🎶 The spirit of Bob Marley lives on — not just through his music, but now through a brand-new school built in his honor. The Marley family has officially opened the “One Love School” in Kingston, Jamaica — an educational center dedicated to teaching children not only academics, but also the values Bob stood for: music, unity, and kindness.
The school, located just a few miles from the original Tuff Gong Studios, is a community project spearheaded by Marley’s children, Ziggy, Cedella, and Stephen Marley, in collaboration with the Bob Marley Foundation. Designed for children aged 5 to 12, the One Love School combines traditional learning with creative programs rooted in music, art, and compassion.
💬 “Our father believed education should nourish the soul as much as the mind,” said Ziggy Marley at the opening ceremony. “This school is built on his vision — to teach love, respect, and togetherness through music.”
The curriculum blends Jamaica’s national education system with courses in rhythm, songwriting, storytelling, and community building. Classrooms are named after Marley’s most famous songs — Redemption Song, Three Little Birds, One Love, and Buffalo Soldier — each designed to represent a key life lesson. Students begin each morning singing along to One Love as a school anthem, reinforcing messages of unity and peace.
The school’s motto, painted in bold letters on its entrance gate, reads:
🌿 “One Heart, One Mind, One Love.”
Cedella Marley, who oversaw much of the design, said the family wanted to create a place that feels joyful and inclusive. “We grew up surrounded by music and community. That’s what Dad gave us — and now we’re giving it back to Jamaica’s next generation.”
Teachers at the One Love School are encouraged to use art and rhythm as teaching tools. Instead of punishment, students are guided through reflection, teamwork, and kindness exercises — or what staff call “Reasoning Circles,” inspired by Marley’s own practice of open dialogue.
Local officials praised the initiative as a groundbreaking model for holistic education. “This is more than a school — it’s a movement,” said Jamaica’s Minister of Culture. “It teaches that brilliance and kindness can exist together, and that creativity is just as important as literacy.”
The opening ceremony was filled with laughter, steel drums, and of course — music. Marley’s grandchildren performed a heartfelt rendition of “One Love,” while community children danced barefoot on the grass. At the end of the event, a recording of Bob’s voice echoed through the courtyard:
💬 “Love the life you live. Live the life you love.”
Fans around the world have celebrated the launch online, calling it “the most beautiful tribute to Bob’s legacy yet.” One fan wrote, “He sang about love — now his family is teaching it.”
The Marley family has also announced plans to expand the project, with hopes of opening satellite “One Love Learning Centers” across the Caribbean within the next five years.
In a world often divided, the One Love School stands as a bright reminder of what Bob Marley believed in most: that education begins with empathy, and music is the language of the heart.