Dad, Bob Marley and me

After the death of her father, a spiritual moment with the life-size wooden statue of Bob at Nine Mile convinced queer rapper, Jamaica Moana that everything would be alright.

Jamaica was born to the music of Bob Marley on the Central Coast of NSW.

Her dad loved Bob’s music more than anything else and would listen incessantly on his interstate truck driving routes.

Jamaica was the beloved baby of six children, growing up in an outer suburb of Auckland.

When the family moved to Campbelltown in Western Sydney, Jamaica began to express her queer identity through the dance troupe The Pioneers.

Jamaica’s father rejected this new version of her, so different from the son he knew, and they became estranged. 

When he became seriously ill years later, Jamaica moved home to care for him and the pair renewed their relationship.

With her brothers, she eventually made a pilgrimage to Bob Marley’s village in Jamaica, as a tribute to her father and there, a traditional Maori greeting with a life-size, wooden Bob statue, led her to a religious experience.

Further information

Jamaica Moana's debut EP is Bud & Deni. 

This episode of Conversations was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer was Nicola Harrison.

It covers topics including rap, dance, Hokianga Harbour, Maori, South Auckland, Papakura, Western Sydney, authentic, authenticity, queer, trans, parental estrangement, father daughter relationship, carer, caring for parent, Nicki Minaj, ballroom, duckwalk, west ball, safe space, rupture and repair and community.

To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.