By Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Bob Marley's international appeal is obvious and lasting. - Rudolph Brown

Sunday's Ital Food Festival and Fashion Show at the Ranny Williams Centre, Hope Road, St. Andrew, was a feast of Bob Marley's music in song, dance and poetry, as well as providing the beat to which clothing was displayed.

However, there was also information to go with the fun, as members of the audience answered questions, about Bob Marley's life and career for prizes.

In the first round of questions the MC asked "what was Bob Marley's first big hit after his death?" Persons were required to come up to the stage, guesses of I Shot The Sherrif and Iron Lion Zion being rejected before someone got it right with Redemption Song.

Persistent man

There were several guesses, including 45, 35, 52 and 33, before someone got his age when he died correct, 36. The answer to "what is the name of the institution Bob Marley established in Jamaica?" came on the first go, a persistent man who tried for every question that night saying 'Tuff Gong'. One Love was also a sitter for the question "which Bob Marley song was 'Song of the Century?" and the correct answer, Island Records, also came quickly to the request to "name the international company which promoted Bob Marley's music towards the end of his career".

Later in the festival, it was time for more Marley questions, after Shanae Lawson had asked the audience to "big up Bob Marley an him family. Maaga maaga me alone cyaa big im up".

The MC asked "what is the name of Bob Marley's first ska hit?" and Simmer Down was quickly offered and accepted. However, there were no takers for the international incident that inspired Jah Live, the answer that it was the death of Haile Selassie being given after the round of questions.

Exodus was the first and correct answer for "on which album did Marley record Waiting in Vain and Mr. Persistent got the year of his birth, 1945, correct, shouting a merry 'hasta luego'. The family got a feature as the name of his mother, Cedella Booker, was quickly given, but the wrong answer was accepted for the year of the 'One Love Peace Concert'.

It was in 1978, but 1979 was accepted.