Nearly two months after the release of the Bob Marley biopic "One Love," people are still talking about the fascinating story of Bob and his wife, Rita Marley.
Much of the discourse looked at their journey as a couple, which challenged conventional narratives of marriage. While the film never shied away from exposing Bob's extramarital affairs and the subsequent offspring from those other loves, many applaud Rita's resilience and strength in navigating their unconventional relationship.
British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch portrayed Bob and Rita, and fans say the movie is a must-see.
An X user wrote, “The Bob Marley Movie was a beautiful tribute to Bob and Rita Marley.”
The Bob Marley Movie was a beautiful tribute to Bob and Rita Marley 🙏🏽
— Miss Reid Wash-Belly (@ReenaMcKenzie) March 29, 2024
Specifically about Rita, one person said, "I want a bio pic of her life man. Need her story to be told through her lens."
I want a bio pic of her life man. Need her story to be told through her lens.
— Wangui (@_Wangui_) March 29, 2024
The film has sparked such an interest in Rita’s life that people are revisiting chapters from her 2004 biography, “No Woman No Cry: My Life With Bob Marley.” Now a new generation has used technology to explore her life with the reggae star.
“The girl on TikTok reading extracts from the Rita Marley book is my favorite person right now just because of how she reacts to every ‘shocking’ detail,” one person posted.
The girl on TikTok reading extracts from the Rita Marley book is my favorite person right now just because of how she reacts to every "shocking" detail.
LOL me done tell unno seh man anuh good something so I don't know what she was banking on discovering LMAO no sah
— Kleos (@Khadz_J) March 29, 2024
Take a deep dive into how Rita stayed married to Bob amid their extramartial affairs.
The Early Years: An Expanding Family
In 1966, Alfarita "Rita" Constantia Anderson tied the knot with Bob Marley. She was just 20, while he was 21. The two remained married until he died in 1981.
Their initial connection was through music; Rita led the singing trio the Soulettes, and Bob served as their vocal and recording coach. Though their relationship began as professional camaraderie, Bob's relentless pursuit of her love transformed it into something deeper.
At the beginning of their courtship, Bob would send “letters through his friends” to tell Rita that he liked her. Eventually, they got married and he adopted her small daughter, Sharon, giving her his last name. The singer also had another daughter from a previous relationship with Cheryl Murray, named Imani Carole Marley.
