02/07/2023
.kraal Bob Marley & The African Princess:
‘’You’re ugly!’’ These are his first words when he sees her. She is shocked. They have never met before. How could he address her in such a manner? Does he not recognize her?
We are in Los Angeles in the year 1979. Bob is 34 years old and at the height of his career. Under the watchful eye of his wife and backup singer, Rita Marley, a throng of groupies tries to desperately get his attention. Pascaline, her mighty father's "favorite" daughter, is not accustomed to being ignored. Indeed, she is the eldest of Omar Bongo Ondimba, president of Gabon, 55 (known) children. She stares blankly at the superstar for a brief moment before laughing out loud. He calls her ugly because her hair is straightened, and for rastas, hair is sacred.
Despite this first abrupt exchange, the daughter of the Gabonese president who came to attend the Wailers concert in Los Angeles offers to end the evening in the luxurious villa where she lives in Beverly Hills. The evening remains calm, but the young woman makes an offer that will trigger everything: She invites Bob to perform in Libreville. The singer has never played in Africa and says YES to the invitation. For him, going to Africa is a pilgrimage to the Promised Land.
This encounter would be the beginning of a short but very intense relationship. Pascaline multiplies trips on her private jet between Libreville, Los Angeles and Kingston.
At the start of their relationship in 1980, the reggae star is unaware that he only has a year to live. She will stay by his side until the end…
