In addition, there is Bernard L. Prendergast, the first Jamaican to win an Olympic medal. All have contributed to Jamaica's history and the world with a legacy to remember for generations. With this strong family genealogy, Donisha will be opening many doors. Donisha's other aspirations is to become a Child Psychologist. Presently she is working, promoting Jamaica's latest hot spot "Back Yaad" in Kingston. Donisha Prendergast Actor, Writer, Director, Producer, Activist was born and raised in Jamaica, but considers herself a citizen of the world.
This '80's baby' also saw the rise of dancehall and other sub-cultures driven by music, but it was another art form that inspired her The Art of Storytelling. Her vibrant talent spans many disciplines - acting, film, writing, alternative curriculum building, motivational speaking, social organizing and public advocacy.
With a background in theater, film production and social work, she engages the act of community from the perspective of actively writing and righting one's story. In , her grandmother Mrs. Rita Marley O. She realized a renewed mission in advocacy, and experienced the positive influence her voice could have globally.
Since then, her works as a speaker and cultural ambassador have taken her through much of the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and North America. As a healer and community organizer she has put hands and heart into building a school for girls in the Mara Masaai region in Kenya with Free the Children, she has marched through the snow for justice with the Idle No More movement and the Indigenous youth and ancient elders of Canada.
She has ventured half way across the world to Japan to visit with the survivors of the March earthquake and see firsthand the contamination of the Radiation spill in Fukushima and Ishinomaki, sailed for 12 days across Atlantic on the Peace Boat lecturing to Japanese travellers about the social and political context of Jamaica, blurring the lines of tourism and activism.
And when they returned it would be joy to the world! My mom tells me how they would get days off from school to venture to the beach and river—all the children loaded up in Bob's Land Rover for a day of family time.
The days were punctuated with gifting new clothes, shoes and exchanging lots of stories about the people and places they have seen. They were just teenagers, when my grandfather passed away, and their entire lives changed.
As the eldest of my generation, born into such a global and diverse family, I look at what they have gone through and embraced my role as guide and protector to my younger family members as they seek knowledge about this legacy that we have all inherited. There aren't many terms of reference for growing up in the Marley household or as Rastafari—in fact, they are two totally individual experiences.
You are sheltered and overprotected as a Marley. People have a soft spot for you because of the legacy. But as a Rasta person, you are often disrespected and belittled, misunderstood and misrepresented. People overlook the contribution of Rastafari to my grandfather's legacy. It's almost as if the world is willing to accept the image of Marley but not the reality that is Rastafari. As I've grown, I've learnt to navigate both worlds and try to bridge the gap.
Still, one thing I always remember my mother and grandmother telling us is how Bob used to tell them "you have enough brothers and sisters, you don't need friends and company, they will lead you astray. If I'm not in the company of my family, I'm often trodding alone or in the company of a select few who know the mission, and are souljahs themselves. I think a hard lesson I learnt from my grandfather is that not everybody will stay the journey with you.
Even some of your closest allies may become enemies just by virtue of vision, or lack thereof. His bandmates Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer refused to perform in these spaces, asserting that reggae music didn't belong there and the money was too small.
My grandfather disagreed. He remained adamant that the message was for all people, especially the ones in those places that have been rejected by society. Instead of forfeiting the tour and staying home, he asked my grandmother and two other very powerful female singers of the time, Marcia Griffiths and Judy Mowatt, to join him on background vocals.
This would be a defining moment in my grandfather's musical career and the sound of the music. It was also an empowering moment of reckoning for women in the movement as these three singers, known as The I-Three, would help to establish an image and presence for the 'RasTafari Empress' as royal, eclectic and graceful in her fashion sense and general demeanour.
Looking back, it was an empowered attitude that would inspire other women to begin their own soul journey to Rastafari. Every time I travel, I encounter people who share personal anecdotes about time spent with this mystical Rastaman.
At their core, my grandparents are revolutionaries, who used music and love as their ammunition in the fight for equality and justice for all. People often ask me if I sing, they expect me to. I fully acknowledge that my voice is my gift but not as a singer, as a speaker.
It is an echo of the rebel spirit of my grandparents, Rita and Bob Marley. My grandfather transitioned three years before I was born. Sharon Marley and her ex-husband Peter Prendergast have four children, two boys, and two girls.
Donisha Prendergast is an actress, model, dancer, and poet. She has appeared on several major promotional ads and has a passion for acting and the theatre. All her other siblings also have artistic talents. Ingemar is more of a graphic designer and he has designed quite a number of T-shirts inspired by the images of his grandfather. She began her career with her siblings, Ziggy, Stephen, and Cedilla.
Their father had requested that they form the group but that was actualized after he died. Ziggy Marley was the leader of the group. They released over 10 albums together. This included their Grammy-winning albums conscious party, one bright day and fallen is Babylon.
After a worldwide tour in , the group disbanded. She then ventured into other things. She showed interest in the Caribbean business of ghetto youth united as well as the Melody Makers Support Group.
She is also the curator of the Bob Marley Museum. After the melody givers disbanded, Marley who believes music is like medicine to her has produced music and videos for other artists. Sharon Marley practices yoga and mediates for 15 minutes every day. Despite her Rastafarian beliefs she does not want to confuse herself with certain beliefs.
Even though she was raised in a Rasta family, she disagrees and feels unhappy about how Rastafarian women are treated by their men. She said Rasta men put so much burden on their women. Rita Marley planned to exhume the body of Bob Marley in and reburied him in Ethiopia which is believed to be his resting place. The reggae legend was initially buried in Jamaica for more than two decades.
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