Ziggy Marley’s 7 Children: All About His Sons and Daughters

Ziggy Marley comes from a prolific musical family.

The eldest son of Bob Marley and Rita Marley is a musician, author and humanitarian — and his own family is following in his creative footsteps. Marley’s seven children have collaborated with him on his work and inspired it.

He shares his two eldest kids, son Bambaata and daughter Justice, with Lorraine Bogle. In 1995, he welcomed daughter Zuri with Carlene Samuels. Nearly a decade later, Marley married talent agent Orly Agai, and they have since welcomed four children: daughter Judah and sons Gideon, Abraham and Isaiah.

In 2016, Marley spoke to PEOPLE about blending his Jamaican roots with Orly’s Middle Eastern traditions when raising their children. “Within my culture, there’s a lot of spirituality, philosophies, ideas — love, humility, respecting each other,” he explained. “From her side, it’s family: There’s a connectivity there, the bonds of family are very important on her side. It’s a good balance of philosophies, ideas from my side and practical living from her side with family.”

A few years later, Marley’s family posed for an UGG ad campaign, which included a $50,000 donation to charity. “My family has a tradition of giving and loving and caring, so this is just who we are and it’s not something that we ever passed down,” Marley told PEOPLE in 2019. “It’s just something that we really live and then the children see the living and it gets passed down through the living not through just giving, so it’s a part of who we are.”

Marley’s role as a father has also inspired him to write several children’s books and a cookbook. The musician released two children’s books in 2021, inspired by the family’s time together during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“It is important that children coming up be able to be themselves and to not be afraid of that,” he told PEOPLE in 2021. “Also, to understand that the people who truly love them will accept them for who they are. I think it’s important that kids understand that message.”

Bob Marley’s Children: All About the Reggae Legend’s Sons and Daughters

And just like Marley has done for decades, his children are also carrying on the legacy of their late grandfather. In February 2024, several members of Bob’s family, including a few of Marley’s older children, attended the premiere of the late reggae icon’s biopic Bob Marley: One Love.

Here’s everything to know about Ziggy Marley’s seven children.

Daniel Bambaata Robert Nesta Marley, 34

aniel Bambaata Marley at the House of Marley booth during the International Consumer Electronics Show at Las Vegas Convention Center on January 8, 2015.

Isaac Brekken/WireImage

Marley’s oldest son, Daniel Bambaata Robert Nesta, who goes by Bambaata or Bam, was born on July 12, 1989, in Kingston, Jamaica, and now lives in Los Angeles.

He’s a singer-songwriter with singles like “Treat You Right” and “Live It in a Fear,” but his music career began during childhood. Growing up in a family of legendary musicians, Bambaata and other young family members were frequently brought up on stage with the Melody Makers, especially for the 1989 song “Look Who’s Dancing,” Bambaata’s cousin Jo Mersa told Rolling Stone in 2014.

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“My uncles would keep an eye on us while we were growing and make sure we’re headed in the right direction, but there was nobody taking us by the hand and spoon-feeding us what to do and how to do things,” Bambaata added.

While Bambaata’s music is influenced by his Jamaican roots, it is also a product of all his life experiences. “It’s not like I just grew up with reggae culture,” he told Rolling Stone. “When I came to Miami for school, I was in the cipher with all my friends rapping, but the root of my music, regardless of if it might sound a different way, is always reggae.”

Bambaata has collaborated with his father on musical projects too, including appearing on a track on Marley’s 2011 Wild and Free album. His most recent single, “Eclipse,” was released in January 2024.

Justice Marley, 32

Justice Marley at Across The Table: WhatsApp x The Marley Family One Love Dinner held on February 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Justice Marley at Across The Table: WhatsApp x The Marley Family One Love Dinner held on February 5, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Elyse Jankowski/WWD/Getty

Marley’s second child and first daughter, Justice, was born on Dec. 9, 1991, in Kingston. Now, she’s a fashion designer with her own label, More Justice, living in Los Angeles.

“The inspiration came from growing up in a huge family and the message my grandfather spoke of and tied it into my lifestyle,” Justice told The Miami New Times in 2022. Her label’s name is also a song title by her uncle Damian Marley.

Though she performed with her father when she was young, Justice told Vogue in 2022 that she never felt called to make music. Instead, she’s inspired by her musical family in other ways — especially her grandfather Bob.

“I’d like to say he is a style icon!” she told Vogue. “Like an underrated one. If you look at some of his old photos, he was really dapper. I always look back at his style and draw inspiration from there.”

That creativity seeps into every element of Justice’s life. “The impact I wish to leave behind stems from a deep-seated commitment to staying true to myself and cultural celebration,” she told Canvas Rebel in 2023. “As I reflect on my heritage, being part of the Marley family lineage, I am reminded of the incredible power of music, art, and culture to bridge divides and bring people closer. It’s my aspiration that my legacy would be one where these same threads of culture and unity continue to weave connections, long after I’m gone.”

Zuri Marley, 28

Zuri Marley attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Paramount Pictures "Bob Marley: One Love" on February 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Zuri Marley attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Paramount Pictures “Bob Marley: One Love” on February 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Marley’s third child, Zuri, was born on Oct. 28, 1995, and has become a musician in her own right, making mostly electro-pop music.

