The first monument in Europe dedicated to reggae star Bob Marley is
unveiled in a Serb village by Croatian and Serbian musicians.

BANATSKI SOKOLAC, SERBIA (AUGUST 23, 2008) REUTERS -
 A Serbian village unveiled what it said was Europe's first statue to
the late Jamaican reggae star, Bob Marley late on Saturday (August 23), to
promote tolerance in a region still recovering from the 1990s wars.
    Marley, who died of cancer in 1981 at the age of 36, defeated two other
1960s-era rock icons who died young, guitarist Jimi Hendrix and singer Jim
Morrison to be commemorated with a statue.
    The two-metre-tall statue of Marley, who has had a huge impact on
global music, is intended to acknowledge his musical influence, as well as his
contribution to freedom and equality.
    The statue was created by the Croatian artist Davor Dukic and is
believed to be the first monument in Europe dedicated to memory and legend of
Bob Marley.
    Two Balkan musicians, Serbian Jovan Matic, and Croatian rocker Dado
Topic, unveiled the monument in the village of Banatski Sokolac at midnight
during a gathering of rock bands from the Western Balkans. 
    "For those of us who have been playing reggae music for the past
23 years in Serbia it is a great day. The feeling is wonderful. Serbia is now
listed on the world map with something which has no reference to violence or
non-tolerance, now we have pure love and tolerance," Matic said.
    Marley's music has continued to hold a powerful appeal for people in
favour of a world that is more tolerant.
    "This is a good move, a good gesture to the fighter for human
rights with a guitar in his hands, with this we are paying a little
respect," said Croatian rock star Topic.
    The event was the latest in a trend of raising monuments to Western
popular icons instead of local historical figures after Bosnians erected a
monument to Bruce Lee in the town of Mostar and Serbs in northern Serbia to
Rocky Balboa.
    Following the break up of the former Yugoslavia and bloodshed of the
1990s, people in the region rarely agree on their role models and rather turn
to characters that are not linked with the region.