A museum honoring the life and work of Peter Tosh, Jamaica’s global music legend and founding member of the critically acclaimed reggae group, the Wailers, will open its doors in Kingston, Jamaica, this summer. The museum will be located at newly renamed Peter Tosh Square at The Pulse Centre on Trafalgar Road.
The project is a joint-venture collaboration between the Peter Tosh Estate, Pulse Investments Ltd, and Andrea Marlene Brown; and it comes on the 40th anniversary of the commercial release of the classic and prophetic hit single “Legalize It”.
When the Peter Tosh Museum opens, Jamaicans and visitors from around the world will be able to see a collection of fascinating Tosh memorabilia and artifacts that have intrigued and mesmerized reggae lovers for decades, including Tosh’s famous M16 guitar and his beloved unicycle that became one of his favorite means of transportation.
Some of the treasures will be displayed to the public for the first time. Visitors will be able to relive aspects of the non-conformist, futuristic and abundantly creative Tosh experience through sizzling audio and video recordings featuring the superstar. Exclusive merchandise will also be available for sale at the museum. “This is an important turning point in the preservation and advancement of my father’s legacy, and the museum will allow my father’s message of equal rights and justice to be heard by generations, both young and old,” Niambe McIntosh, daughter of the Grammy winner and administrator of the Peter Tosh Estate said.
A landmark agreement was signed last Wednesday in New York City at the Jamaican Consulate to establish the opening of The Peter Tosh Museum, and to honor the Jamaican icon. Niambe McIntosh signed on behalf of the Peter Tosh Estate and Kingsley Cooper, Pulse chairman signed on behalf of Pulse Investments Ltd.
Cooper, who produced the 1983 Pulse Superjam concert which became Tosh’s last ever performance, and who led the initiative for the museum’s establishment, said he was pleased that the lengthy negotiation had finally borne fruit, and he is looking forward to this game-changing project.
“The great Rastafarian campaigner for equal rights and justice, for the abolition of apartheid and for the legalization of marijuana, who did not get his due in life, will now be duly honoured by this important addition to his legacy,” Cooper said.
Peter Tosh was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit, Jamaica’s fourth highest national honour in 2012.
Others present at the signing were Herman G. LaMont, Jamaican Consul General; Jawara McIntosh, known as Tosh 1, Peter’s son; Brian Latture, manager of The Peter Tosh Estate and Chief Executive Manager of Peter Tosh 420, LLC., and L Christopher Castriota of the Jamaican Consulate.