In 2018, Zuri reflected on whether she feels pressure from her musical heritage to make certain music. “I think the pressure comes from people on the outside of my family who think they might have an idea of who I am, what kind of music I should make, or what kind of clothes I should wear,” she told Paper. “There’s so many things you can take from Bob Marley’s legacy. People assume that I’m going to take on dreadlocks or reggae music, but really what I care about is the message, which is freedom. That’s what it means to me, at least. So freedom, what am I going to do with that? I’m going to do whatever the f— I want.”

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That freedom extends to the rest of her family, too. According to Zuri, being the granddaughter of one of the world’s most famous musicians and part of a wildly successful musical family isn’t a hindrance to the next generation of Marleys.

“There’s a huge opportunity for us to be individuals and interpret [the legacy] individually,” she told Billboard in 2020. “Everyone has their goals and it’s something to strive toward, being that great.”

Still, she told LadyGunn in 2023 that her grandfather is a huge influence on her life. “We were all so impacted by him because of how important his music and his message were for the world,” Zuri said. “What he was able to achieve, how many people he was able to reach, you can’t ignore that.”

Judah Victoria Marley, 18

Judah Victoria Marley at the UK Premiere of "Bob Marley: One Love" on January 30, 2024 in London, England.

Judah Victoria Marley at the UK Premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love” on January 30, 2024 in London, England.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

Marley’s fourth child — and first with wife Orly — Judah Victoria was born on April 21, 2005, in Los Angeles. She’s currently a student at Parsons School of Design in New York City, according to her Instagram bio, but she’s already an accomplished artist, having had her photographs published in places like Idiosyncracy Magazine.

One of the subjects Judah focuses most on is her family, hoping to preserve memories for posterity. “Slowly but surely our grasp on our memories loosens, and so does our grasp on reality,” she wrote in her artist statement on her website. “I hope to sharpen that line, I hope to make memory more familiar, less strange, and foreign.”

When she was a baby, Judah inspired Marley to create the album Family Time, which was released in 2009. “I never really thought about doing music for children before,” Marley told Billboard in 2009. “I kind of realized why I’m being led into this world of family/children’s music is because we have to speak to the children now. The children have the open-mindedness. They’re going to grow up and make the world a better place, so it’s them we have to have some kind of discussion with.”

He called his youngest daughter his “muse” for the album, which featured 3-year-old Judah on the title track.

She has also appeared on the 2015 album Celebrating Bob Marley by One World Chorus.

On her 18th birthday in April 2023, Marley posted a sweet tribute to Judah on Instagram, sharing a photo of him feeding her as an infant. “Happy 18th birthday Judah!!!” he wrote. “Remember this ? 😀. Love you ! ❤️.”

Gideon Robert Nesta Marley, 17

Gideon Marley at the Los Angeles Premiere of "Bob Marley: One Love" on February 06, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.

Gideon Marley at the Los Angeles Premiere of “Bob Marley: One Love” on February 06, 2024, in Los Angeles, California.

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Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty

Marley’s fifth child and second son, Gideon Robert Nesta, was born on Jan. 5, 2007, in Los Angeles.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Marley recorded a second album for children, More Family Time. Like his first children’s album, this record featured Marley’s younger kids, including Gideon, Judah and Abraham on the track “Wonderful People.”

In the same way that Bob had his own children around him when he was recording, Marley likes to have his children be part of the process. “To make an album for family and children specifically, it’s always good to have children around,” he told Grammy.com in 2020. “For me, it’s natural.”

“I just hope this is some relief and some positive energy that the family can enjoy together,” he added.

For Gideon’s 17th birthday in 2024, Marley marked the occasion on Instagram. “I share a blessed 17th birthday to Gideon Son you have shown hard work discipline and focus,” he wrote alongside a photo of Gideon. “Stay the course of righteousness and love as the Almighty guide you through the journey. I am there to back it up. Big man ting now. JAH.”

Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta Marley, 13

Ziggy Marley and Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta Marley.

Ziggy Marley and Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta Marley.

Ziggy Marley Instagram

Marley’s sixth child, Abraham Selassie Robert Nesta, was born on Jan. 26, 2011, in Los Angeles.

Abraham has largely stayed out of the public eye, however, he did appear on his father’s 2020 album, More Family Time.

He became a teenager in 2024, a milestone Marley celebrated on social media. “Look who becomes a teenager today. We are celebrating his journey and tomorrow we attend the ancient tradition officially welcoming him into manhood,” Marley wrote alongside several photos of Abraham. “JAH bless Abraham.”

Isaiah Sion Robert Nesta Marley, 7

Isaiah Sion Robert Nesta Marley.

Isaiah Sion Robert Nesta Marley.

Ziggy Marley Instagram

Marley’s youngest child, Isaiah Sion Robert Nesta, was born March 14, 2016, in Los Angeles. On the day Isaiah was born, Marley posted a photo of him and Orly in the hospital.

“My beautiful wife and I share a moment as she gets ready to give birth to our fourth child today,” he captioned the photo. “JAH BLESS HER AND HIM. The things we put our women through.”

Just like his older siblings, Isaiah has influenced his father’s music. In 2020, Marley explained to Grammy.com how Isaiah inspired a track on More Family Time.

“Isaiah, since he was born, he has been around me a lot,” he described. “Even more than the other kids, he was actually in the studio. And he is on the cover of my last album, Rebellion Rises and he was always in the studio during that album. So, when I’m around him, and you see him, he used to just go on and say ‘goo goo gaga, goo goo gaga, goo goo gaga.’ And so, that kicked off the process of me writing. And after that, it just kept going in that direction, so I let it go that way.”

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Source: HIS Education

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