'Very honoured, very humbled' Jr Gong receives honorary UWI doctorate

Reggae star Damian 'Jr Gong' Marley has added another milestone to his career, receiving an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) from The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, on Saturday.

The youngest son of reggae legend Bob Marley was recognised for his contributions to Caribbean culture and music during the university’s 2026 graduation ceremony.

Public Orator Dr Peter Glegg, in presenting Marley for the degree, acknowledged his distinguished family background and highlighted how he carved his own path in music

“Chancellor, it is a well-known fact that walking in the shoes of a great man creates absolute difficulty in carving a niche of your own along the road to achievement in this life. This is further compounded when you are the offspring of a great woman and a great man,” said Dr Glegg.

He highlighted Marley’s parentage, identifying his father the “Honourable Robert Nesta ‘Bob’ Marley, international reggae superstar”, and his mother, Cynthia ‘Cindy’ Breakspeare, Miss World 1976 and “arguably one of the most beautiful women in the world”.

“Yet, like a meteor, he blazed his own path of glory, achieving stardom and world acclaim in his own right and only continues to grow as the years roll on,” Dr Glegg said.

He described Marley as “a West Indian musical ambassador and the bearer of the torch of reggae music and Rastafari”.

Marley was conferred with the degree by Chancellor Dr Dodridge D Miller.

“Very honoured, very humbled,” Marley said as he addressed the audience. He thanked the university, telling the gathering, “I love you”, before treating them to performances of Road to Zion and The Mission.

During the latter, Marley delivered the pointed lyrics, “If Marcus Garvey seh fi read den weh some man ah pree / Cah knowledge ah di key and it will set di people free," drawing an enthusiastic response from graduands.

Damian Marley launched his solo career with Mr Marley in 1996. He earned his first Grammy Award for Halfway Tree (2001), followed by international success with Welcome to Jamrock (2005), which won two Grammy Awards.

His other projects include Distant Relatives, a collaboration with rapper Nas, and the Grammy-winning Stony Hill (2017). He recently released No Better Riddim, a compilation album bringing together 15 artistes under his production.

Gordia Dixon is the valedictorian for today's final graduation ceremony, which was held from November 5 to 7 at the Graduation Tent, adjacent to the Old Library at the Mona campus.

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