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 a Maori-Samoan family in the outer suburbs 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, staying close until his death.

With her brother, she eventually made a pilgrimage to Bob Marley's home town as a tribute to their father.

Deep in grief, it was a spiritual experience with a life-size statue of Bob at Nine Mile that convinced Jamaica everything would be alright.

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.