffee, offers gourmet ital coffee to major gourmet food distributors worldwide. Robbie Marley is a motorcycle stunt rider who has appeared in several major motion pictures, and also owns a retail store in Miami, Florida.

AMID the excitement and hype of the 2010 Fifa World Cup, Ziggy Marley quietly slipped into the country to fulfil his father’s dream of performing in South Africa.

The son of the late legendary reggae icon Bob Marley is billed to perform at the Elkah Stadium fan park in Soweto on Sunday with local band Tidal Waves.

Speaking to Sowetan from a Johannesburg studio where he is rehearsing with the band, Marley confessed to having fallen in love with the Tidal Waves after hearing their sound.

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Ziggy, Rohan and Robbie Marley flew into South Africa to commence work on a documentary series that will follow them through South Africa for a momentous road trip. Marley Africa Roadtrip will provide viewers with an intriguing look into one of the most legendary musical families. The brothers will travel to remote areas on motorcycles, riding through breathtaking scenery and camping under the stars. They will keep close to the heart of this continent, its people and its wildlife.

In 1980, reggae superstar Bob Marley travelled to Africa with his family to perform a landmark concert celebrating unity and freedom. Now, 30 years later, his sons will return to the continent to carry on his legacy promoting African Unity.

On Sunday, July 4^th Ziggy will perform in South Africa for the first time at a free concert in Elkah Stadium, Soweto at 2pm. On his recent travels he attended a show in Bloemfontein, met with the band Tidal Waves and asked them to support him at the event on Sunday. “We are thrilled to perform with Ziggy and for the people of Soweto” Jacob ‘Zakes’ Wulana, lead singer of Tidal Waves, said yesterday at a rehearsal.

Following the landmark concert Ziggy will host an intimate VIP party in Johannesburg to raise money for a Soweto based charity. Tickets to this exclusive event will be available this week via Computicket.

“I am hoping that this World Cup will bring African countries a little closer together and that the world might see Africa, as a whole, in more of a positive light. Performing in Soweto has always been a dream and I am very excited to play for the people of South Africa on Sunday”, says Ziggy Marley.

Ziggy Marley, along with fellow Grammy-winners Stephen Marley and Angelique Kidjo, also recently released a new song, Africa Land (available on www.ziggymarley.com) to celebrate this historic occasion and Africa’s place in the world spotlight.

The documentary series is produced by acclaimed documentary director/producer David Alexanian, whose company, Elixir Films, filmed Ewan McGregor’s unforgettable motorcycle trips across the world in the popular series’ “Long Way Round” and “Long Way Down.” (www.elixirfilms.com).

Ziggy’s trip has been supported by Ducati motorcycles who provided the three Marley brothers as well as director /producer David Alexanian with the new Ducati Multistrada 1200.

Ziggy Marley is a five-time Grammy winner and reggae icon, whose last Children’s Album, Family Time, just won the 2009 Grammy for Best Musical Album for Children. Rohan Marley is an entrepreneur and philanthropist, whose company, Marley Coffee, offers gourmet ital coffee to major gourmet food distributors worldwide. Robbie Marley is a motorcycle stunt rider who has appeared in several major motion pictures, and also owns a retail store in Miami, Florida. For more information on the African Unity movement, please visit www.africa-unite.org.

The brothers, who live in Los Angeles, have already stopped in the Free State town of Parys where they said they it was “cool to meet regular village folk away from the city”.

The filming of their Marley Africa Roadtrip has already begun.

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The new song, which features Ziggy’s brother Stephen and Beninoise singer-songwriter Angélique Kidjo, is being issued free of charge.

Marley plans to come out with a series of “wild and free” singles, which he’ll release one at a time between albums. Speakeasy interviewed Marley today via email about soccer, his new track, and the ongoing turmoil in Jamaica.

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