On Feb. 6, Bob Marley will turn 75 and in celebration of the late musician’s memory, his family, Island Records, and UMe will host a year-long celebration of his work. To add to the festivities, an animated video for “Redemption Song” was released on Wednesday (Feb. 5), to commemorate its 40th year anniversary.
“From the history of slavery and Jamaica, Rastafarian culture, legacy of prophets (Haile Selassie the 1st, Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X), as well as Bob’s personal life, we take the audience on a journey through allegories and representations,” a statement from Marley’s representatives reads. The video was created by French artists Octave Marsal & Theo De Gueltzl, aiming to pay homage to Marley’s “contribution to the empowerment of black civilization, as well as his manifestation of hope and recovery for all mankind.”
Beginning in the spring, Stephen and Ziggy Marley will headline The BeachLife Festival in California in honor of their father. Archival footage will also be shared via YouTube in the coming months.
In 1980, Marley released his final studio album, Uprising, before his death. The project features “Could You Be Loved,” “Pimper’s Paradise, “Coming in from the Cold,” and the aforementioned melody, “Redemption Song.”
View the song’s latest visual below.